Specialist software leader Absoft has bucked the national trend by strengthening its team with the addition of four high-performing young graduates as trainee consultants, who will work across the energy, manufacturing and higher and further education sectors.
While firms nationwide have restricted graduate intake in 2010, Absoft has taken on an increased number of newly-qualified students, boosting its staff to 65 as it continues to expand its work worldwide.
Omarra Bradley, Scott Gove, Petra Kirch, and Robert MacDonald, made a major impression on senior staff at Absoft, when they responded to the firm’s annual call for graduates from Scotland’s universities.
The Aberdeen-based company, which supplies SAP software consultancy and support services, welcomes placement students and new graduates each year, assisting those completing management degree courses in gaining valuable experience, while offering first career steps to those entering the marketplace.
All of the candidates were determined to secure jobs in Aberdeen, seeing the region as the ideal place to put the theory they have studied into practice while having real prospects for significant career advancement.
Ian Mechie, managing director of Absoft, says: “Our customer base in all areas has expanded in the last year and we aim to further grow the business, making the addition of high quality new staff essential.
“Each year, graduates bring fresh ideas and commitment to Absoft and despite the economic challenges facing industry in the last two years, we have continued to expand our staff roll with quality people both in terms of those with long-term experience, and those just out of university.”
Three of the graduates have local connections, with Omarra, Scott and Robert hailing from the area originally, while Petra has relocated to the UK from Germany.
Audrey Bowker, HR director at Absoft, says the graduates made an immediate impression by making contact ahead of graduation, and preparing themselves to a very high standard before interview.
“It was obvious that our candidates had put a great deal of work into preparing their CVs and researching Absoft itself, as they were able to demonstrate a real understanding of the roles they were applying for,” she says.
“Omarra, Scott, Petra and Robert demonstrated their commitment to developing a successful career – which is exactly the kind of drive and determination we encourage and support at Absoft.
“The ultimate reward is in seeing our staff enjoying their work and being rewarded for their commitment, while delivering the highest standard of service to our customers.”
Omarra Bradley, 23, a trainee supply chain consultant, studied management and business law at Heriot-WattUniversity. A former pupil of Aboyne Academy, she turned to Absoft after spending her first post graduate year with a legal firm, with the aim of working in a wider range of business sectors by working in consultancy.
Scott Gove, 24, from Kintore, secured a BSc in graphics animation from RGU and MSc in creative software systems at the Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, and will be able to put those technical skills into practice as a trainee developer at Absoft.
Petra Kirch, 25, is originally from Cologne in Germany, but has re-settled to the UK following a gap year in Somerset after finishing her schooling, a period of study in her homeland, and further study in Glasgow. A graduate in philosophy with business and management from the University of Glasgow, she is also a trainee supply chain consultant.
Robert MacDonald, 22, of Westhill, graduated in computer science (with industrial placement) at the University of Aberdeen and is a trainee technical consultant at Absoft. He has already built up experience through his industrial placement which gave him invaluable experience of supporting the computer infrastructure for an oil and gas major, moving to Absoft to further develop in a close-knit, dedicated team.
