deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job

My current job is a Health Care Assistant.  I have worked for the Health Service for the last 20 years as an attendant. Up until the last year an attendant was the only non-nursing role within the hospital.  All non-nursing roles were classed as attendants. This role consisted of some care of the clients, cleaning and some catering duties.

In the last few years the national strategy within the Health Service was to break up this group of staff into three distinct roles, Health Care Assistants, Catering Staff and Household Staff in order to provide a better service to the clients using the service. The staff working at ward level were given the option of which group of staff they wished to be part of. The role of Health Care Assistant was determined by staff who had completed the Health Care Assistant's course, staff undergoing the course and then seniority of staff.

My role for the last 20 years was as an attendant within a kitchenette at ward level. I have completed a Skills VEC FETAC Level 5 Course Modules including: Communications, Care Support, Food Preparation and Service, Legislative Procedures & Quality, Nutrition, Work Experience, Infection Prevention and Control and Stock Control and Material Systems.

I wanted to return to the caring role so I opted for the Health Care Assistant's role.

Lydia PeppardCare Assistant Oisín:
Sending an application email and interviewing for the position.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter A friend working within the company. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. I applied with CV and got in when a sudden vacancy occurred. Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist I studied Law and Business and qualified as a Solicitor before joining the Department of Foreign Affairs. Edith DelaneyThird Secretary Desk Officer I'm currently an entrepreneur. I founded my own company a few years ago. For previous corporate roles I applied online and did several interviews. Then I was contacted by the agency if I was successful. Sometimes they don't contact you if you were unsuccessful! Fiona UyemaChef 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 Regular production bored me. So I set about trying to find an area that would excite and inspire me. Luckily I found it. Owen HughesManufacturing Technician It was advertised in a job section on newspaper. I went for a formal interview and received a letter stating my success in getting the position. Within the HSE, a panel of successful applicants is formed after the interviews and this panel usually remains ‘active’ for a year in that there is a chance you may be offered a position within that timeframe. Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker

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 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 knew people who worked with Albatross Seafoods and I thought the work sounded just like what I would like to do. I went to the owner of the business, gave my C.V to him and it went from there. Brendan WhiteFish Filleter In the answer to question #3, I partially explained how I got to my current job. I was offered the position of Senior Research Advisor at both SOSA and MCSS before I even finished my PhD. I ended up moving to Slovakia to pursue the job at SOSA, while performing my work for MCSS remotely. In January 2016, I was elected vice chair of SOSA, so I have even more duties and responsibilities (described in section #8 below). Generally speaking, however, I got to my current job by going after my passion and childhood dreams: to study space and astrobiology, hoping that one-day I could work for NASA and/or ESA; even to become an astronaut! I have worked very hard so far pursuing these dreams. First of all, I funded all of my studies at UCL, CalTech, University of Bristol (UoB) and the International Space University’s Space Studies Program (ISU SSP) only through numerous scholarships, awards, part-time work and even charity funding (as my parents could not afford to finance my education). Moreover, I used the possibilities, offered by my studies, to the maximum to gain research experience in space exploration. For example, I volunteered to work on an extracurricular project on extra-solar planets at the University of London Observatory; I was awarded a Nuffield Foundation grant for a joint NASA/UK Space Agency MoonLite project, simulating planetary surfaces; I became a teaching assistant in astrobiology and astronomy for Bachelor’s degree classes at UCL, UoB and numerous schools in London; at CalTech I proposed research projects of my own, working with leading scientists in astrobiology, including Mars Curiosity Rover’s chief scientist, Professor John Grotzinger; I was awarded a research fellowship to work at NASA JPL; and my research projects and myself were selected for a Martian simulation mission to the Mars Desert Research Station (MDRS), USA. All of the awards and job offers that I received were the result of all of these self-driven activities, as well as the quality of my research results. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services My current role was a progression from the initial aforementioned internship. It included many rounds of interviews and I have been promoted within Barclays in that time too. It is great when you have the opportunity to develop and further your career in a place you enjoy! Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking

While in Secondary School Intel came on a Road Show advertising their products, what they did and what kind of careers they had to offer. They also advertised the fact that they offered scholarships in the field of Engineering to Students entering into third level education. Hence I decided to investigate and applied for this programme and was successful in receiving Intel's Women in Technology Undergraduate Scholarship. With this scholarship came the opportunity to come work in Intel for 2 summers while I was in college, which I did.

On leaving college I then found there was an opening in Intel for a Manufacturing Engineer. I applied for the Job and after 3 interviews I got the Job. During my time as a Manufacturing Engineer I had the opportunity to live in Portland, Oregon for a year and have traveled to America on business on numerous occasions.

After three and a half years as a Manufacturing Engineer I decided to pursue a career in Process Engineering and I have been doing this now for three years within Intel. There is always the chance to learn, grow and develop within Intel and there are opportunities to move from department to department, as I have experienced.

