deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job I had been an External Relations assistant at the 2016 Space Studies Program helping to promote the exciting day to day activities of it, and with it being held in Ireland in 2017 I managed to join the host organisation team at the Cork Institute of Technology to bring my social media and communications expertise to the team. Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications I applied through publicjobs.ie. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee There are a couple of ways that singers are hired for work, one is via auditions. Typically at an audition, you are invited to sing for an opera house or casting director, you bring 5 pieces with you, and they provide a pianist (sometimes there is no time allowed to rehearse with the pianist beforehand!) and you sing 2-3 pieces from your list, and based on what they hear, if they like you and have something suitable to cast, then you're in luck!

More often than not though, singers will be cast because a director or conductor has worked with them before and knows they would be suitable, or they'll have seen them on stage or in concert and want to work with them based on that. So it's really important that when you're performing, it's to the best of your ability. You never know who's in the audience! Sharon CartyOpera Singer I applied for my current job through a recruitment agency. I had two interviews as well as a psychometric test. The interviews focused on my skills background, as well as some technical knowledge. The psychometric test was focused on numeric and analytical skills and was conducted by a third party. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant I originally applied for an electrical apprenticeship with my company and through the years progressed from this to a Quantity Surveyor. Eileen FahertyElectrician / Quantity Surveyor My current job arose from a restructuring of the Quality Function within IVAX. I was a QA (Quality Assurance) analyst in the Inhalations business for three years when I applied for a Senior QA Officer role. I was interviewed and offered a role in the Solid Dose business. One of the key questions in the interview was 'what would you change'. The company was looking for new ideas. My manager called me into his office and told the company wanted to offer me a position telling me that my work ethic and ability to make hard decisions played a big part in their decision. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer I began to think a career in tax would suit me so I decided to apply for a summer internship. I attended a talk about Deloitte in UCD and I was struck with the enthusiasm the speakers had for their jobs so I applied for an internship there. Both the application and interview processes were handled smoothly and professionally.

While the interviews for the professional services firms can be quite competitive, I really felt that every effort was made to make my interview less daunting, the staff in Deloitte really put me at ease. I have since discovered that this friendliness and helpful attitude exists throughout Deloitte. Anna Holohan Tax Manager It was a career I was always interested in. I submitted a written application form which I was then selected from and called for interview. On completion of this interview I was then selected and called for a second interview, psychometric testing, medicals and a fitness test. The offer arrived the same day as the CAO offers. David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy I was actively looking for a new job in Scotland or Ireland at the time. My current job was advertised on the HSE careers website: www.careersinhealthcare.ie. It appealed to me because as part of the job you got to complete a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy and depending on where you were placed in interview, choose which hospital you worked in (the scheme involved the major teaching hospitals in HSE West and South).

I applied online and was shortlisted for an interview which assessed the candidates suitability for the job itself and the Masters. I got a phone call a few days later to say I had been successful. Rachel BerryPharmacist After I completed my time as an apprentice, I was being offered opportunities to take on more responsibilities in the work I was doing and it progressed to assisting the site manager. Colin ButterlySite Manager - Trade Entry

After studying science, I did a one-year Higher Diploma in Education in UCC. This involved studying the theory of educational practice as well as having practical work experience.

I was very fortunate to remain almost immediately in the school that I did my teacher training in.

Cian O'MahonyScience Teacher I started my own company, Celtic Catalysts Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur I responded to an advertisement which appeared in the Irish Independent newspaper. I attended an interview in the school and the school principal rang me the following day to say I was successful in my application. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher After some time off directly after college, I applied for an ICT Graduate placement. ICT Ireland provides graduates with the opportunity for placements with participating companies. I was successful in getting an 11 month placement in Intel, in the Unit Level Failure Analysis group.

After the 11 month placement I was offered a full time position within the same group. After working for approximately 1 year in that role I changed job role to work with the Yield Analysis group. Deborah CaffreyElectronic Engineer I worked with children and families for almost 19 years, and whereas I loved my managing role within child protection services, following the Covid-19 Pandemic and many changes personally and professionally, I felt that I needed a new challenge. I applied for the position of Principal Social Worker in November 2022, and used my years of practice and management to prepare as best I could for the interview. I was successful in getting the role and commenced the new year with a new position. Jonathan O’ReillyPrincipal Social Worker I had heard in the papers that St. Michael's were hiring people. Once I called to enquire I was sent out an application form which I filled in and then I was called for interview about a month later.

I felt that went well, it was with 3 women working high up in the organisation and I relied a lot on previous experience and gave examples of how I would work in a certain situation.

This seemed to be what they were looking for and so about 3 weeks later they offered me the job. I accepted it but they didn't start me for another month!

I had to go for a medical also before I started. Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker Through the CAO I applied for PE teaching in University of Limerick. At the time I had to complete a movement and ability test but I think that has since been removed as part of the requirements. I passed that test and once I acquired the points from the Leaving Cert. I was accepted into the course. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher Community Policing was an area that always interested me and when a vacancy came up, I applied through my Sergeant and my application was accepted. Niamh BriggsGarda The contract that I just finished was as a production dancer on a cruise ship. The ship was called the MS Silja Serenade and cruised between Sweden and Finland. I saw the audition advertised on Facebook and as I fit the criteria I decided to attend. They were auditioning in Madrid and London but I decided to audition in Madrid as the date suited me better and as I speak Spanish I knew there wouldn't be any problems.

There were approximately 60 people at my audition and I knew that they only needed 8 girls so the chances weren't great. Luckily I got through to the final round (it was a long day) and was told that after the London auditions they would watch the recordings they took of the auditions and let the successful people know.

