deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job 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 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

As I have previously mentioned, the year I graduated was a great one for electronic engineering students. All of my graduating class had at least two offers before we had sat our final exams. At the time I had the offer of either taking up a Process Engineering, Software, Test or Hardware Design Engineering position with four different companies.

I picked hardware because that was what I most interested after completing my Electronics degree. I chose a multi-national company, and my advice to any graduate would be to start your career with an international company. Many of these companies will have formal graduate training programs in place, with pre defined career opportunities in place. Learning in a well established, and well structured environment will be crucial to any engineer entering the workforce for the first time.

After 12 months I left this company to work as a test engineer. At the time I didn’t want to commit my career to hardware design. I left on very good terms with the promise that if it didn’t work out I should make contact again. After 12 months I decided that my initial choice was what I wanted to pursue, and I was soon working again at my first company. I was promoted to team leader for a small engineering team, and the opportunity presented itself to pursue a career in management, but I wanted to stick with an engineering role. Eventually I was promoted to a senior design engineering position where I continued to design power supplies up until 2006. This was a very exciting time for me, and professionally my career really advanced.

In 2006 an opportunity arose to join a small Irish company that was moving its headquarters from Dublin to Cork. This company was Excelsys Technologies. The role was to head up the Applications Engineering group. I met with the Managing Director, who had previously headed up European Operations for the first company I had worked for. I also knew some of the other staff, again having previously worked with them. We now have a concentrated group of very experienced engineers, designing some of the highest power density power supplies in our chosen market.

Shane CallananElectronic Engineer I applied in the last recruitment campaign in December 2013. I passed all assessments and test and was invited to Garda College in Templemore for a 34 week training period, which I enjoyed a lot. Emilia GilroyGarda I applied through publicjobs.ie. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee The job was advertised in the paper and on the council website. I filled in the application, waited patiently for an interview, and happy days, here I am. Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer I started in the Commission at graduate entry grade. I never intended to stay so long but I found it really interesting. Catherine DaySecretary General I was offered the job by the director of the company and promoted in house. I did not actively seek my current position. I had always been involved and had opinions on the direction the company should take with regard to Health & safety, and became safety rep as a result.

As Duty manager and later Deputy GM, recruitment and selection was part of my role. As the company grew to 4 hotels, there was a need for HR department, and I was offered the position of HR manager & H&S co-ordinator the group RCOI. Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel At the moment I am self employed. This is always what I wanted and over the years I have built up a big enough client base to enable me to do this. Luke DreaEvent Rider

• Saw the job ad on LinkedIn – Applied
• Had a competency based interview
• Follow up coffee with two different team members
• Started in the role within three weeks of accepting

Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead We started planning our business venture of opening Glen Keen Farm as a tourism facility back in 2004, this took 10 years. We had to go through a lot of different challenges, obstacles and of course raising the funds to build a purpose built tourism facility was a major challenge. Eventually after our planning application, Environmental impact study, Archaeological impact study and a complex process of applying for grant aid we finally opened the doors of Glen Keen Farm in July 2014! Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms

I was contacted by a recruitment consultant who described the role and enquired if I was interested. I expressed an interest and an interview was arranged. I was interviewed by HR and my current boss. It was a general interview exploring pharmaceutical experience to date, general interests etc.

I was invited to attend for a second interview, again with HR and my current boss. This was a more specific interview based on the star interview model (situation, task, action taken, result). I was presented with a number of situations (20-30) to describe what was the action I had taken and the outcome. Th recruitment consultant then arranged a medical test and reference check.and I was informed in a number of days that I had been successful and the company would like to make an offer. The company contacted me directly and made an offer. I had some extra requests and these were met. I accepted the role. The entire process took about two months.

Michael BohaneQA Manager I had applied for my position through publicjobs.ie in 2006. After the written test, interview and physical test, I took up training in the Garda College. After graduation in 2008 I was assigned to the Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin and I have been working there for the last 7 years. Nan Hu Garda I started my own company a year ago. I hired some people that I have been working with for several years and together we are building something incredible! Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies 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 Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs

I was a science and maths teacher in my school for a number of years. I took a study leave year which allowed me to go back to university to train to be a Guidance Counsellor.

Having completed the training, a full time position came available in my school. Having already been involved in guidance in the school informally it seemed a logical progression to move into the formal role of Guidance Counsellor.