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process I set up my own workshop in 1997. I am continually upgrading the workshop and developing work and teaching programmes. Glenn LucasWoodturner Fishing is the family business so I grew up with it. Alan O'NeillFisherman I was in college and had signed up to do a 4 year course but at the end of the 2nd year (diploma stage) I got an offer to work in Aon on a part time basis coming up to Christmas so I jumped on the opportunity and decided that the 2 years in college had been enough for me. Karl CurranAssociate Director

• 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 I was already working in Mercer when my current job was advertised. I was working in a very technical role at the time. While I didn’t dislike it, working on Excel the majority of the time was not for me. I find Investments a more vibrant area, it’s dynamic and I enjoy dealing with clients on a more frequent basis than in a traditional actuarial role. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant Main challenges I used to really dislike writing, but as I have developed in my career it has become easier, and sometimes even enjoyable. My biggest challenge is presenting to large audiences; I don’t like this. But it is unavoidable and usually once I begin talking it’s fine, however, I hate the nervous feeling before speaking.  Damien HaberlinEcologist (Post-Doctoral Researcher)

Although it’s a positive when working in the digital sector, the ever evolving landscape can be challenging at times to keep up with. Working in AIB, trying to bring together old systems and new systems creates it’s own problems.

On top of that, we cover different brands and jurisdictions. Understanding that you’ll never be an expert in all the various products we have out there can be frustrating at times. But trusting your colleagues is what’s important there. In my role now, I see myself often as a ‘Jack of all Trades’, which could be interpreted as a ‘Master of None’. But there are so many subject matter experts out there too, that when we combine all the skillsets we can achieve almost anything.

All of the above means for a busy day – probably the biggest challenge of all. Time management is testing, and the importance of good prioritisation is something which our team has to put at the fore of our working day. Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB

Main challenges in my role are:

Time management & people management - when managing a group of people there is always a variety of different needs and approaches. The team works best when all feel they can contribute in their way etc and this needs to be accommodated

Technical - I need to stay abreast with changes in the regulatory environment in Europe and US especially. The pharmaceutical are is highly automated and I need to be familiar with the manufacturing processes so any decision I make is sound and based on good science.

Michael BohaneQA Manager Cost / Time constraints. Sourcing correctly skilled and knowledgeable labour. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. 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 Out at sea everyday is different so each new day has it's own challenges! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer Every day presents different challenges, some more challenging than others. For example Barrack Guard presents its own challenges, patrolling , monitoring and remaining alert for the duration of your duty. Everyday in my office job there are different challenges which also have to be met. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) 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 The challenges for me are dealing with suppliers. I am used to controlling what I do and having a strict goal, and when dealing with third parties who have their own challenges and company goals, it can become difficult to work as a team. Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer Tax law is always changing, so it’s really important that I keep up to speed on these changes! Lorcan KellyTax Consultant You have to test yourself negotiating with people from other countries. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant The most difficult part of my job is Managing my managers! This is especially difficult in the Public Sector where one can feel that as much or even more time is spent on ensuring that we can be SEEN, in time, to have done the right thing over and above the time taken to actually do it. This is to bolster ourselves for future questionning (e.g. in a Public Accounts Committee hearing) wherein it is easy to criticise.

Also, the VERY Risk Averse nature of things means that sometimes a large capital expenditure approval might take 1 or 2 years when in a private sector environment it might take months. This is due to the number of government agencies things must go through, often with each one getting their own independent consultants to review matters. As for Technical Challenges, in the light of the above, no matter how difficult they are, they're easy! Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland

As with most jobs there is the continuous challenge of working to client deadlines while trying to ensure that high standards are maintained at all time. 

Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Dealing with things that don’t work is the main challenge. You are doing research into a new area, so many things work, but many things do not work. It is not a series of great discoveries, but a series of non-discoveries and hopefully one discovery over a period of years. Cecilia FenechEnvironmental Scientist One of the biggest challenges is lack of awareness of our location and region by the International market, we rely heavily on our International Coach Tour Customers and this has been a challenge in attracting new customers to schedule this area. The lack of accommodation in the area also poses as a challenge. Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms The constant striving to achieve perfection in all tasks I complete. Working under time constraints and strict deadlines in a disciplined environment. Your interpersonal skills and communication ability must be excellent. Tom TooherLieutenant - Army Challenges can range from difficult lectures i.e. a lot of information to problem based learning. Also being able to find a medium between all 4 members of your team. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee You can get stuck on certain problems which becomes frustrating quite quickly because you don’t have a big team to help you. And if you’re like me solving the problem is the fun part, writing up your results not so much although it is probably the most important bit. It can take some time and requires a lot of focus. Shane McDonaghRenewable Energy Engineer

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

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 Typical day A typical day would begin with prayer and roll call. Then we would go through the timetable for the day beginning with Irish then Maths, English, Religion, History or Geography, Drama, Music, or PE -  just a sample of the many subjects we get through in a day. 