The night of the London audition I was emailed to say that I had been chosen and to forward the necessary paperwork to them. A few weeks later they sent me my flight details and I headed to Madrid for a month of rehearsals before flying to Stockholm to board the ship. Megan McEvoyDancer I have previously worked for my employer so it was promotion. Being due to displaying leadership attributes as well as a flare for the retail area and the drive to increase turnover there.  Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Main challenges As every day is slightly different and you can be dealing with process engineers from different sections of the Fab every day, the main challenge I have is trying to gain an understanding of each section. Each day you tend to gain more knowledge of the Fab process and with every little piece of knowledge you gain your understanding becomes that bit greater. Deborah CaffreyElectronic Engineer They vary, and it changes over the years. About five years ago there seemed to a shortage of skilled people in the landscaping sector, as the economy was booming and there was a big demand for skilled people in the landscape and construction sector. That seems to have sorted itself out over time, but that was a challenge, getting good, reliable, experienced people. Among the more challenging aspects of a Landscape Contractor's job would be 1. Identifying and making contact with possible new clients. 2. Organizing and co-ordinating new projects. 3. Time management. Managing my own time and ensuring that all members of my staff are gainfully employed throughout each working day. 4. Vigilance to ensure that our work is kept to a high standard. Paul DowlingHorticulturist

The challenges are many and varied, again any number can arise during a patrol or even over a day, from someone in your division who faces a domestic problem that needs advice/help, adverse weather or a search and rescue situation which requires everyone’s complete concentration.

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy My main challenge is juggling many tasks to making sure that we meet deadlines. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator We are a small company and we need to be able to react quickly to survive in a challenging and competitive commercial environment. From a personal perspective this means constantly ensuring that all the team "are singing from the same hymn sheet" and that everyone is focused on fully realising the commercial opportunity which presents itself at the time.

This can be challenging particularly in a research based company where sometimes ruthless decisions have to made with respect to dropping certain lines of experimental investigation. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur In a modern Ireland drink and drugs provide us with a huge challenge. Situations can and do turn very violent when people consume excess alcohol or drugs. It makes communicating with these people extremely difficult as they are impaired and their thought process is different. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda Staying in control of my to-do list is the main challenge… You need to be very organised in this job. You need to plan ahead, know what meetings are coming up, make sure those who work with you on a particular client are aware of the upcoming meeting and what’s required for it.

Keeping up-to-speed can be challenging – what’s moving markets, any developments with investment managers or funds. Sustainability continues to gather momentum and it can be challenging to stay up-to-date with regulatory developments in that area.

The job can be tiring. I find it takes a lot of energy and proactivity to keep on top of all the tasks that are ongoing with all my clients…to keep projects moving. At times, it can feel like you’re being pulled in different directions and it’s really important not to drop a ball.

Having said that, I’m very lucky to work in a team of highly-motivated, hard-working and conscientious people. We work well together as a team, helping each other out as and when necessary. There’s always someone ready and willing to help if you have a problem or if you simply need to bounce an idea off someone. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant Constantly learning new weapons and warfare tactics keep me alert and challenged. Life in the Defences Forces is an endless learning curve and so we are always improving ourselves and those around us. Overseas operations are a very challenging feature of my career and one which I welcome as they give me the opportunity to put into practice my training and skills. Being away from home, friends and family is a major challenge facing any soilder. Keith LynchPrivate (Line)

Waiting lists for services and supports for example, play therapy, mental health services etc.

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker The main challenges for me are managing expectations of those to whom I am presenting data and analysis as people can have differing or conflicting views. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst We have a lot of projects at once, so juggling all them at the same time can be a challenge. Megan WalshMechanical Engineer Troubleshooting excursions in order to understand them and prevent them in the future is challenging. Training into a new environment is always a challenge. Adapting from a college environment to a working environment is a huge change and a challenge I am still overcoming. Rebecca TigheProcess Engineer The main challenges are dealing with diversity and mixed ability in the classroom, inclusion of all pupils in all activities and maintaining safety and high levels of participation in PE. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher Writing. The idea of making it scientific, concise and understandable at the same time are relatively challenging for me (especially coming from a person whose country is not a native English-speaking country). That’s why I have to read more journals than others so that I can grasp a solid and coherent way to write my paper Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI

Starting up a new technology in Intel is always challenging especially when we have to install and deinstall new or old machinery. There are tight install schedules that are planned and developed months in advance and they are all interlinked into other areas within the factory and hence meeting these schedules will determine if the product starts being made on time.

To qualify new machines there is heavy engineering involvement for installation of the machinery itself, the support facilities it uses and then the qualification of the new process which has to meet tight criteria before it is allowed run any new product through it. Although it is a challenging time, it is an exciting time and there is a huge sense of achievement and satisfaction when the machines start running for the first time

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process Main challenges we face at the moment would probably still be cost. Cost is top of everybody’s agenda so that is a huge factor.

Notwithstanding that we try to demonstrate how we add significant value to the client and that helps us to become a trusted partner. Karl CurranAssociate Director At present managing properties when there has been a number of store closures due to Covid 19 has been challenging, our tenants turnover has naturally been impacted so we are closely liaising with them to assist where possible but also having our investors interest and keep rent collections as high as possible. Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager Dealing with some of the most successful and sophisticated clients in the world pushes me to ensure my work is to an extremely high standard. Knowing how costly my mistakes are encourages me to strive for perfection and achieve my full potential. Also, being part of a team means nobody gets left behind and everyone pulls together. Working hard to ensure I don’t let me team down keeps me alert and up to speed. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency

Sometimes the cases are difficult and take longer than expected but I am aways well supported. We have also got support from other areas in Tusla like Data Protection so we work together as a team.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor Managing my time during the school day is the biggest challenge. For example, timing practical work to be finished before the pupils have to be off to their next class is always a challenge! Cian O'MahonyScience Teacher Typical day I am usually in to train at 8 in the morning until 4 or 5 in the afternoon. The day is usually consisted of meetings, gym and field sessions. Ian McKinleyRugby Player As we work with teams in Germany and in San Jose California, my morning begins by checking any emails or messages I may have received during the night time hours here. Our team will have a quick morning meeting where we discuss the ongoing work and identify any ‘blockers’ – concerns/problems that prevent us from getting our job done that day. After the morning meeting, I spend the rest of my day in the lab testing whether the system or assay is meeting the user requirements. This means my testing is focused on making sure that the instrument works as it is supposed to do and as it is designed. Any problems I discover, which we refer to as defects or bugs, will be reported back into the product development cycle where they will be fixed. My team channels the voice of the customer, who typically works in a hospital lab, to ensure we meet the high standards expected by them. Patricia ClearySenior Systems Verification & Validation Scientist A typical day would consist of :

- All apprentices and electricians getting together in the site office to discuss what had to be done that day with the site foreman.