Brian HowardGuidance Counsellor I was approached through the University of Limerick by Northern Trust to do an interview for their co-op programme. I was successful in my interview and was offered a chance to do my co-op with them which I gladly accepted. I really enjoyed my co-op and was then offered a chance to come back to Northern Trust upon completion of my final year of college. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency Drive, determination and confidence. It was a tough application process but by using these three qualities I suceeded. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee I started in Intel as a graduate process engineer. My manager asked me during my regular one-on-one meetings, where I envision myself in the group for the upcoming new technology. It was here that I was able to express my interest in the ‘tool install’ area.

It wasn’t until many months later, after I had completed an assignment in the US, that I was asked to move to the Install-Qual group. It was great to evidence the personal interest that my manager had in my career progression to encourage this opportunity and this seems to be a value that Intel actively encourages in management. Darryl DayIQ Engineer Main challenges Amy O’DwyerAssociate Sustainability Advisor The main challenge for me is time management. I have a large number of responsibilities to carry out and due to the varied nature of any given project it can be hard to stick to a plan on a daily basis.

Once you deviate from a plan you must try and catch up some other time which tends to lead to additional hours. I don’t mind this because I prefer to be on top of things rather than lagging behind. Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry As JET Programme Coordinator there is a lot of work to be done, and you really hit the ground running, as promotion usually begins soon after the new Coordinator begins. It's also really important to stick to deadlines, and make sure that the applicants are doing the same! This means that it's really important to prioritise your tasks, and to be prepared for travelling and long days. Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy Working in a fast-paced environment can also be challenging at times. It is an environment that demands high productivity at high standards.  Laura FinneganProcess Development Engineer

The main challenges are the changes that are taking place within the Health Service, everyone has to be more accountable for the decisions they make while they are working in a hospital environment. All grades of staff have to be aware of all the work policies and the correct procedures to be followed while at work.

Up until the last few years attendants didn’t need any formal training, they were just there to assist the nursing staff but now they need to be trained and they have to take responsibility to ensure that clients get the care and attention that they are entitled to. Policies are changing all the time so you need to keep updated on them. This means taking time to read and understand them and the affect they have on your role at work.

Lydia PeppardCare Assistant The main challenges are: - the ever tightening quotas - the increasing costs of running vessels. - finding crew - Departmental constraints Alan O'NeillFisherman Given the economic difficulties of the past few years I would say that the main challenge in working in financial services is gaining the customers trust. Clients are now more careful and in many cases very cautious about dealing with financial services providers.

However in many ways this can be looked upon as a positive as it give us a chance to showcase our knowledge and capabilities and sell ourselves to the customer and thus building up relationships. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator

Device design & the application of new materials: As the majority of products we work with have to be delivered to the body non-invasively the main challenge is to find materials & components that are small enough to provide the necessary requirements.

For example, the application of Nitinol (NiTi), a shape memory metal, to stents in the 1990’s. NiTi is commercially used in spectacles & can withstand very high stresses & stains. Stents are small metal structures used to open vessels in the body which may have become blocked. The stent can be reduced in outer diameter & is attached to a delivery device. Once in the body it is enlarged, sometimes by the inflation of a balloon which pushes the stent against the wall of the vessel it needs to dilate.

Other challenges include the management of projects & ensuring timelines are hit on schedule.

Sinead KennyDesign Engineer The main challenges for me are trying to fit everything into one day!! It’s important that you manage your time well, and identify what is important and what really needs to be completed before you can leave the office. Because of the nature of application support we are constantly being forced to re-prioritise our work schedules. Having a good professional relationship with the customer is paramount to understanding just how urgent their request might be. Also because of the wide scope of our sales, dealing with different nationalities and cultures can be a challenge at first. Shane CallananElectronic Engineer You have to test yourself negotiating with people from other countries. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant Its not without its challenges in terms of the changes that are happening globally and in every industry but even more so in a regulated environment that comes with additional challenges but I’m up for it. Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB 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 While working on a new product idea could be very exciting, it may take years to implement and prove out the final product as the medical device industry is so heavily regulated. However, this is necessary and important in order to deliver the highest quality and safest products to our patients. Xiaona HouProduct Engineer Main challenges for me right now include aligning the cool algorithms that the technical team can create with customers, and trying to commercialize them. Some of the technology we can create is very cool, but getting people to see the value of it and buy it can be very difficult. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies

The main challenges for me are:

• Dealing with the dynamics of clients in the house and how they interact (why and how they get on or don't ), identifying skills that they may need help with in order to learn how to get on better and finding ways we can teach these
• Liaising with the wider organisation in finding solutions for problems
• Developing new areas and generally increasing the potential for our clients in how they live and what they can expect from the service
• Working with a large team of people from different backgrounds, cultures and with different values and beliefs, all which affect our work and how we see our clients and our work
• Our clients may not be able to communicate properly what is wrong and therefore may display behaviour which is not appropriate or which is aggressive or antisocial. This is a challenge to encourage good behaviour and give them other more positive and mature ways of communicating their problems.

Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker I recently worked on a project where the scope of the project was constantly changing and we were under considerable pressure to complete the project by an agreed deadline. How I dealt with this is by working efficiently, being decisive and helping out the team in whatever way I could to ensure we met our commitment to our client. Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager Like in any company there are always targets and deadlines to meet but to be honest I like that because if you don’t have a challenge you don’t have a future. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer

Sometimes I give presentations to senior people or very large groups of people across the globe. This certainly feels daunting as I want to come across as credible; that I'm doing a great job for the organisation and deserve to be there.

I like the challenge of it, making sure that I am an example of what I am trying to help others achieve - being clear and crisp in communication and engaging others when you speak.

Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead It is getting more and more difficult to stay up to date with all the latest research published in my field. It is not unusual for several people to be working on the same problem at the same time and it is important to keep up to date so that you don't waste time repeating the same experiment. Nuala CaffreyResearch Fellow in Computational Physics The time difference can be a challenge as we work with colleagues on the west coast of America but usually the team is very helpful and considerate when arranging meeting times. Patricia ClearySenior Systems Verification & Validation Scientist Typical day The typical type of work I do includes working on group reorganisations, financing project and trade transfers. More recently, I have also been involved in a number of large property transactions. I am constantly in contact with other professional bodies, such as solicitors and banks. I would be in regular contact with Revenue, as part of my day to day work. Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager Luckily, on this contract we had no day duties which meant that unless we had rehearsals for the shows we were completely free during the day. For that reason when we docked in a city I was free to get off the ship and explore which was really incredible. I knew that straight away after this contract I was going to be choreographing a musical back home though so some days I needed to spend time during the day preparing for that too so that I had it all choreographed and ready to go.

Sometimes in the afternoons we would have rehearsals for the shows just to clean up any problems or change things if one of the dancers was injured. Then I would go back to my cabin and start my make-up for the show. We always warmed up together as a group before the show to make sure we could give it 100%. After the show we would prepare all of our costumes for the next day and see if anything needed fixing, cool down and go to bed to do it all again the next day. Megan McEvoyDancer

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 I am currently working on a project where I am determining the equipment that is required to make the medicine. When the equipment is made I then test it to ensure it is working correctly and the medicine it makes meets the requirements that will make it work and keep patients safe Niamh YatesValidation Engineer When I arrive to work in the morning, I run a report to check what tasks are coming due for our team and also what batches we need to release in order to meet patient demands. These are discussed and prioritized during our morning meetings, along with any issues encountered in manufacturing during the previous 24 hours.Because Johnson & Johnson is a global company, there are often conference calls with colleagues from the US and around the world, to discuss various projects. Gillian MorganManufacturing Process Specialist My day is 9.00am - 5.00pm Monday to Friday.
A typical day involves learning about different areas of the Gardaí from Law to self defence to preparation of files. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee

I’ve worked in a wide range of areas over my four years at Wavebob, from mechanical design to data analysis – but most recently a lot of my work has been related to tank testing. We use large wave tanks to test scaled models of our [ocean energy] device, to see how it reacts to different wave conditions, and we use this data to feed in to the design and manufacture of the full size machine.

As Wavebob are a wave energy technology developer, we are constantly learning and innovating. We are inventing a new way of doing things and that presents certain challenges, but it is also very exciting. It’s very important to keep in touch with what’s happening in the industry and associated academic research – this means attending conferences, reading research papers and even keeping up to date with related technologies.

Elva BannonMechatronic Engineer

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 The department I work in is called Partner Service Delivery. We are there to support the SAP partners through their lifecycle with as a SAP PartnerEdge Partner, through various difference services, from the recruitment of partners to registering their deals and providing general helpline support where and when it's needed. Our partners are based all over the world, so we have 6 different office locations globally to support them, with Galway being the main one. As you can imagine, there's a lot of diversity between the different regions we support. With this, it is important for our team to understand the cultural differences of each. You learn so much every day about the different partners and how their needs may vary from another. Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP 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 Check to-do list written previous evening. Check emails & reply. Weave and organise completion of various production tasks

Allocate time to marketing & promotion, finance management & accounts. Updating my Website. Ongoing maintenance of equipment. Liz ChristyTextile Design/Handweaver

Actually there is nothing like a typical day really, and that's what make it so interesting.