Most classes are of half an hour duration during which time you are trying to keep all levels of ability engaged and also two classes working as I teach in a multiclass situation. The timetable can be completely altered by visitors, dramas, choir practice and preparation for first holy communion to name just a few! Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher 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 There is a lot of diversity working with J&J and there isn’t any set routine. I like to rise early - in a previous life I used to do a lot of training. With this job, some days I’m working offsite, some days I’m working in different countries or with people in different time zones so there are no two days the same. I generally finish about six in the evening. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer I arrive at 7am, get some coffee and check my emails and instant messages. Then I work on projects that have the highest priority or have people waiting on me to do something. There are meetings scattered throughout the day, some are walking meetings which gives us a chance to get some fresh air! Megan WalshMechanical Engineer The average day starts with distributing the sales information for the previous day. That is usually followed by a catch up with team members to discuss that day’s priorities and divide workload as required. This work can be individual projects or group assignments. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications After being paraded by my supervisor at 7 am I would usually head out on the mountain bike patrolling around the district. I would inspect shops, post offices, off licences, and public houses and interact with the public and local community dealing with any issues they may have.

I would investigate crimes, taking statements and collecting CCTV footages. I would respond to calls such as public misconduct and theft incidents.

During my meal break sometimes I would go to the gym in my station to keep fit. After the meal break I would patrol the district again. At the end of the tour I would record the incidents which I responded to on our computer system. I would do a report in relation to any issues highlighted by the community. Nan Hu Garda A typical day in Customer Care for me consists of Working directly with my team leaders to plan and organise call centre operations for the day ahead.

- Resolving complex insurance issues and managing customer complaints.
- Monitoring and analysing trends, metrics and customer feedback to ensure that we are consistently offering an excellent service.
- Liaising with other operational managers to ensure a concerted approach to organisational goals and projects
- Supporting and mentoring staff towards achieving goals and targets daily
- Working closely with Insurer Partners to resolve any potential issues and improve delivery and efficacy of service between both parties in the best interests of our mutual customers.
- Looking at process and service enhancements that will positively impact our customer’s experience. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Delegating and prioritising work to the site workers. Also a weekly plan for any tasks or jobs must be generated and completed each week.  All jobs and tasks must be completed within a specified time frame. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager Generally, my days consists of attending meetings, collaboration with other team members or cross functional teams, working closely with Quality and EHS teams for approval and guidance on ongoing projects, providing support for new product and process introductions, ensuring that all activities are documented in accordance with the Stryker new product development procedures. Data tracking, analysis and presenting current work.  Laura FinneganProcess Development Engineer

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

There is no typical day. For example one day I could be involved in training soldiers, another in unit administration, another I could even be deployed overseas.

I am mainly employed in a leadership/management role with responsibilities for unit training, career development and operations. There is constant pressure being placed in a leadership role but that's just part of the job. The rewards are good, good opportunities to travel and to be promoted.

Tom TooherLieutenant - Army Normally I have meetings and presentations throughout the day with my team where we work through analysis and draw conclusions from the data that is provided. I will then reply to any emails in between these meetings. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst The first task is usually to reply to emails that have come in since the end of the previous working day. Sometimes I can do this on my phone on my way into work on the luas if short responses are required. I may also have a number of calls scheduled with clients or barristers throughout the day. I may have to read documents or emails in advance in preparation for the calls.

I might also have to attend meetings with clients to discuss the progress of their court cases or get information from them on their case. Sometimes barristers would also attend these meetings to advice on strategy for the litigation. I would also have to spend time on preparing letters of advice to clients or letters on behalf of our clients to other solicitors who act for parties involved in legal disputes with our clients.

I might also have to research a particular legal issue or look up case law or precedent on a particular point that might help our client's case. [Irish lawyers can be barristers or solicitors. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation but they are not instructed directly by clients. Solicitors deal with clients and prepare the case with the client and then engage a barrister to present the case to Court and advocate in front of the Judge.

Most solicitors are employed by a law firm or company as an in-house solicitor. As an employee, solicitors are likely to have job security with a regular income, whereas barristers tend to be self-employed. Being self-employed can lead to uncertainty regarding income particularly at the beginning of their careers. This is less of an issue as barristers become more established in their careers and more experienced. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor My role is very varied, ranging from working with the Board and advising the executive leaders, to helping people leaders with resources, people challenges, recruitment and retention. I am very focused on Talent / Development / Inclusion and diversity and lastly in any HR role there is always routine work to be done in reviewing reports, updates and so on. Timing wise it can be pressurised when the unexpected crops up! We try to plan in advance as much as possible, but you also have to expect the unexpected. Oonagh KellyHead of HR

My role can really be divided into two sections - R&D projects and manufacturing. Each day I have tasks relating to both sections of my role. I manage approx 30 people who have different responsibilities within each of these two sections of our company.