- Gathering up all the materials you were going to need for the day from the stores

- You would then be teamed up with qualified electricians and go and do the job required, they would be helping you as the day went on with showing you how to read technical drawings and how to do the job.

- At the end of the day we would have a quick run through of everything we had done and what had to be done the following day. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician No two days are the same but my typical working hours are from 8.30 – 5.30 each day.

I compile a “to-do” list every evening before leaving the office and I prioritise what needs to be done each morning.

My days would mainly consist of making /receiving phone calls and sending/receiving emails, attending meetings and interactions with my team. I very rarely get through all items in any given day and for that reason prioritisation of tasks is key. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations

A normal day in the army starts at 08:25. You would be on parade at that time where an NCO would inspect your uniform and make sure everybody is there and then do some foot drill with us. From 09:00 until 11:00 we are tasked with jobs that come from our superiors which can be anything from cleaning, weapons, training or lectures. We then have a tea break. Then physical training would be organised for us.

After lunch we have another parade followed by more tasks. On a normal day we would finish at 16:30, however you are expected to prepare everything for the next day e.g. clean and iron your uniform and prepare what equipment is needed for the next day.

Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) No day is ever the same. Tasks vary (preparing policy documents, speeches, giving input to meetings). Deadlines can be very short. One has to learn to cut corners, be resourceful and smile. Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission Until recently, a typical day as an astrobiologist could range from collecting extremophiles on the surface of a glacier in Greenland; performing experiments in various laboratories; doing data analyses at university/research institutions; to being part of simulated Martian missions. Now, in a more managerial role, I also lead meetings, go to conferences, represent SOSA and my country at diverse meetings (for example at ESA headquarters) and design very big international projects. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services There is no such thing as a typical day in a life of a Guard. Each day is different as we are faced with different tasks, meet different people and given different responsibilities. Some days are very busy, while other are more relaxed. It’s a varied job and definitely not a boring one. Emilia GilroyGarda

Arrive in and check my inbox for any major issues which demand instant attention. Usually there are no surprises but the plant runs 24 hours a day so sometimes issues can crop up at 3am and they would be queued there for me in the morning.

The priorities are set at a number of levels (weekly, and quarterly for example) so I have a reasonably good idea of what to expect for the upcoming day however if issues arise they may become the highest priority and take over for that day. My calendar for the day will contain my day's scheduled meetings so I can see where I am committed to being at certain times (handily synchronised with my mobile phone so I don't miss any of them).

 A sample project that I might be working on in a given day may be a programming project for a middleware application. As part of a larger group my efforts will be in concert with the other programmers so there may be a meeting with these peers. Currently I am working in union with a group of programmers in Israel (where we have another campus) and they are 2 hours ahead of GMT so am more likely to have a voice conference at my desk early in the day with them to discuss the issues of the day (such as requirements definitions or the specifics of a program. Then it might be a period of programming or testing from my cubicle before lunch. Lunch would be at the partially subsidised canteen where there is a broad selection available.

After lunch I may be involved with the installation or configuration of a computer attached to a factory tool so that may require visiting the factory floor for a while. (I work in an area which is not in the bunny-suit arena, so I wouldn't normally don those layers of clothes). At the tool we may install or test out a new suite of software and possible debug issues arising from that. In the evening I may be involved in a meeting with the US teams (who are 8 hours behind GMT) so that would only really start at 4pm. Such a meeting may be to synchronise with that team to confirm that we are running the factory in exactly the same way or discuss future changes) For the programming tasks, the timescales are longer (of the order of 6 months), but the day-to-day sustaining of the Ireland factory is on much shorter timescales and as such priorities can change quicker.

Jason RuaneComputer Programmer There isn't really a typical day! If I'm in the middle of a production, this normally lasts for 6 weeks (if it's a new show) and there will be two rehearsal sessions, in a rehearsal room, with piano, for 4 weeks. Then there's what's called a Sitzprobe (German for Seated rehearsal) where the orchestra and the singers meet for the first time, and go through the opera from start to finish (the singers are usually seated, and there's no acting and no costumes).

Then for the final two weeks there are a series of rehearsals for the different departments to get stuff ready for opening night-Stage and Orchestra for the conductor to iron out any musical issues, and some Tech rehearsals where the lighting/costume/set departments can run things and check how they look, and finally Dress rehearsals where everything is run together in anticipation of opening night. There's a lot that goes into making opera run smoothly!

If I'm not in rehearsals for an opera I may be preparing roles or concert programmes, usually it will take up to a year of practicing a big opera role for it to be comfortable to sing, a bit like an athlete preparing for a big race, you need to do a little bit each day for a long time for the muscles in your body to become strong and develop the muscle memory for each piece. Of course you can (and often have to) work on a few different pieces at once, and things almost always overlap, so the skill of learning how to pace yourself is really important. You're very much responsible for your own preparation. Sharon CartyOpera Singer A typical day can vary a lot, but generally consists of activities such as writing code, analyzing data, and researching and applying machine learning and mathematical techniques. However, we follow the Agile working process, so every day there are standup meetings where everyone gives an update on what they've been working on, and every other week we have planning and review meetings Catherine AhearnData Scientist

I work on all aspects of human rights for children and families. Some days we are preparing to go to Court and other days we could be working on giving legal guidance on important decisions for families and informing policies for Tusla workers.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor My day has no set structure. I am currently managing a very tightly scheduled reentry project and this takes a lot of my time. For this we in the project team have a telecom every Wednesday to discuss progress but I am in contact with team members daily (if not hourly). Since this experiment will fly to the International Space Station (ISS) I have frequent safety discussions with colleagues here in ESA and I am responsible for ensuring that the experiment is safe for the ISS and its crew. In parallel to this I am managing activities related to launcher staging, plumes and high speed computational tools. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer

I got an opportunity to move to a workforce organisational design role in our chief technology office which is leading the development of a strategy for new and existing workforce. In the CTO, we provide the wider AIB Group with thetechnology and data solutions that enables the AIB Group to back our customers so it’s a really great area to work in.