But common things do happen: Morning production meetings to get feedback from shifts occur at 07:45 followed by a planning meeting at 10:00 for the next 24hrs schedules. A 08:30 there is a short technical team meeting to try and dove tail current work lists in the department and to give/get feedback on various activities going on. The rest of the day would be spent on parts of the circa 5-10 projects that would typically be on the go at any one time.

When you have so many projects on the go it is very important to develop tracking systems that work for you and to try and reduce the pressure of deadline by setting your own targets some time before the actual due dates.

Challenges can come about because of multiple competing deadlines and tight resources on man power, scheduling is thus the key to success.

Jonathan PugsleyEnergy Manager

I typically work a regular weekday, however I like the flexibility that my job as Clinical Psychologist allows. Sometimes I might arrive in earlier, for example, to prepare for a Memory Clinic for older people with dementia. Other days I might stay a bit later if we’re running a Parenting Skills Group, for example.

On a usual day I come into my clinic-based office and check phone or email messages and respond to them. Then I might have a Clinic Team Meeting which is where members of the multi-disciplinary team (e.g. Social Worker, Psychiatrist, Occupational Therapist) meet to discuss referrals or ongoing clinical work. Then I might have an appointment with someone either for assessment (e.g. a cognitive assessment or IQ test) or therapy (e.g. psychotherapy).

In the afternoon I might have appointments out in the community, for example, with a teacher in a special school about a particular student, or in a residential home with a Social Care Worker about someone living there. A regular part of my work throughout the week involves reviewing research studies and programmes as part of my planning clinical interventions for individual people or situations.

Once a week I have a meeting with my Head of Department where we review the people and cases on my ‘caseload’ and I find this meeting very useful. At the end of the day I spend some time writing up my clinical notes, scoring up any assessments I did that day, liaising with my colleagues around any tasks that came out of my work that day, and finally planning my work schedule for the next day. Then I leave the Clinic to enjoy my evening!

Elaine MacDonaldPsychologist - Clinical

I don’t tend to have a typical day; each day is different depending on the work in hand.

If I am painting, once I begin I tend to work for hours, then maybe not work on it for days and then come back to the canvas with fresh eyes. Some paintings take only days, some take months. Most of my paintings are explorations of the surfaces of other worlds. If I am doing a drawing workshop I pack the equipment in the car the evening before, so getting to the venue is my only pressure.

It’s very rewarding to impart the excitement of our solar system and space exploration via drawing to children. Sometimes several workshops in one day can be a challenge, especially if the venues are distant from each other. I have to be very flexible when I arrive as each venue is different and I need to adapt my presentation, equipment etc on the spot to suit the attendees.

If I choose to do a Moon drawing for a book or an article I am on tenterhooks hoping for a clear evening. On an ideal night I have the telescope set up early in the best position to follow my target. I might observe the area I intend to draw several times before I am ready to start. My drawing easel and pastels are ready and I have to be very focused indeed to capture the lunar feature in as much detail as possible. Full-phase Moon drawings can take up to two hours or more to complete, other features perhaps an hour.

Photography is involved if it’s a step-by-step article or book chapter that can be very awkward in the flow of the drawing. Mostly I would write an outline report on my drawing soon as it is finished.

Deirdre KelleghanAmateur Astronomer My day varies from day-to-day. It depends what kind of experiment that I am running on that day itself. Normally I will start doing experiments in the morning, so that I have plenty of time to do write ups or read some journal papers in the afternoon. My experiments involve analysing mouse brain tissue, RNA samples and sometimes we do studies on paediatric brain samples too! Before heading back home, I will plan the experiment for the following day and prepare the necessary chemicals required for that experiment. This is so that my following day will be more organized and I don’t have to worry about rushing and preparing the chemicals in the next morning. Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI

My husband goes to the market very early to get the fish and I bring the children to school and creche and go to the shop for 9.15am. Then I set up the counter with the fresh fish. It is hard to be creative and also set up as quickly as you can.

The day starts. I serve customers and fill in details of the fish for traceability. The customers are the biggest bonus to my day. You keep the counter looking good with your product topped up with ice and make sure everything is super clean. You can never have any bad smell in such a small shop. So hygiene is a big thing.

