Careers in Hardware at World Skills Ireland 2024!

This month, as part of our ongoing Careers in Hardware campaign, Hardware Association Ireland (HAI) will be participating at the World Skills Ireland fair, promoting career opportunities in the hardware/building materials sector to students, graduates, jobseekers and career guidance counsellors. 

WorldSkills Ireland 2024 will inspire the next generation of skilled young people to follow their passions, interests and talents for the securement of their own future, and of Ireland’s. This is a unique opportunity for Teachers, Guidance Counsellors, parents and students to learn and experience all the different skill-based career options available in Ireland.

HAI, under its careers banner Hardware Jobs, will be attending over the three days, joined by employers in the sector, to talk to attendees about the long-term career opportunities available to students of any discipline.

About Careers in the Hardware/Building Materials Sector

Careers in the hardware sector include entry-, middle-and senior-level, and employers are open to meeting anyone with the experience and enthusiasm to work in the sector.

Some of the career opportunities available in the hardware sector include:

Hardware Retail/Builders Merchanting:

• Entry Level Sales Assistant
• Senior Sales Assistant
• General Manager
• Department Manager
• Accounts/Credit Control
• Admin
• Yard Staff
• Driver/Logistics
• Purchasing

Businesses include general hardware stores, agri stores, builders merchants, and product-specific specialists in areas like tools, paint and décor, garden centres and more.

Training and qualifications:

Induction training is typically provided to introduce new employees to their rights and responsibilities in the workplace.

All staff working on the shop floor, trade counter, yard or any other part of the business that will require lifting products will be required to complete basic health and safety and manual handling training and will be expected to conduct their role with a level of personal responsibility.

On-the-job and continued learning is available, including HAI’s scheduled training and the Certificate in Hardware Retail & Merchanting.

Hardware and Building Materials Supply/Manufacturing:

• Entry-Level Field Sales Representative
• Middle Management
• Senior Management
• Buyer
• Senior Field Sales Representative
• Admin
• General Operatives
• Driver/Logistics

Businesses supply directly to retailers and builders merchants, including products like workwear, power tools/tool accessories, painting products, building materials and more.

Training and qualifications:

When entering into the supply/manufacturing sectors, depending on the area, more specific training or qualifications may be required, most at QQI level. Any students or job seekers interested in entering into specific sectors are encouraged to talk to their career guidance counsellor.

Advice for Students:

For any students interested in getting into the hardware industry we recommend they initially do their research on the facilities and support available from their career guidance counsellors.

Transition Year is a helpful time to look for any available work experience in local hardware stores or builders merchants. Typically employers start out student/entry-level employees in specific areas in stores, like the warehouse or back office, where they can shadow more experience employees in their day-to-day activity. As they start to learn more about the role and their environment they start to receive more responsibilities and experience.

Entry-Level and Graduate programmes:

Some merchants and groups offer traineeships and graduate programmes as another route into the sector for new entrants.

Entry-level or work-experience opportunities are made available by some employers in both retail and supply/manufacture which may not require previous experience or qualifications, and typically training is provided on the job.

Many employers in the supply/manufacturing sector also provide entry-level and graduate-based programmes as a welcoming avenue for anyone seeking an avenue into the sector. Such graduate programmes offer opportunities in all aspects of the business, including Sales/Marketing, Manufacturing, Logistics, Research and Development and more.

Employers in the hardware sector – get involved today!

If you are an employer in the hardware/building materials sector and would like to get involved in our Careers in Hardware campaign, then contact us today:

• Join us on the Hardware Jobs stand! Talk to students, graduates and career guidance counsellors directly about career opportunities in your organisation.
• Share your career information! Send us details of any job vacancies, work placements or graduate opportunities that you would like us to share with attendees at World Skills.
• Have any branded merch or goodies? Talk to us about sharing your branded products on the Hardware Jobs stand, to raise your brand profile among jobseekers and students!
• Advertise your vacancies with Hardware Jobs: Share your career opportunities with jobseekers looking for career opportunities on www.hardwarejobs.ie.

For a chance to meet with jobseekers and to showcase your job opportunities to students, graduates and jobseekers alike, email [email protected] for more information. 

If you have any vacancies you would like to advertise on www.hardwarejobs.ie need any more information or support, please contact Aoife.