It might sound cliché but no two days are the same.

Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB

Imperial College London is based in South Kensington which is a really nice part of London. I usually get in around 9:30 and after a few minutes of gossiping/checking email/facebook, I get down to work!

The main portion of my job is research, and I try to have one primary project on the go at any given time, although occasionally ideas will crop up and I will be working on multiple papers.

My research involves a lot of computer programming. I work with data from the magnetometer on the Cassini spacecraft which is in orbit around the planet Saturn. I plot out this data using computer programs, and study the magnetic environment around Saturn, looking for unusual deflections of the magnetic field etc. and trying to interpret what they mean.

On any given paper that I write I usually have several co-authors or people that I am collaborating with, so I talk to them over email, teleconference, or face to face at meetings, and we discuss ideas and interpret the data.

Another portion of my job is teaching, and I currently demonstrate in the first year undergraduate labs, and also run small projects for undergrads in the summer term.

At Imperial, we are the Principal Investigators on the Cassini magnetometer instrument. We have a team of spacecraft operations people who send commands to the spacecraft, and process the data that comes back.

We have had an extension of funding for the Cassini mission so I am currently involved with planning the trajectories for the extended mission. This means that I work with spacecraft operations staff at Imperial, but also those based at the jet Propulsion Laboratory, part of NASA in California. Because they are 8 hours behind us in California, that means I have to stay late one night a week to have a mission planning teleconference with them.

So when I'm in London, a typical day is research, some teaching, and the occasional teleconference. I then attend international conferences a few times a year where I present my work, so I have to prepare talks or posters for these. I also give talks at schools, local astronomy clubs etc.

Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist I'm in the office at 7:30 while the Asian market is still open, work throughout European trading hours and the US morning session and leave around 18:30. Every day is different, depending on the market price action, data releases, political events and our client meetings. The themes we follow change from macroeconomics to geopolitics to commodities and lately even epidemiology! Semin Soher PowerSenior Inflation Trader

I have a huge variety in my daily schedule, and for me there is no such thing as a typical day. We have sales world wide, ranging from The United States, Europe, Israel, The Far East, and even Australia. And because of this my day can start and finish at any hour of the day. Sometimes the day can start with a conference call with customer’s in the Far East, followed by another meeting with a European based customer around mid day, and finally an evening call with a customer in for example California.

The variety is huge, and really keeps me on my toes! Activities are constantly being re-scheduled to meet our customer’s requirements, and because we support the customer’s applications, this may oftern require our immediate attention. Sometimes the issue is relatively straight forward and I can answer by a return email. Other times it might involve some laboratory work, and occasionally it is not possible to resolve the issue without travelling to the customer’s location. If this is the case, then we co-ordinate with the customer to arrange flights, transfers, hotel accommodation etc.

I am also responsible for International regulatory issues on our products. These are the requirements for selling electronic goods in some international markets, especially into medical applications. Often this requires co-ordinating with the various international bodies to ensure our product meets the required standards, and includes quarterly visits to our manufacturing facilities in Eastern Europe and the Far East.

In my current role I also am responsible for updating the senior management team on aspects of the groups work. We get together once a month to discuss all aspects of the business, both engineering and commercial. This usually takes place at the start of every month, so some of my time is spent collaborating reports for these meetings. As the electronics industry continues to change, larger companies over the years have reduced their in house power supply experts. Because of this we see a lot of customers who do not understand the intricacies of using a power supply. So some of my time is spent either writing papers for customers or putting together some training material to help them understand the issues as they may arise.

Shane CallananElectronic Engineer Get up, shower, come to work, go home, play with the kids and go to bed. It'ss very simple, but I suppose, a lot of my job is travel. I have to travel an awful lot because there's no real business in Ireland, this is an international service that we do for people all over the globe: for big space agencies, governments, for big broadcasters. So most of my life is out there selling the services to people all over the globe. I've just come back from Jerusalem where I was for a week at a conference.

The week before that I was in the States; next week I'm back to Knoxville, the week after I might go to Russia. It sounds great and glamorous, but I don't like being away from my family for more than two days, so at the moment I'm trying to cut it back. If I was single and young it would be a dream. With my kids, I prefer to spend time at home now. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre

It’s interesting to consider whether a ‘typical’ day looked different pre and post Covid. Working remotely took some time to get used to in the first few months, but now over a year in, the ‘typical day’ is much the same thanks to the remote working capabilities. I don’t miss the commutes but would love a face – face coffee with work friends which is hard to replicate over Zoom.

In my current role, I’m working on AIB’s Digital Team. I’ve always had an interest in all things digital, and it’s exciting to work in an environment that is ever evolving.

The day begins with a large coffee! I try to login at about 8.30am and catch up on emails from the day before. When 9am hits, it can often mean meetings. At times, back to back meetings become tiring, but where possible I block at some time to make sure I don’t fall too far behind on the ‘to do list’.

 

Every meeting should have a clear set purpose, and we’re getting better at that on the team. At some meetings I do the presenting, while at others different stakeholders may be the chair. No matter the session, making sure we achieve specific objectives from each meetings is key. Workshops are always an enjoyable part of the week, where we get together and get creative. I really enjoy being part of more collaborative exercises which often energise me for the rest of the day.