Nicola O'HigginsFishmonger There is no typical day especially when out fishing. It varies from time of year and what fish you are catching. The weather also plays a huge part. Alan O'NeillFisherman

Every day in the Defences Forces is different. There is never a mundane day in the Defences Forces. Generally they consist of lectures based on different situations and tactics employed by a soilder, and also training on different weapons and equipment.

The majority of the day is focused towards physical and mental fitness and strength. Each training sessions is geared towards a different aspect of this fitness ranging from: a simple run in training gear to a fully uniformed "battlerun" with equipment which is always both challenging and rewarding.

Keith LynchPrivate (Line) I usually arrive in school about 8:15. Classes don’t start until 9:00 but I like to get some corrections and preparation done first. I would usually have between 6 and 9 class periods each day. Each class lasts 40 minutes.

On a typical day I would teach a variety of different classes and age groups, ranging from first year through to Leaving Cert. At 11:00 there is a ten minute break. Some days I would be required to supervise the corridors at this time.

After break there are two more classes before lunch at 12:25. Lunch is a good chance to catch up with colleagues in the staff room. At 1:25 class starts again. There are 4 classes in the afternoon with school finishing at 4pm.

I coach the school soccer team so I might have a training session for an hour and a half after school. Other days I might have to supervise in-school study for 2 hours. If I’m not doing extra curricular activities or study I usually stay in school and do some corrections, photocopying and preparations.

There is quite an amount of paperwork involved for a resource teacher as daily logs of student’s progress and activities must be kept. I might also use this time to update a student’s individual education plan (I.E.P) and make changes based on my assessment of their progress this week. Paul GalvanResource Teacher There are three engineers aboard here, we each do two watches in the engine room in 24 hrs, my watch starts at 12 then I finish at 4, so each watch is four hours long! Along with helping on deck when fishing and looking after refrigeration for the fish! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer Further training... I intend to sit my Sergeant Exams this year. Niamh BriggsGarda I would like to learn sign language so I can impart my enthusiastic talks and workshops to the hearing impaired. Deirdre KelleghanAmateur Astronomer Yes it’s always necessary to keep up to date with best practice in special education. I have completed a Cert. in Dyslexia which is DES (Department of Education and Science) approved. In the future I intend to study for a Masters degree. I also read books and publications on special education and teaching methodology. Paul GalvanResource Teacher Not at the moment Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy I will take any opportunity that arises in the future. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee I will be doing a fish filleting course very soon. Nicola O'HigginsFishmonger Studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification was a key aspect of my training. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer 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 In the Garda College I have completed a suicide intervention course which has proved to be a very worthwhile course.

In the future I hope that I can further my education and build on the degree that I will attain at the end of the training. I think that furthering education will be crucial if I want to progress my career in years to come. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda I have received training on the use of the interactive whiteboard as a tool for teaching. 

Inservice days on new (1999) primary school curriculum. 

I have participated in many courses on Gaelic Games run by the local G.A.A. Club 'Kilmacud Crokes'.

Currently I am studying in U.C.D. on a Masters in Education programme. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Several H+S and construction management courses and welding courses. I plan on doing a project management course and CAD course in the near future. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. I would like to when I find the time! Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator I have done a number of different courses for my job. I did a Filleting Course one year ago. I also did a Forklift Course two years ago and I've have done two HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) Courses in the past few years. Brendan WhiteFish Filleter Yes, I am undertaking level 8 Business Studies with Dublin Business School. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Not at present but may look into doing a Masters.  Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead I have partaken in a number of training programmes since taking on my current job including Performance Management, Conflict resolution, Lead Auditing, Internal auditing among others.

I am currently studying a Masters in Pharmaceutical Technology in Trinity College Dublin. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Yes, I am planning to take the CFA Certificate in ESG Investing, wish me luck! Amy O’DwyerAssociate Sustainability Advisor For now, I'm planning on finishing the course with NCI and hopefully progressing my career with NT Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice I don’t know yet, it depends where my life goes. I am well qualified for what I’m doing currently. Liz O'TooleSkipper 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 Advice if considering this job Enjoy the wild ride after you enroll in a course. It is bumpy and challenging, but where is the fun in life if there is no challenge?  Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI

I would advise having a degree in Human Resource Management and Industrial Relations. Professional training in nursing is necessary in order to understand patient care and what standards are required to provide quality care in an acute hospital setting.