I spend time monitoring progress on the various projects that are ongoing at any one time. Each project has a time line that must be met to ensure the projects deliver products to the market on time to keep us competitive. My role would be to remove any compliance / regulatory roadblocks to the time line that may arise. I need to make decisions or suggestions that maintain the timeline and ensure product quality , safety and efficacy are maintained. We could have up to five development projects running at one time. A lot of time is taking up with project meetings to review progress etc.

We are also a manufacturing facility manufacturing product for up to 50 different markets. My group is responsible for the review and release of the product before shipment. Each day I meet the staff involved and review shipments for the week and any deviations that have occurred which might affect the product. I need to decide if the product is affected and needs to be rejected. If this is the case it must be reproted to the site and investigated to ensure it cannot happen again. We work to a shipment plan which must be met each week. We also have improvement projects to deliver each quarter which have to be managed.

Michael BohaneQA Manager My day would usually start at 8am arriving on site. My duties include arranging materials and the days schedule for myself and the men, meeting clients, placing orders and ensuring everything is on site and ready to go for the next day. I usually finish work around 6pm. Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator As a social care worker you are working 'on the floor' with the clients so you are supporting them with their lives on a daily,hourly basis. In the morning you will be helping them get ready to go to their place of work, supporting them to have showers maybe and get ready, to prepare and have breakfast and to get all they need for their day ahead.

You may be involved in taking them to their place of work, using public transport or if they travel independently just making sure they are organised and have all they need and don't miss the bus!

Once that is done you may need to clean the house and then start your administration, keeping reports, scheduling meetings with psychologists or social workers about work in progress, family matters, with doctors regarding medical issues, working on house maintenance, staff rosters, budgets, maintaining lines of communication between staff and the wider organisation.

You may have meetings in the house with these people to discuss the well-being of the clients, their progress, if their happy with their lives and if not how we can help them become happier. You may have staff meetings to discuss house issues and development plans. You may need to go to their place of work to liaise with staff there and discuss their progress and any difficulties.

You will be working with a lot of people from many different disciplines i.e.Service managers, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Speech and Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Psychiatrists and you will need to keep all involved in the know and working together.

Once the clients are home you then need to support them in whatever they need to do that evening, be it doing their laundry or phoning their parents or if they want to go out shopping, to the cinema or meeting friends. Maybe they attend a club which you facilitate. Also you support them in making dinner and other household tasks which they can participate in.

You support them to attend to their personal hygiene and encourage healthy and positive living habits. You support them in sharing their living environment, respecting each other and their property. You will support them learning social skills, how to get along with each other and how to treat each other properly. Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker Every day starts the same…I look at two things: 1. Bloomberg’s “5 things you need to know to start your day” and 2. my “to-do” list in Excel. Everything in my to-do list is colour-coded, depending on how urgent it is. I have a plan for every day but I rarely complete the tasks I had intended to as you’ll get an “urgent” email / call / Teams message from a colleague or client that interrupts your plan and it goes from there! I find prioritising is a major part of every day, with the most “urgent” task on my list changing as the day goes on.

My day-to-day work entails preparing meeting papers for upcoming client meetings, progressing actions from previous client meetings and responding to emails. People management consumes a chunk of my time – with a growing client base and a few people moving internally within Mercer, hiring is also a feature of my role.

I find my days busy and I have to be flexible and willing to adapt when unexpected issues arise during the day. While sometimes, I do crave 2 uninterrupted hours to focus on a particular task, I really enjoy regularly interacting with colleagues and clients alike. If I have a client meeting on a particular day, I’ll set aside some time to prep for that. Deadlines are a key feature of every day. You need lots of energy to stay on top of everything, monitor deadlines and ensure tasks are progressing well. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant It varies from project to project. In the last two months, I’ve worked on projects researching cloud coverage and its impact on future optical satellite communication systems. I’ve been involved in designing an Internet of Things hardware solution for improving wildlife collaring for zoology research. I’ve been researching and developing a product that uses advances in Deep Learning, a nascent form of artificial intelligence. This is a truly exciting technology that we’ll all hear a lot more on soon. Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist Further training... I am always open to upskilling; I regularly attend webinars so that I am up to date on current matters. Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager I took the postgraduate diploma in statistics and the PhD after my undergraduate course. For the next year I'm planning to focus on settling in here and learning as much as I can from my teaching experience.

After that I would like to take a formal course to improve my teaching. There is a qualification in Third Level Teaching and Learning offered in Ireland, and an International Teachers Programme abroad. Either of those would be super.