After some lunch, it can either be back to meetings or time to get some work done! I’m working on a large project at the minute, which has pressing deadlines and lots of spinning plates.

There’s nothing better than when a project you’re working on hits a big delivery milestone. Taking the time to acknowledge such achievements is so important. It’s always good to take the time to reflect and soak in the lessons we’ve learned, not just when stuff goes well, but equally as important when things go wrong.

I aim to log off by 5pm, but if I’m honest with myself I often find that hard. In reality, it’s closer to 6 / 7pm when my husband gets back from work. Although I may work late some evenings, I do try take back these hours and leave a little earlier on a Friday, when I have something nice planned. That balance and flexibility to the workday really helps during the longer weeks!

Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB

My typical day starts with checking in on any projects currently ongoing (a lot can change since the previous day). Everyday is different in so far as each day will present different challenges or issues which require immediate attention.

My current role is overseeing the process validation group of the solid dose business. Project timelines can be anywhere from a few days to several months. Each one has key milestones which must be delivered on time or the whole project will be delayed.

A big challenge is to ensure I always know what needs to be done today in order to be able to do what needs to be done tomorrow. I am constantly looking out days, weeks and months ahead planning activities for the group.

Rewards don't happen every day but they do come. The pressures of the job are often high as projects deadlines don't move but that can sometimes work to your advantage. It helps focus the mind. Is it enjoyable? - on the whole yes. As one project ends you are already heavily involved in others so there is little time to relax. Most days involve a lot of meetings between which actions from those meetings need to be done.

Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Further training... I would like to develop more into software programming and networking to further enhance my skills. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer Ongoing training is common and encouraged in my job, there is a large emphasis placed on things such as customer interaction and complaint handling. I have always taken part in this in the past and fully intend to do so in the future.

Continuous Professional Development is also highly important and I try to do as much as possible each year, obviously meeting my required target but sometimes exceeding the target if there are other particular courses that take my interest.

As regards education I have registered for the Professional Certificate in General Insurance for QFA’s exam due to take place in January 2016. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator Intel actively promotes training and development as a core part of my job role. I find myself in a classroom almost every week! I currently have plans to complete a project management course to aid in my current role. Darryl DayIQ Engineer I intend to sit my Sergeant Exams this year. Niamh BriggsGarda One of the best things I like about my job is that every day I learn something new. As engineers we are continuously having our skill set ‘upgraded’, so ongoing training is almost a requirement. When I was employed by a multi-national corporation we had many engineers world wide who were experts in various fields, and we used in-house training sessions to improve our knowledge. Over the years I have also attended numerous international seminars, and industry gatherings. Each project that we work on always involves a research stage where we have to acquire a new piece of knowledge as we continue to develop cutting edge products. Shane CallananElectronic Engineer I have completed Law Society Diplomas in litigation and insolvency since qualifying as a solicitor. I also did a course on personal insolvency at the Law Society when the personal insolvency legislation was introduced. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor I am always open to upskilling; I regularly attend webinars so that I am up to date on current matters. Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager I qualified as a Chartered Accountant last year so I am looking forward to the next educational step in my career. I completed a couple of online course late last year in areas of personal interest including watches and art history. It's important to have a genuine desire to learn and spend the time to do so. Otherwise, it can be quite a slog. Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking I decided to pursue the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification on joining Deloitte. I had undertaken some lectures with the Irish Tax Institute as part of my Masters in Smurfit and found them to be extremely well organised and professional. I knew that I would have excellent support pursuing my tax qualification.
Deloitte have really supported me in pursuing the CTA qualification. They offered me paid study leave for my exams and in house training sessions which made the experience of sitting my first set of exams as stress free as possible. Anna Holohan Tax Manager We can't apply for courses while in training but I would be interested in family liaison training as it is so important to families stricken by crime. Mark Spain Garda Trainee I have undertaken further training as part of my career.  In the last year I have participated in a FETAC Level 5 Course and I hope to do the courses on Activities of Living and Care Skills and any other courses that are provided by the Health Service. Lydia PeppardCare Assistant I qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). It really appealed to me that it is such a well-recognised qualification and I thought that it would give me a really good base from which to build by skills and ultimately my career. Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager Yes, there is still a great number of things that I would like to learn or get better at. This includes learning new languages, improving my IT skills (for example by learning new programming languages or using new software), refreshing certain skills (such as First Aid Training) and challenging myself to learn something beyond my comfort zone (for instance learning to make good sales pitches and generally marketing) Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services I am continually learning from master turners and learning excellence in teaching and instruction from practitioners. Glenn LucasWoodturner I would like to when I find the time! Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator In this field it is critical to have the most up to date information available to me whether it is fish nutrition, safety, or any other area; hence I am always willing to participate in any training that may become available to me. To date I have completed over forty courses between Marine Harvest and BIM. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager

Yes of course as technology is constantly changing especially in global positioning systems and communications equipment constant training is needed.

Also, courses in health and safety, risk management and human resourses are very important these days.

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy I always try to keep my knowledge current by constantly doing a variety of courses such as those on languages or IT. It’s very important to keep life- long learning going all the time. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant I am currently studying for a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy. It is possible to undertake further training in specific ares e.g. psychiatry, respiratory and I may consider this if I find I develop a particular interest during my Masters. If I return to the NHS at some point I will probably do an independent prescribing course as this would open more doors for me in the future. Rachel BerryPharmacist My training firm (KPMG) required me to complete the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification. The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification is the most widely recognised and best regarded tax qualification in Ireland. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant Advice if considering this job Read a lot – it’s a great way to find new ways to express ideas. Write a lot, even if just for yourself, so that you get used to communicating your ideas on paper. Develop your time management skills – that is crucial when working in an area that has very tight deadlines. Learn more languages – it’s very helpful to have an insight into how people express themselves in different languages. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator Take every opportunity that comes your way, don’t be afraid of a challenge. Don’t be afraid to throw yourself into things, you’ll learn on the job. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst Oisín:
Be as open to advice and teaching as possible. Craft your own methods and ways of doing things and always continue to learn and devlop yourself and your skills.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter It is a very rewarding but also extremely challenging job. It requires a lot of resilience, mental strength, patience and compassion. It means seeing people at their worst in the most difficult circumstances.