One would also have to understand the value of planning, implementing and evaluating work practices in order to get the best out of employees. The person coming into the job would need to be patient, able to negotiate and work under pressure, as well as work on their own initiative.

Ejiro O'Hare StrattonClinical Nurse Manager 2 Don't just go into teaching because you are looking for long holidays. To teach everyday you need to like children, be very patient and understanding. However I feel it is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Its very specialised so one would really have to do Mechnical Engineering or a Transport Operations/Transport Management degree course. Foreign languages would be extremely useful. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland

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 Do not go into teaching solely for holidays, and definitely not if you want to be rich! You need to like children be patient, kind and be able to work with many types of people. Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher 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 Go for it! Intel is a fantastic company to work for. Darryl DayIQ Engineer Be prepared for responsibility and the rewards and problems that come with responsibility. It is very important to be comfortable making decisions and living with them. While it is impossible to be right all of the time the majority of decisions you make have to be correct. Michael BohaneQA Manager It can be challenging, but very rewarding. Choose subjects and coursework carefully. Owen HughesManufacturing Technician I would offer 3 pieces of advice:

- Have a open mind and embrace change in order to grow
- Believe in yourself and your team - anything is possible!
- Be a problem solver, any problem big or small has a solution if you commit to finding one. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager If you are unsure I would recommend coming to an open day in the college and if possible also doing the Garda Reserve. It gives the best insight imaginable into the work of Gardaí. Mark Spain Garda Trainee You need to be hard working, enjoy the outdoor life regardless of the weather and must be willing to work as part of a team at all times. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager 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 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 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 If you are considering full-time scientific research, try to get a work placement in a university department so you can see first hand what it’s like. It’s a relatively relaxed, flexible environment, but there is a certain degree of self-motivation needed. 

So I would say you need to be able to push  yourself and be proactive in terms of setting up collaborations with other scientists etc. Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist

This career involves working with people in a caring capacity. If you have no interest in helping people personally or educationally then this may be the wrong profession for you.

Empathy, patience and respect are important qualities for this job, in addition to be able to relate well to the person you are dealing with. As there is also a large amount of information to be handled in the job, good organisational, IT and time management skills are also quite important.

Brian HowardGuidance Counsellor The most important thing is to be passionate about what you’re doing. It can be pretty difficult at times and in those times, the only thing that gets you through it are the little successes you achieve during the week or the month or by solving a problem or getting a new client. Oz IlbrahmiManufacturing Specialist Research the exams and the career progression through accountancy and see if this is something you can see yourself in long term.  Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme The lifestyle Very much so. Your job will always be as good as you make it. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee

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 I currently work fixed 12 hour shifts, so if I work two days, I get two days off and then can have a lot of time to focus on my own hobbies, and get shopping etc.  However, I’ve only every other weekend off so it can be difficult at times to catch up with friends and family, and to fit in around sporting activities.  Hospital and Community Pharmacy have more ‘normal’ hours in general although being on-call is still expected as is the case with most clinical roles. Rachel BennettIndustrial Pharmacist Yes. I have a very active life style. I like running climbing, hiking and travelling. Unlike other professions, I work six days then have four days off.

This allows me to go on a small camping trip or to take a long hike somewhere down the countryside. Our annual flexible leave system is also very flexible as it allows me to arrange my holidays well in advance. Nan Hu Garda 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 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 I love the sea and tend to snorkel, dive and surf in my spare time, so you’re never really switched off - work and life over-lap a lot. I don’t buy into a lot of the work-life balance stuff, life is life and you make time for the things you want or need to do. The majority of research positions are contract based and few of us have permanent roles, so job security is certainly an issue in research.  Damien HaberlinEcologist (Post-Doctoral Researcher) 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 I believe it does, my manager always promotes a healthy work-life balance and helps with managing workload and expectations. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Yes, I love what I do. Sara Hickey Assistant Trading Manager My job allows me to have a good work life balance. Flexi time allows me to work at hours that suit my lifestyle, and I can always come in earlier on a particular day if I need to leave earlier. Because most of my work is done on a computer, there are options to work from home as well if you aren’t able to come into work on a particular day. The atmosphere in the office is very friendly and relaxed which really goes a long way I think. Catherine AhearnData Scientist Yes certainly, the hours can sometimes be long but also very rewarding. It's what I love and it's what I know so I'll be sticking to it. Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator Initially as a young free person, the hours in hospitality were varied and I liked that. I could be on or off any given day. The variety suited me. If I needed a night off or to go out on the town over the weekend, I requested it and got it.