In the meantime DCU offer courses to support lecturers, so I will be taking those from January. I would also like to undertake a professional qualification from the Chartered Institute of Professional Development, the body for HR managers. DCU offers courses accredited by the CIPD and a lot of the members of my group have this qualification. It's not essential, but it is something I would like to do. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer Absolutely I am open to any courses which will improve my performance and effectiveness within the organisation. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee 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 Training is always an ongoing agenda item - we even have it listed as a default priority item in our official schedule here. It may be of the form of online classes, or classes in-house where the company brings in professional trainers/lecturers to give classes and information talks; or it may involve traveling to attend a class specifically tuned to your next objective. For example, my next class is a two day session about digital electronics, which will be pertinent to my current programming project. On average training in some form or other occurs about 3 or 4 times a year. Jason RuaneComputer Programmer

Health & safety rep training, fire warden instruction, occupational First aid evacuation chair training, manual handling instruction, Hr training & development, Multiple seminars in employment law – constantly upskilling to ensure I’m up to speed with new legislation / legislation planned to come into effect. Nothing planned at the moment, but no doubt will go training again.

Would like to go further and gain certification in employment legislation. Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel Not at the moment Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy One of the main features of my job is constant improvement and training. I will, throughout my career in the Defense Forces, take part in many training courses and development programmes including; Snipers Course, Mowag Driving Course, Potential NCO's Course and RECCE Course. Keith LynchPrivate (Line) Probably not! I’ve done more than my fair share of exams! Orla AherneInvestment Consultant 1. IT training 2. Languages Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission I'm planning to undertake a coaching qualification Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead Plan to possibly look at project management. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager There is always something new to learn. At this time, I’m interested in learning how to evaluate outreach activities in a meaningful way. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator I would like to when I find the time! Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator I have recently completed Green Belt training in Six Sigma Operational Excellence. HETAC award a certificate in Process Engineering for this course. The course trains you in advanced project management skills through six sigma methodologies. Six sigma is used in companies all around the world from Toyota to Wyeth. Project management is integral to the success of any company as you must manage your projects effectively for them to complete in a timely manner and to successfully deliver the outputs from it. I would like to one day go back and complete a Masters in Business Administration. Brian O'ConnorAnalytical Chemist I have completed an A.I course to assist with cow genetics. I attend quite a lot of information meetings that keep me up to date with the latest research and findings. I intend to do a wealth creation course - which is a financial planning course Bryan DanielsFarmer - Dairy 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 had no teaching experience before going on the JET Programme so I took an online TEFL course while I was over there. I also continued to study Japanese and took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test while I was there. Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy

I am always learning. Like most other professions (eg medicine), the law does not stand still and it must react to changes in society and seek to place human rights at the core of its work. We must do 23 hours continuous professional training every year and I will always try and focus on human rights law and child law.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor 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 Advice if considering this job

Possibly useful qualities/interests:

A predisposition towards technical problems, such as puzzles or machinery. An interest in the nature of how things work, such as the desire to disassemble machinery/gadgetry to unlock its inner workings.

An inventive side; one who uses the parts of other gadgets, to make a new personalised gadget. Interested in high tech gear: gadgetry of all forms.

A capacity to learn processes for oneself e.g. seeing a puzzle solved and then repeating it.

Skills: Technical subjects such as Maths or electronics. Programming is very accessible to anyone with a basic home PC and some internet connection so try it out and see if you like it.

Values: If you value the solving of an intricate, convoluted problem, for it's own sake and find that rewarding, then any engineering job will come easily.

Education: Firm basis in Maths and the sciences. People are hired into engineering positions here from backgrounds such as science and computing primarily.

Jason RuaneComputer Programmer 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 Work hard, push your boundaries, have belief in your abilities, set personal goals and seek feedback. For those who have not completed a college degree or third level education – seek a career path that will give you the opportunity to further your education and learning. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations The advise that I would give to someone considering this job is to do their Leaving Cert and do the Transition year as this would give an opportunity to get some job experience or do some voluntary work within the community.

Do a Level 5 FETAC health related course. The skills and qualities that are needed to do this type of work are a real sense of caring for other people, communication skills, listening skills, be able to take and give constructive criticism without causing or taking offence, patience a willing to give your best effort to your work. Lydia PeppardCare Assistant 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 Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications Get making as soon as possible. Do plenty of classes with a range of different teachers. Find your unique style and product. Get as much relevant feedback as possible and use it to the best of your ability. Make a business plan and amend and change it regularly. Get into shows and exhibitions and build up a cv. Glenn LucasWoodturner Go for it – it’s a great job. Des LalorWind Engineer If you look at the staff we have here, they've come from all over the place. Some have been ex-Navy or have been Comms officers on ships; we have people who have been involved in building work and ended up coming here..it really is very random how people have ended up here. Often people have studied science in school, but often they haven't done science degrees, but have ended up meandering through various different industries to get here; so most of all it's to follow what you're interested in and what you enjoy doing. Like I say to the gang here, if they're not waking up in the morning wanting to go in to work, they need to change jobs. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre The role is really a portfolio of jobs, so you'd need to be able to vary your skills depending on the situation, be it operational management, people leadership to strategy formulation, etc. Richard KinsellaManaging Director If you enjoy business and are interested in how businesses operate working as a Business Bank manager provides variety - 'No two days are the same'. Work to achieve the subject qualifications and as much experiences along the way. You need to work hard and be determined! Madonna DalyBusiness Manager

A caring attitude is essential for Health and Safety – you need to be passionate about getting the message across to people and telling them why it is so important. After all, no-one wants to see anyone suffer harm or be in pain.

For astronomy, a yearning for answering the unanswered questions is a must. You also need to be dedicated and focused and not put off by the weather

Dave McDonaldAstronomer Don’t be afraid to speak up, be yourself and always learn from each other. Xiaona HouProduct Engineer Know what you like and dislike, and what you are good at and not so good at so you study or do an apprenticeship in something that you will love so that work is a job as well as a hobby. Choose a more general degree eg science or engineering where you do a lot of subjects in first year then specialize. If you don’t get the course you want you can still do a similar one as the fundamentals are the same. Niamh YatesValidation Engineer The Department looks to hire people from diverse backgrounds and disciplines. It is however important to be civic-minded, and to have a keen interest in domestic and international politics and current affairs. I would advise anyone interested in a career as a diplomat to keep on top of current affairs and to get involved in relevant fields; volunteering, university societies and newspapers etc. Languages can also give a competitive advantage! Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs 1.Be open to new ideas. Think critically, and not just about the ideas of others. Be hard on your beliefs. Take them out onto the verandah and beat them with a cricket bat. Be intellectually rigorous. Identify your biases, your prejudices, your privilege. 2.Dedicate one's self to the pursuit of short-term goals. Be micro-ambitious.

Put your head down and work with pride on whatever is in front of you, you never know where you might end up. Be aware that the next worthy pursuit will appear in your periphery and when you least expect it. 3.You don't need to already know what you're going to do with the rest of your life. Many people who were sure of their career path at age 20 end up having midlife crises now. 4.Be able to speak in public and also in a foreign language. If you can do all that and tell a joke, you've cracked it. Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission 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 needs to be something that you really love to do. When you have to train during winter it can be difficult so you have to be mentally strong. Ian McKinleyRugby Player Only enter the Defence Forces if you are willing to commit to it 100% as it is a long tough road which can be extremely rewarding if you fully engage it. Like everything in this life, you get out what you put in. Keith LynchPrivate (Line)

Be open minded – a career in Finance doesn’t sound the most riveting at times. But if I told you that I worked in one of Ireland’s leading technology companies would that change your view?

You don’t need to be the most tech savy individual, but once you have a passion for all things digital, and want to create customer first solutions, considering a job in this field could definitely be something for you.

 

Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB The lifestyle If I was to think about it honestly, it does and it doesn’t. I do really enjoy what I’m doing so I could be considered a workaholic – but I love my work. I would nearly go as far as to consider my work one of the main aspects of my lifestyle. Oz IlbrahmiManufacturing Specialist

At the start of my career in Finance, I had many hobbies – from social hockey to playing in a concert band. As I began to advance in my role and take on more responsibility, I found it difficult to carve out the time, but that’s always been a challenge for me. A healthy work – life balance is something that is always encouraged, and what I’ve come to learn over the years is that it is entirely up to the individual to make it happen. Although my hobbies and interests have changed over the years, I’ve made sure to take time in the evenings to switch off.

Thankfully, the security of what I do afforded us the opportunity to buy a house in the last year. Needless to say, DIY has become a new hobby, between gardening and interior design.

In just a few months’ time I’ll be taking maternity leave as we get ready to welcome our first baby. Having the reassurance that my job will support me through this milestone is something which I value greatly, especially as I see friends in a similar position who are struggling to work through some of the challenges presented by maternity leave. Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB 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 Yes. It is reasonably paid. I'm lucky to have a secure job, although increasingly people can spend relatively significant periods of time doing contract work. It is quite a family-friendly role, in that the working hours have some flexibility and there is scope to vary the time spent on non-teaching related activities, if required.

There are clear criteria for progression - related to teaching, research contribution and personal contribution to the running of the business school. Working in a university provides access to all of the associated leisure facilities - there is a superb sports center here, though I don't make as much use of it as I should. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer Yes, there is a great work/life balance. I can work flexible hours and also work from home. This is very important as you can come in late if you have an appointment or work remotely if you cannot make it into the office. There is also a sports and social club that organize events onsite, such as BBQs, gym classes, running events and walking outings. Lynda O'LearySystems Engineer Yes Brendan WhiteFish Filleter My job is very demanding whilst I'm present but generally I only need to be there for the standard 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. There is also flexibility when required due to a good relationship with my manager and his recognition of my commitment generally. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland With hard work always comes rewards and I feel my current role allows me to have a good lifestyle. Although my days at work can be quite long and demanding, I have every weekend free to spend with my family and friends. I have sociable working hours and my commute to the office is less than ten minutes. In my current role, I have also had the opportunity to travel to countries such as Switzerland, Germany & the UK. Working for a large multi-national like Zurich gives me great job security along with an excellent benefits package. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations At the moment I have free time on Sunday and Monday, so that is great as I can spend time with my two small children. Having just started a new business that is the best I can get at the moment. Nicola O'HigginsFishmonger

My current role allows me to maintain a healthy work / life balance. I have a family with four children which takes up a large amount of time. I am active in a number of sports especially rugby and triathlon, also time consuming. I have progressed in my career satisfactorily so far but I would still have ambitions to progress further.

The company I currently work with encourages such ambition and allows people to seek responsibility and develop. It is important for a company to reward good / excellent performance and I am fortunate to work for such a company. Financial reward, while not being the most important aspect, is still important. My current role within the pharmaceutical industry pays well especially since I gained the Qualified Person qualification in 2001.

Michael BohaneQA Manager My career is often very flexible so you can have a good lifestyle, but sometimes you have to work long unsociable hours. However, working with the Defence Forces is a very satisfying career choice Tom TooherLieutenant - Army Yes absolutely, I enjoy my work and this has a positive knock on effect on my personal life. I believe if you are happy in your professional environment that has a positive knock on effect on your personal life.

My job is such that it does not impede on my personal life and I have time to do the things I enjoy. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator Work expands to fill all time available. You decide your lifestyle, depending upon your time management capabilities. I make time to play a team sport, go out with friends and even take regular holidays to go home. Yet you still need to work hard. The project is like your baby: you live through it for a couple of years, yet you need to make time for yourself. Cecilia FenechEnvironmental Scientist Being honest, to a degree yes, but not fully. The nature and reality of private practice is that we are busiest outside of everyone else's 9-5 schedule. This means early mornings, which are great, and I enjoy. Late evenings however impact on family life, social life, and sporting endeavours.

I haven't been as involved in my chosen sport of Gaelic football as I'd like to have been this past few years as its quite the challenge to juggle work and making training, especially when GAA fixtures change so frequently and at such short notice.

I have a comfortable lifestyle thanks to putting in long hours and working hard, this is something that I enjoy so it's never an issue for me aside from the aforementioned clash with my own sporting interests. Barry McEnteeChartered Physiotherapist

Working for Intel it strives to always help out and be flexible with your work life balances. Often working long hours are an integral part of the job (any job really) but overall if you need time off it is never seen as a big problem. The pay is competitive so it allows me enjoy a comfortable lifestyle.

Within Intel we also have a Sports and Social club. There are often events like Cinema nights or a Halloween Party and Summer BBQ's which are laid on which are always good craic. As well as that we have a Gym onsite with Circuit classes etc. laid on in the evenings.

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process 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

As a working artist teaching allows me a lot of time to pursue my painting. In the last 5 years I have had time to prepare 4 solo exhibitions - something which would be immpossible in almost any other proffession.

You will never be "rolling in money" as a teacher, however it allows you to have a very comfortable standard of living and the time off to travel and pursue other interests. Also it is a rewarding profession as you get to make a difference in childrens lives, and in the current climate of instability it is a very secure job

Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Yes, right now I’m focused on learning and progressing my career and thankfully that is encouraged in my job and industry. Job security and work-life balance are also valued. And there are opportunities to travel and meet colleagues from across the global organization. Gillian MorganManufacturing Process Specialist

There are many opportunities in Ireland in the medical device arena as Ireland could be described as the “silicone valley” of medical devices in Europe. A majority of the large multinationals are located here which means that there are a lot of people with the skills specifically required for the industry.

Most of these multinationals are located in North America, hence we are often required to travel to the US. I have travelled to a number of different countries both during my postgrad & with my job. Also, because people are living longer & have certain lifestyle expectations, there will almost certainly always be a need for new medical devices. Unlike a lot of other industries, this would suggest that there will always be funding available to develop products for new areas. Also as a result of human DNA mapping, more & more diseases will become manageable, possibly through the help of medical devices

Sinead KennyDesign Engineer My job allows me to work flexible hours where I can be off during the week which allows me more free time to spend with family and also to pursue other interests.

I like the different hours and the variety in your week where you can have - 3 lie-ins a week or other times you can be finished work at 12 midday and have the whole day to yourself.

Each week is different and that suits me as I don't like to follow a strict routine, I like the freedom to be different! Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker Whats cool Working with individuals with learning difficulties is very rewarding-this is my favourite part of the job. Tomas FlanaganOccupational Therapist Modeling something from scratch, and seeing the physical part after manufacture Megan WalshMechanical Engineer Some of the new materials we get to use. Observing animal trials & seeing our devices being used. Observing procedures at the hospital & getting feedback from surgeons. The coolest thing of all however is to hear that the device has worked & the quality of life of many patients has improved. Sinead KennyDesign Engineer I get to hear about the latest developments and discoveries in space science first hand. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator Seeing the service users happy and growing in confidence. Enjoying new experiences. Working with the service users and getting to know them. Working with nice people Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant Tax professionals can add real value to a business and can be critical in shaping major decisions. I really enjoy seeing the value that I can add to the business. The tax analysis is critical in so many business decisions and in a lot of cases drives the decision. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant 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 Meeting people from all walks of life and no two days being the same. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. Being able to see how a few of the different areas of the business function, as there are significant differences between the retail and wholesale businesses. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme From a very young age I loved animals and guess that being able to have a career working with them was always a dream.  In a modern "cyber" world I  feel really lucky to be able to spend time outdoors and lead a healthier lifestyle.  Also I get to do a lot of traveling with the horses which is great. Luke DreaEvent Rider I love the variety my job presents. I love to meet different customers and hear how they started in business and what their future ambitions are and how I can help them get there. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager The job is exceptionally rewarding. The Irish citizen lies at the heart of all we do and that makes the work important. The opportunity to travel to and live in so many different cities around the world is also one of the most appealing aspects of the job for me! Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs 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 Doing the job I enjoy. I could be filleting 10 different types of fish in the day.  Knowing that you are working for a company that produces quality products, is cool. Brendan WhiteFish Filleter There is no shortage of interesting work to get involved in and there is excellent support with someone always available to answer any queries or concerns I have. I also really like the atmosphere of a large firm. Anna Holohan Tax Manager I get to work on unique and interesting problems in an area I have a strong interest in. Getting to work on engaging machine learning problems means that I never get bored Catherine AhearnData Scientist

I’ve always strived to add value in whatever I do and my main objectives are always align to my personal values and I want to work for a company where that is embraced. Some of the work I’m doing is in relation to our workforce strategies and how we can make an impact to the life’s of our people it’s a really great opportunity to bring change and I am passionate about.

Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB Getting to meet and work with Astronauts! They are very down to Earth people! Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications The HSE is a good place to work. As an organisation, it tends to "get hammered" by the press but these are usually very isolated incidents. It rarely gets credit for the majority of good things its' staff achieves.

Work within the HSE is usually very challenging and tends to keep you on your toes. You won't get bored. Due to its size, the chances of promotion are quite high if that's what you want.

However it never forces people in this direction. It supports staff through out their employment from a variety of different angles, i.e. in house training, support for further education, regular updates, staff development, appraisal if required, Occupational Health etc. Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager Not so cool Some days can be very challenging and stressful when things aren’t working out or constant setbacks start creeping in making it hard to switch off.

As you get more experienced you tend to find different ways as a person to deal with these situations. Colin ButterlySite Manager - Trade Entry

• Waiting lists and time pressures can create stress at times
• The behaviour of clients can be challenging at times
• Dealing with children and adults with difficulties can be emotionally upsetting. However the knowledge that as a profession we can help them is uplifting in these situations
• Occasionally we come across difficult or upsetting situations that cannot be changed by our profession alone. This can be difficult.

Lisa KellySpeech and Language There are some less fun aspects to my role. I find some of the administration around organising training sessions or sending out communications dull. You have to contact lots of different people; you think you have it all organised and then someone can't attend or the room isn't available or something else happens. It can feel like you are taking a long time to get a very small thing done. Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead Although you have the excitement and action of responding to calls the reality is when you arrive you have to deal with some horrific things, you will sometimes see people in great distress and suffering. On a positive note though once you get to do your job and use your skills you normally improve things. Keith HayesAmbulance / Paramedic For me it is the repetitious work in wintertime such as bedding cattle & preparing cow cubicles twice daily. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy 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 Repetition, so that would be opening and locking the building, completing daily cash sheets, it can become boring. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia

Grievance & Disciplinary issues, both staff and guest. It’s never easy dealing with someone who isn’t happy.

It awful having to pull a staff member aside and tell them they’ve done something wrong. Mostly everyone tries hard – telling someone it’s not working out is never easy! Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel A school is run on tight budgets and limited supports and this makes management difficult at times. Paul MeanySchool Principal 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 There are repetitive aspects to my job that are very necessary but not necessarily enjoyable. There can be a lot of data entry tasks which nobody really enjoys but which is a crucial part of how we get to the end product. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer Managers who don't care or who are disinterested in what one does. Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission Meeting someone new in the pub and telling them you're a "rocket scientist" can be a bit of a conversation killer sometimes! Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist

The long working hours - some weeks you can work as much as 100 hours although the average is nearer to 60 hours per week.

Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist The unsociable hours when on tactical operations. Tom TooherLieutenant - Army There's no aspect of the job that I don't like. Rather, it can be frustrating to have to my work spill over into my personal time, to finish things to the standard that I want. But really that's a personal choice.

Next term I have a class with over two hundred students, so getting all of their assignments marked within a reasonable time will take a bit of a push! And sometimes it can feel like there are a lot of meetings - about specific degree programmes, about the HRM group, faculty meetings etc. But it is a huge advantage to work somewhere that emphasises including its staff in decision making, so there is a significant upside to that. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer 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 Sometimes the paperwork can be time consuming, but necessary to do the job. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager For me personally, the long hours sometimes take their toll - I need to constantly remind myself to get the work-life balance correct. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur 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