It involves making difficult decisions, which will have life changing consequences for the offenders. If you think you have the ability to handle all that, it is a truly great job with amazing opportunities. Emilia GilroyGarda

Before I applied for this job, I was worried about the staffing levels and the poor reviews that I had been told. I am really happy I did not allow these factors to influence my decision, this has not been my experience at all, my team and team leader are amazing, and I feel really supported in my role! My advice would be if you are interested just apply and go from there!

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker Science is a fascinating subject and you truly have to immerse yourself in it. When you do the rewards are fantastic. It is of course a tough subject but once complete you learn how to solve many problems yourself. Brian O'ConnorAnalytical Chemist I would advise them to get themselves physically fit and to maintain it. I would also say that a sense of humour is very important and the ability to laugh at themselves. They should have self discipline and be prepared to accept imposed discipline. Punctuality is very important as is respect for others. If they had sporting interests that would be a help. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) I would highly recommend this job but I’d say to start taking insurance exams as soon as possible and get them done while you’re young.

I’d also recommend talking to as many people in the industry to see what area of insurance you want to go into i.e. Insurer, Broker, Loss Adjuster etc. – they’re very different! Karl CurranAssociate Director

A day for a Process Engineer at Intel can range from spending all day in what we call our 'bunny suits' or space suits as most people would recognise them as or a day of juggling meetings with working on long term projects that have a quality improvement for your product or have a cost saving for the factory. The key thing is to be adaptable, be organised and be able to communicate your plans clearly and concisely. You will be your own boss in many instances as an engineer and it is up to you to get the job done and do it well, while at the same time meeting goals and challenges that are set for the factory.

The great thing about a process engineer at Intel is that much or your work can be done remotely, which means you don't have to sit at your desk all day allowing you to get in to the machines and get stuck in. One should also be aware that you will be continuously learning in this sort of environment. Because our technology is so up to date we are always making changes to make this possible. Our products will range from mobile phone chips to top of the range computer chips so we need to be able to make changes to meet the demands of what the market is looking for.

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process You need to be prepared to work hard, work long hours & work unsociable hours. Starting out, be prepared to take the jobs that nobody wants to do - make your contacts through that and progress to follow your dream Barry McEnteeChartered Physiotherapist Anything is possible. Take chances. Don’t be afraid of failure. Lynda O'LearySystems Engineer If you have a good attitude, a willingness to work hard and can work with others then I believe you could achieve high results in this job. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency

Need to have a belief about the value of the sort of education provided by the school to which you are applying.

Need to be able to cope with ambivalence - being leader in the school is not a black and white thing.

Need to believe in people, whether it is staff or students.

Paul MeanySchool Principal I would advise any college student considering a career in tax to undertake a summer internship or placement in a firm offering tax services. I found this an excellent way to understand what a job in tax would actually involve. Researching careers in tax online also shows the endless and exciting opportunities that a tax qualification can offer. I have found the more I have learned about tax, the more I understand how varied roles in tax can be. Anna Holohan Tax Manager To get physically fit for the entrance tests and also for the demanding physical nature of the job. Also I would tell people to enjoy themselves before they join as it’s a job for at least 30 years.

I would also informl people about the variety of avenues people can get into when they have completed their training. There really is a career for every person regardless of where their interests lie. There is so many specialised units and prospects. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda

A job in any aspect of hospitality is challenging. It’s a very dynamic environment – constantly changing and pressures can be huge, particularly during peak season. May-Oct. You need to be able to hide how you actually feel, put on a smile and work.

Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel Someone who wants to be where I am today shall need bucket loads of ambition and not be afraid of hard work.  They will need to not be afraid of starting at the very bottom of that big high ladder but at the same time have the eagerness and determination to get to the top of that ladder because the opportunities are there.

Education is very important.  It may only seem like a silly piece of paper but it's that Cert, Diploma or Degree that gets you that job and not the man/woman beside you.

The one thing that is vital in not alone this job, but any job, and alot of people don't seem to have it, is common sense. It's something so simple but really important. if you have no cop-on then nobody wants to know you. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock Work experience is always a great way to figure out what aspect of property you are most interested in, a number of companies offer a summer internship which are helpful and often lead to a job after college! Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager Be prepared for hard work.
Be a team player.
Have a good sense of humour.
Learn from your mistakes. Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager Some of the best people I know still aren’t sure what they want to do, my advice would be to give it a go. If you don’t like it you can always try something else. Whatever is in your heart follow it, don’t be something just because someone in your family is. Whether you’re looking to be a leader, a designer or come up with new ideas and a better way of doing things, make sure it’s something that fills you with passion. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer The lifestyle Yes, I love what I do. Sara Hickey Assistant Trading Manager Once you reach a certain level everyone in the room is pretty smart, and so the part of my education that has proven most useful is communications. Being able to present and discuss complex topics amongst your peers is essential and even though it doesn’t seem like it at the time school and college set you up well for this. Shane McDonaghRenewable Energy Engineer Yes. I can design and make work. I also teach from my workshop at home. I am invited to demonstrate overseas regularly so keep in touch with international trends. Glenn LucasWoodturner Yes, my job allows me the flexibility I desire and also provides good travel opportunities. This is very important to me. Karl CurranAssociate Director Overall I would say yes. Teaching hours are very social, there is no shift work and the holidays are fantastic. The pay is reasonable too. That said you are unlikely to become a millionaire doing this job! Paul GalvanResource Teacher

Engineering is a secure job. There are jobs in Ireland, and all around the world in Engineering. There are long days sometimes, but not all the time. As a lifestyle, Engineering presents a good lifestyle. I play football , and my job never interferes with that. My dad is an engineer too, and he was always around at home, evenings, weekends. The pay isn't bad either.

There is a great social aspect to Engineering, social events through work, keeping in touch with friends from college. Progression is good. There are many types of employers in the Enginnering world, they all encourage training on the job, any I've met have anyway.

Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Yes, absolutely. As a Third Secretary I can expect to spend large parts of my career working at Irish embassies abroad which is a prospect I find very exciting. At the same time I will spend time based at Headquarters in Ireland which means I will always retain that strong connection with home. I am currently based at Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU which is Ireland's largest diplomatic mission abroad. Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs Being an Anaethetist is a well paid job providing a very good income.  However with the long working hours it can be difficult to balance work, training and family life, never mind hobbies! Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist Definitely. My job is very flexible which is fantastic. If there is deadline you are expected to work overtime, however it is never a problem as the work is so enjoyable that you want to see it succeed. Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer It does. I can balance work, family life and my social life very well. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer The workload is massive but the job is rewarding. In a sense it is still a vocation. It also has great variety. I am also my own boss most of the time. The job is not paid as much as it should be for the work involved but it does allow me to have a lifestyle that I am happy with. Paul MeanySchool Principal My job allows for great flexibility so that I have a degree of control over my time. I am able to manage my work-life balance effectively as a result. My role has increased in responsibility since joining in 2016, which is very rewarding. Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking Yes, my job fits in with my life perfectly. Although, we are very busy, the role is flexible to allow for appointments. After working in residential centres for many years, a Monday-Friday working week is very much enjoyable! Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker Yes it does. ESA is a family friendly organization. There are many perks such as home leave, generous paternity and child benefits. Also the wages are very good so we can have a comfortable life. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer Yes, its very important to have a good balance between work and other interests in your life. Niamh BriggsGarda

My current job as a Senior Quality Officer affords me the ability to enjoy a reasonably high standard of living. I earn a good wage which allows me to live in a nice area, pay my mortgage, run my car etc while still leaving enough financial freedom to enjoy a nice social life and other activities. That said I'm not off on several holidays a year by any means. One a year is good going but with financial discipline, money can be put aside for it.

My job is reasonably flexible around my lifestyle as I no longer work shift. As a QA analyst (the job I held before I became a senior QA Officer) I was on four and three shift rotations. In such a role you're taking over from the previous shift and handing over to the next so the hours you are present on site are strictly controlled. On day shift as a senior QA officer if for some reason I need to leave a few minutes early on a given day I can come in early (with managements approval of course). I should mention that shift work can be very difficult at times and nobody I've ever met has had an easy time with it (especially night shifts).

My current role involves no shift work which is great for meeting up with friends and family. All said I have a good quality of life. Owing to the demands of my job for meeting my own deadlines and those of the people who report to me, it can be hard to switch off after work. Frequently I find myself thinking over issues from work while at home. As one rises in levels through a company I'm sure this becomes a more frequent thing and possibly even a necessary one at times.

Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Absolutely. I really enjoy what I do and I also wanted to progress. I knew this would cost hours, so I set terms that would work and that I was comfortable with. Richard KinsellaManaging Director

My current job is nine to five, Monday to Friday with around 5 weeks annual leave per year so it allows plenty of time for leisure activities, family, friends etc. Other hospitals I have worked in had a weekend/on-call rota but it was easy enough to organise my social life around this. The job comes with a decent salary and I am pretty much able to take holidays and treat myself to the odd shopping trip or whatever as I please (within reason)!  I am very happy with the lifestyle working as a hospital pharmacist allows me to have.

There are opportunities for career progression as a hospital pharmacist although compared to the NHS the HSE has some catching up to do. Hopefully the role will develop in the coming years as it has in the NHS where pharmacists are becoming highly specialised, have prescribing rights and are integrated more fully into the healthcare team. From my experience of the HSE there isn't really a structured training/career path after registration that all pharmacists follow but there are plenty of opportunities if you go out and look for them.

Rachel BerryPharmacist My profession is a “caring” profession – I am involved in protecting people’s health at work. I guess that’s one of the reasons I chose it. It certainly has been very good to me on the earning front. And while it has taken a few years to save up for life’s “luxuries”, I am certainly in a very healthy position to take great vacations, have a nice house and spend a significant portion of my earnings on my hobby. Dave McDonaldAstronomer My personal life is very important to me. I am recently engaged and am an avid camogie player so creating a work-life balance is key to my personal happiness. BD is very flexible and supportive of my life outside of work and even though we work with colleagues in the US I never need to miss a training session in the evening! Patricia ClearySenior Systems Verification & Validation Scientist Whats cool Every day is different! I never have time to get bored, and there’s always something to learn; new equipment, unfamiliar processes, technical challenges.  Great for a curious mind!  I also get to work with most departments on a daily basis: Lab, Quality, Technical Operations, Site Services, IT, Engineering, so get a good awareness of what is happening around the site. Rachel BennettIndustrial Pharmacist Working on Stephens Green and also getting on well with work colleagues. Des LalorWind Engineer I love the variety the job offers. It sounds like a cliché but no two days are the same. I also like the satisfaction of knowing I am helping people.

People sometimes see the Gardaí as disciplinarians but in a lot of situations we help people who are very emotional and vulnerable such as victims of crime. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda I really like the different activities and duties I engage everyday and I like helping people on daily basis. For example I could be working in the public office or patrolling the district in a patrol car or be on foot patrol and doing my personal favourite; mountain bike patrol. Nan Hu Garda Being your own boss a lot of the time, making your own decisions, being able to step out of my back door every morning and stepping into my 1,000 acre office. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock The children in this school enjoy a small teacher pupil ratio of 9:1. As a result teachers get to know the pupils a lot better and see progress a lot more clearly. Also, with small numbers, you don't have to be so strict and can have quite a relaxed classroom atmosphere. It is also cool to know you are making a real difference in peoples lives. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Tax advice is always relevant to companies, whether they are restructuring in a downturn or growing and diversifying in times of expansion. It is an exciting, dynamic and deadline-driven environment that requires you as an adviser to stay up to date on the latest developments. The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification has been essential in equipping me with the necessary skills to meet the needs of my clients and to help me to succeed in my career. Caroline AustinSenior Associate Solicitor I think the coolest thing about the job I do is seeing the results when patients take our drugs. The drugs produced at Grange Castle dramatically improve patients lives. For me personally my brother takes Enbrel which is produced here at Grange Castle. It is made for people who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis which is a very painful and limiting disease. It has improved his wellbeing drastically over the past few years. It is very cool knowing that I play a role in the production of this drug to market. Brian O'ConnorAnalytical Chemist I love lots of things about my job, the friendly/laid-back environment, the people, the place, but most of all I love what I do! Writing code and having something to demo is such a satisfying feeling Claire PurcellSoftware Engineer I really like the challenge of staying ahead of the programme and even gaining ground where possible. Each project is different so as a job you are never stuck completing the same tasks day in day out.

There is a lot of problem solving and thinking on your feet is a must. There is a nice balance between office and site works.  Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry Getting problems solved and corrective actions implemented so I am confident I will never see the issue again. Managing a group of people and seeing the group succeed in achieving its objective Michael BohaneQA Manager The Revenue Commissioners offers great opportunities to its staff. There is huge scope for movement within the organisation both in terms of lateral movements and promotions. Revenue has a great mobility policy which ensures that staff do not stay in the one section / area for long periods of time. As a result staff are regularly rotated around to ensure they gain experience in numerous sectors and areas of tax.
The nature of tax is extremely diverse. Tax is changing all the time and as a tax consultant you must stay up to date. After every Finance Bill / Finance Act it is necessary to review any changes brought in or new taxes introduced. It is a challenging and rewarding career. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer Creating programmes to support people to reach their potential is really exciting. I've devised programmes to support grads, interns, people with disabilities, women returning from maternity leave. A lot of new HR technology is available now so you can do really cool things to understand colleagues and their preferences the way we try to understand our customers. Oonagh KellyHead of HR What I really like about my job is that it's very social. I did not expect that coming into an office environment. There's a very friendly atmosphere in here, which makes any stressful day a lot easier. We also do a lot of events and meet ups outside of work too, which is great for team building. Another thing I must include is the free tea, coffee and on-site lunches. It saves so much time in the mornings! Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP I enjoy the fact that there is a lot of patient contact and that we have the opportunity to make a real difference to people's lives through sometimes relatively simple actions. For example, just taking the time to sit down with someone and listen to their concerns or explain what each of their medicines is used for could make the difference between them taking medication or not. I found working as a community pharmacist quite an isolating experience and enjoy working alongside other healthcare professionals in my current role. Rachel BerryPharmacist Team comradery. Ian McKinleyRugby Player I am very much a people person and love the opportunities which this job provides. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee I love the variety that comes with this job, not knowing who you are going to meet or what you may come across. I also love that more often than not I get to work outdoors and meet so many different characters. Niamh BriggsGarda I love getting to sing beautiful music! That makes me so happy. And it's an amazing perk of the job to get to dress up as other people and see the world through their eyes. I also love the achievement of working really hard at something that is technically difficult, and then coming together with other people to make something really beautiful that lots of people can enjoy, as well as the storytelling element that we singers get to use very directly, because of having text to communicate to an audience. Sharon CartyOpera Singer Working at the Harwell Space Cluster in the UK. It’s an inspiring location with lots of activity and enthusiasm for innovation. Dealing with space data. That is COOL! Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist Not so cool Meetings, although necessary to get the job done, can sometimes be boring. The Internet bubble: means the stock price doesn't rocket up like it used to. Jason RuaneComputer Programmer I really can't think of anything off the top of my head! Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs Managers who don't care or who are disinterested in what one does. Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission The pay at the moment. Coming from a full time job it was very hard to adapt to the allowance paid during training. Mark Spain Garda Trainee I definitely don’t like getting up at 5.30 on cold winter mornings and commuting to work. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda Sometimes, I found at times it was difficult to balance work and studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification, especially when work was busy. However, I was lucky enough to be working in a company which allowed for study leave and so I had sufficient leave to allow me to adequately prepare for the exams. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer Seeing people upset and not knowing how to help them. Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant Not really. We have to do some administration-type work that isn't the most exciting thing but is really important to supporting our clients. Brian DelahuntyHead of Corporate Banking When you don’t perform well it’s not a nice feeling. Ian McKinleyRugby Player

Like many social work departments, there is more work than staff available to do it.

Jonathan O’ReillyPrincipal Social Worker The work involved in preparing for class i.e. preparing lessons and resources 'behind the scenes'. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Getting up at 5:30 am to come to work. I’ve never been a good morning person. Rebecca TigheProcess Engineer There are times where the pressure is turned up and additional effort and work is required this only happens a couple of times a year, but you need to be mentally prepared to put in the work that is needed. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme People management. I hate it, it's one of the things that I despise doing, but it's a key part of the job, something I have to do and it's something I'm not good at, i'ts not my natural instinct. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre I don’t have any major complaints, but sometimes there can be a lot of demands on my time that mean I must juggle what is the most important task at hand. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant I do not like billing but it is a very necessary part of working in a commercial firm! We need to record the time spent on client files and account for every minute while in the office and this can be difficult. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor Burying animals or having to put them down. Being so busy some days that you don't have time to eat - starving in the evenings. Not getting home as often as maybe I should. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock Sometimes the early morning starts and cold weather can be difficult but as time goes on you start to get use to it. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician It can be dirty sometimes. Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator I'm sure there are, but nothing springs to mind. Richard KinsellaManaging Director