As life changed, marriage and children came along, I found working with a family run organisation helped – they were very understanding and accommodating if time was needed to facilitate family time.

Being off mid-week when my partner worked was good in a sense as it cut down on childcare costs – he was there at the weekend when I was working.

As work in the hospitality industry can be very varied, there is potential to change the direction of career, rather than operations, I am now 9-5 Monday – Thursday in my HR capacity which suits life with a young family of school age.

Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel The hours are good, you still have enough time in the evening to follow pursuits which interest you. In the last number of years, I got married abroad, in fact, in Cyprus and my wife and I bought our new home in 2005.

The house has a study/ writing room, to which I go in the evening time. I'm not big on excessive luxuries but we do have a car and like to go on family holidays, usually somewhere hot like Spain. I also have my series of dvd collections, for example 007 movies and cult t.v. shows like 'The Prisoner', which I regularly add to. We also have a lovely garden where the children can play and I can relax, if only!. Jonathan SmythLibrary Assistant Yes it does, I am lucky that my career choice heavily overlaps with my personal interests so I guess I am lucky in that sense, there is also a lot of opportunities to travel. Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications Yes and no. I live and work in the centre of Dublin, which I think is amazing. My work has taken me to places all around the world including three years in London. I loved every bit of that aspect (others don’t). Job security is really poor. Most young scientists are on fixed-term contracts hoping to be given a permanent position. It’s very, very competitive. Then again, most jobs at that level (in law, business, etc.) are too. Far more needs to be done to help research scientists move from the lab to the non-academic world. Recent initiatives by government and industry have started to make positive changes here. Shane BerginPhysics Lecturer Yes I’m very happy with my lifestyle. My job is doing something that interests me every day, and Flexi-time allows me to continue doing things I love outside of work at times that suit me, like exercising and spending time with friends. There’s a really great atmosphere in my workplace and people are more like friends than work colleagues, and we have quite a relaxed, yet efficient working environment. Claire PurcellSoftware Engineer Yes, I enjoy my weekends off and I also get to keep another passion of mine alive in my spare time which is farming. A great work-life balance! Kevin O'HaganDesign Engineer Absolutely. I get the best of both worlds. I work from home and do analysis myself, but also have the opportunity to go to different sites across Cork, Kildare and Belfast and meet new people. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst I am currently working a 35 hour week. The week usually flies by, because work is quite busy at times but also very challenging. Sometimes you may have to work beyond the 35 hours but effort by employees is readily acknowledged by management.

My current job allows for adequate time off, which allows for good quality time with family and friends. It also offers ample opportunity for leisure activities and a good work life balance. So I have no excuse for "lack of exercise ". Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager Whats cool

The best things about my job:

• Working with great people every day who are fun to be around
• Working on some of the biggest deals in the Irish and Global market
• Meeting new people every week and learning about their businesses
• Seeing how technology is changing the world around us
• Having a chance to progress in the company through hard work
• Being able to work flexibly, and ensure a good balance between work and family life

Brian DelahuntyHead of Corporate Banking

The coolest thing is that I am practically my own boss, provided projects come in on time and within agreed/set budgets.

I am very lucky in that I get to make the company better and in some instances make the lives of some people easier and less fraught.

I love working as part of a dedicated team that strives to continually improve all aspects of the organisation.

Jonathan PugsleyEnergy Manager The variety of things I get to do and the freedom I have to do it. What are the main challenges? Working in a university comes with a lot of administrative tasks – I hate doing them. Also, the lack of female lecturer colleagues… The majority of lecturers and professors are men – based on lots of rubbish reasons. The university is working hard to change this trend. I’m a real feminist when it comes to making the needed changes. Shane BerginPhysics Lecturer Delivering for the Irish public is a key personal driver of mine. When a new depot, tram Luas line is launched, my colleagues and I do feel (justifiably, I believe) very proud. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland I am very much a people person and love the opportunities which this job provides. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee Meeting people from all walks of life and no two days being the same. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super.

The ability to get things done – I’m generally the go to person if something is needed to be fixed, Knowledge – it’s nice to be the go to person if someone has a problem /difficulty, even though I don’t know all the answers, I’ll do my best to find out.

The ability to help /fix things is very fulfilling. I don’t know though if I could be perceived as cool! Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel Job satisfaction is the best thing for me. It is very rewarding to see a client progress and do well based on your work with them. Also the working hours and annual leave allows me to enjoy other aspects of life including hobbies and traveling.

There is also a great deal of variety in this career. Every client we meet is different and a day's work is rarely dull. I also get the opportunity to liaise with and meet a variety of other professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, teachers. I'm also lucky in that my work colleagues have also become friends. Lisa KellySpeech and Language Completing design analysis and testing. Seeing a product that you have brought through the design phase, through the manufacturing phase, and then successfully completing the test phase is awesome! Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer Having my own workshop in the Castle yard. Flexible hours, and selling what I make. Ray PowerPotter I have yet to discover what's cool about work, but the ability to make a living from what I'm interested in is what encourages me to do it. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy I like the satisfaction you get at the end of the week when you see all the planning and the work co-ordinated well to present a new piece of construction. Colin ButterlySite Manager - Trade Entry 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

Variety of the role- couple of months is marketing strategy.

Being a brand ambassador for the bank.

Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead Oisín:
Finished job satisfaction, seeing yourself and your skills develop using different tools and methods to get the job done.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter

I am continuously challenged every day in my job which is great.

Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist There are not many people who can say that they make a living out of their passion but luckily I am one of those people. I can do my favourite thing in the world and get paid for it and I will never take that for granted. Nothing will ever quite beat the adrenaline rush when you finally finish the show and hear the audience applause. For me that feeling will never get old. Megan McEvoyDancer

I like working with dozens of different staff members every day as we work as a team to protect children’s rights.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor I love problem-solving and also the inventing process. Oz IlbrahmiManufacturing Specialist There are a number of cool aspects of my job some of which perhaps only I find cool. I enjoy the fact that I can use my engineering experience to work on topics directly related to putting vehicles and people in space. I enjoy the fast paced projects that I am involved with and even though I do spend some sleepless nights worrying, the buzz when you find a solution is fantastic. In the past six months I have managed a project to put a reentry capsule in space, built hardware for astronaut training, taken part in a space debris study and more. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer Not so cool Tearing the net and mending it. Getting no fish and therefore getting no money. Alan O'NeillFisherman I am not too fond of admin / paperwork but this is an essential part of the job here so I need to keep myself motivated to keep on top of it! Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms Similar to many industries, different types of technology are constantly being introduced in the field of engineering. This means that it is necessary to attend training and spend time getting used to the various types of software.Only recently, I attended a training course on the essentials of seismic engineering. Earthquake design is not applicable to buildings in Ireland; however, it is a necessary requirement in other parts of the world. As Arup works on global projects, it is brilliant that I get the chance to attend this type of training, as I can apply what I have learned when I work on international projects. Shauna HurleyStructural Engineer The things that are not cool but are necessary aspects of the job are dealing with bed pans, commodes, cleaning up after clients have had a toiletry accident or have vomited, smells can be bad sometimes. Dealing with the death of clients, most of our clients are long stay residents and you get to know them and their relatives very well, so this is not one of the nicest parts of the job. Lydia PeppardCare Assistant Heavy administration process. Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead Nothing so far. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer The clean up after my events (TV cooking slots, cookery demonstrations etc). Yes I do a lot of the cleaning, packing up and carrying luggage. Fiona UyemaChef Having to tie the vessel up because of no quotas! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer Documentation. Filling out the large number of necessary project documents can be very repetitive. Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer Sometimes tight deadlines mean that it can be very fast paced and challenging, but working as part of a team really helps here! Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager Sometimes things go wrong, you have to re-visit projects and start the process again which can be stressful and time consuming.   Kevin O'HaganDesign Engineer Definitely drafting meeting minutes. I don’t think anyone enjoys that. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant Chasing payments from customers. Ray PowerPotter The hours are quite long and you’re also not close to your family. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant Some exercises can be very long and demanding. Sometimes you can be wet, hungry and tired and you just feel sorry for yourself.  But when it is all over I look back on it and realise the laugh that I had. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) Nothing really as every job comes with its own hazard. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve As we are very busy through the winter months it can be very cold. We cannot have any heat on in the factory floor due to the nature of our products. This is not nice through the winter months. Brendan WhiteFish Filleter I don't have the best work-life balance at my current job, but since the pandemic I'm working from home as well as the office and trying to introduce more flexibility around my working hours. Semin Soher PowerSenior Inflation Trader Some days working from home can be difficult as something simple like asking someone a quick question becomes a task in itself, trying to find time between online meetings. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst So far I can't say I dislike anything. Things are challenging but you grow to like the tasks. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee