deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job I had been registered on publicjobs.ie for many years and knew they were recruiting soon.

I applied and we had to do:
1.  Online aptitude
2.  Online aptitude
3.  Test centre Dublin to repeat the online aptitude tests in a supervised setting along with a report writing exercise      and job simulation test
4.  Competency based interview
5.  Medical, fitness test and vetting Peter CliffordProbationer Garda My current job became an opportunity when the last person in that role left to get a bigger job. I spoke to people in the bank who would be making the decisions and positioned myself to get that role. I went through lots of interviews and had to do a lot of work to be prepared for that. The key part though is the importance of building your network and getting to know people all along your career journey as you will always need people to try and help you along the way. Brian DelahuntyHead of Corporate Banking

It was simple google search! I few friends of mine had begun working with AIB’s call team and I was hoping to follow suit. I sent my CV to [email protected] and was brought through their Graduate selection process. This included an aptitude test, along with an interview. I put a huge amount of work in preparing for the interview, and really wanted to demonstrate how much I had researched AIB and what it would mean to join an organisation like it.

Receiving the call to say I was selected was a big day – I still remember exactly where I was at the time, and who I ran to to share the big news.

My progression within AIB has been as a result of a number of internal interviews. The application process can feel tedious at times but putting in that extra effort to completing the submission and update the CV always prove worthwhile. I try to review my CV at least twice a year, just to remind myself of what I’ve achieved and where I want to go.

During my time in AIB, I’ve been promoted every two years to a new role. This progression has kept me motivated over the years and I enjoy reaching for that next goal. Shaping a career path can at times prove difficult, but understanding the various opportunities presented by an organisation like AIB can bring a new slant to the job. Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB Drive, determination and confidence. It was a tough application process but by using these three qualities I suceeded. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee I applied through publicjobs.ie and was guided through the process. Mark Spain Garda Trainee Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs 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

When I came out of the Botanic Gardens, I went to work in Holland for the summer and when I came back, I joined a Landscaping firm. This was in the early 1979/80 when the economy was not as buoyant as it is now. We were working on dusty sites, doing landscaping and lawns.

When the weather got bad, you were let go and got a pound an hour "wet time". I remember standing in out of very heavy rain one day in an industrial unit, reading the paper. I saw a job for a Sales Rep to sell horticultural machinery, chainsaws, lawnmowers, golf course equipment etc. I applied for and got the job as an indoors Sales Rep.

It was a great learning curve, I got training in sales, and I was selling equipment related to the industry I was in. That was one of the reasons I got the job as a result of my background in horticulture. That was great training, and I really enjoyed it. I was getting on very well with that job, but when the weather was good (around March/April) I really missed being out in the fresh air.

Within a short period of time it turned out that the company ran into bad financial difficulties, and they let about eight people go and as I was one of the last in, I was also let go. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise because it gave me the impetus to set up on my own.

I went out and started working for myself then. It was a big decision for me. I was lucky to get onto a Start your Own Business course, run by the Irish Productivity Centre and FAS. The course was excellent, it ran over sixteen weeks - eight weeks of lectures and practicals, and the second eight was about getting it off the ground.

It was great doing that, and I had a job I used to do on a Saturday. I managed to get another contract for a couple of days a week shortly afterwards, and I just built it up from there. That's really how my own Landscaping Business got off the ground.

Paul DowlingHorticulturist

I was working in the Energy Sector for another organisation and recruitment agency contacted me about a role working at Fidelity International. At the time I had never considered working in Financial Services so I had to do quite a bit of research to work out how the role would be different from my current role and how I could address that in an interview. I attended four interviews, with my potential manager, her manager and also with people I would be working with.

There was also a personality questionnaire and an aptitude test. It sounds daunting but everyone was really nice and friendly, it also made me realise that working in Financial Services wasn't going to be all that different from working in the Energy sector! There were more similarities than differences.

Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead Prior to my current role, I was team coach of the Finance Operations area for three years and when the opportunity for promotion arose, I put myself forward.

I completed an interview with the Operations Manager and one week later I was offered the position. My predecessor had over 40 years’ experience and I was very lucky to have him as a mentor. With his guidance and support, I felt I was ready to take on the challenge. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations

I am currently seconded to the National Project Office as an Acting Grade VIII - Operations Manager. The job itself was advertised both by circular and on the internet.

Application for the job was in the form of detailed application form with career history, educational achievements, reasons why you think you are suitable for the job and then the completion of competencies which are essential to the position.

After shortlisting took place, i was invited for interview. The interview itself was structured in format requiring "live" examples of where I met the competencies required for the job. I was informed by letter of my success at interview.

Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager The process involved completion of an application form. This entailed a detailed description of my educational background together with a short essay detailing the reasons why I thought I would be suited to a career in tax as well as a number of references.
Following a short listing procedure, I was interviewed by a panel of three people. The interview mainly covered the information provided on my application form together with some general questions about the tax system in Ireland. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer

• 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

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

Each year from December to February, Air Corps cadetships are advertised on National TV and the National Newspapers. Applications for this can be found online or by applying to the Defence Force competitions section.

I applied by sending for an application form and filling it in. The applications are generally due in at the end of Febuaury (the online applications are more popular now). Within one month of applying, I received a letter inviting me for fitness testing at Baldonnel. Details for the fitness test can be found in the Cadetship booklet, which is available online/career days/Defence Force competition section.

On passing my fitness test I was invited to attend a preliminary interview. This was with 3 air corps personnel and took place in Baldonnel also. This was a competency based interview, details of which is in the cadetship booklet. I was successful in the preliminary  interview and was then invited to attend for Apptitude testing. This took a full day, and involved a number of apptitude tests including numerical tests, mechanical reasoning and verbal reasoning.

I was notified that I was successful in the apptitude tests and was called to the final interview stage. This includes a final interview, hand-eye co-ordination tests and a psychological evaluation. This also takes a full day and took place in PARC Aviation, Swords, Co.Dublin. It is from this stage that the final Air Corps candidates are chosen.

I was chosen in my year to be one of four cadets to be taken in. (Classes have normally between 5-10 people) I was notified on the day the CAO offers came out of my success in the process and I accepted my place. I was then called for a Medical evaluation at the end of August and started my training at the end of September.

Oisin McGrathLieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp A friend working within the company. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. 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 saw it advertised on a Jobs website. Working in a broker role and having more direct contact with clients was always something I was curious about and wanted to try so it seemed like the perfect fit for me.  Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator 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

I worked “front line” as a Care Assistant at the beginning of my “route” to becoming a Clinical Psychologist. One of the organisations I worked in was St Michael’s House. Right from the beginning I had huge respect for the way this service was run. I felt the staff interacted with people in a way which was very dignified and enabling.

I learnt so much about the area and myself. I decided then that I would really try to become part of the organisation when I’d qualified as a Clinical Psychologist. Then an opportunity arose to involve St Michael’s House in some research I did as part of my training. This gave me more links with the organisation, and at this time I also heard that the organisation was going to be recruiting Clinical Psychologists at my grade.

I applied for the post following a newspaper advertisement, and also on the organisation’s web site. I was interviewed by a panel and was delighted to be offered the post of Clinical Psychologist in the organisation.

Elaine MacDonaldPsychologist - Clinical Main challenges Funnily enough I don’t like doing paperwork, in fact I rather despise it! Oz IlbrahmiManufacturing Specialist

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 Tax law is always changing, so it’s really important that I keep up to speed on these changes! Lorcan KellyTax Consultant There can be challenges for example where a client asks for something immediately and the manager/partner on the client is not in the office. However, I have found that working as part of a large corporate tax group there is always someone willing and available to assist with any problems I have. Anna Holohan Tax Manager In the current climate, tendering can be very difficult. It can be hard to ensure jobs are priced above cost and still within customers budgets.

There is a lot more to this occupation than people realise and there is always a problem you haven't yet encountered. An example would be damp issues or alkaline issues which need specialist knowledge to treat properly. Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator Cost / Time constraints. Sourcing correctly skilled and knowledgeable labour. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. Shift work! This can be difficult especially when you have a family, the shifts are 12 hours long which is a long time to be away from home, and because of the nature of the work sometimes you get called out just when you’re getting set to go home.

Sometimes its difficult and challenging to remain compassionate and courteous when you respond to tragic situations that may overwhelm you, such as a drunk driver who has crashed and killed somebody and is now abusing you while you treat his/her injuries.

As the work of a Paramedic and Advanced Paramedic is very dynamic it can be hard to keep up your studies while trying to balance everything else, learning ‘just enough’ is never good enough as the more you learn the more the patient you treat will benefit. Keith HayesAmbulance / Paramedic

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

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy

Currently all the changes in covid-19 guidelines – constantly remaining vigilant to try to ensure that we follow all the guidelines in an effort to keep staff and guests safe.

People’s interpretation of how everything should be done.

Employment legislation – there’s so much information out there

Dealing with people – you cannot please 100% of the people 100% of the time! Social media can be great for promoting hotels and marketing purposes, however can be very dangerous and challenging for businesses when people use it to promote personal opinion and grievances. Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel

• The variety of the job
• Human nature
• Ensuring that the school survives in the economic climate in which we find ourselves
• Continuing development and school improvement

Paul MeanySchool Principal Change. We're almost 100 years old, but we need to be really innovative in our approach to people, platform, proposition and customers, whilst ensuring that what we do remains highly personal and valued by our customers. Richard KinsellaManaging Director 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 It’s important to understand what the political priorities of the Commission are and to try and deliver them while keeping the machine running reasonably smoothly at the same time. It’s a constant challenge to make sure you have the right information before you make decisions. Catherine DaySecretary General

Akin to the housing crisis, it is a challenge to find places for all the separated children entering the country to live. However, the team manages it every time. This is an exhausting part of the work and I’m impressed daily as to how they achieve this. Aside from this, time management will always be a challenge, but over the years I have developed strategies to learn how to prioritise my responsibilities.

Jonathan O’ReillyPrincipal Social Worker The harsh windy conditions, all the different species you get in the sea that can harm salmon i.e. Jellyfish, Zooplankton. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager The main challenges are:

Getting the curriculum covered in a short day.
Meeting the high expectations of parents.
The constant changing of textbooks/methods of teaching. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher We are a small company and we need to be able to react quickly to survive in a challenging and competitive commercial environment. From a personal perspective this means constantly ensuring that all the team "are singing from the same hymn sheet" and that everyone is focused on fully realising the commercial opportunity which presents itself at the time.

This can be challenging particularly in a research based company where sometimes ruthless decisions have to made with respect to dropping certain lines of experimental investigation. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur The insurance industry is a very fast paced environment and my biggest challenge is that there are never enough hours in the day. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations The main challenges are: - the ever tightening quotas - the increasing costs of running vessels. - finding crew - Departmental constraints Alan O'NeillFisherman As you can imagine, there is a lot of administrative work that goes with project management and this is particularly true when you are dealing with flight hardware and safety to crew. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer Typical day 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist

Let me start by saying that no two days are the same. The role of Operations Manager in the National Project Office was a complete change in direction for me personally as prior to this most of my career was spent within the hospital setting.

If office based, I usually check in with all Team Leaders and their staff to see how "everybody is" on the one hand and to see how their particular national campaigns are running. At this stage if any difficulties come to the fore we might try to figure out the difficulty there and then, or else set out a particular time with the necessary people to make sure the process runs smoothly.

After this I would usually be in communication with my immediate manager to see what new pieces of national work needs the attention of the office and work out the logistics for this as well. As the title suggests the National Project Office has a national role in that it provides for recruitment and strategic policy development for a variety of different services throughout the country. This subsequently can involve time away from base on a regular basis.

All staff try to limit their time away by holding as many meetings via teleconference when possible, as the work back at base also needs to be completed. I'm very fortunate as Operations Manager to work with a great team of people who are very diligent, efficient, and most professional in their work practices. For this reason any new projects although challenging, are met with enthusiasm and are progressed without too much difficulty.

Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager 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 Work starts at 7:30am starting with a morning meeting with all my team, telling them the targets for the day and how many bookings we have in etc and what everyones duties for the day are. Client 1 comes to the spa at 8am and treatments begin. I spend my day checking in guests, ensuring they have a 5 star service , dealing with all accounts and daily reports etc.

1 hour for lunch time and 1 hour for dinner time. The spa closes at 7pm and I can let my hair down, enjoy time in the crew pool or crew areas or even go watch a show in the theatre, On my days off, I have the opportunity to get off the ship and explore whatever place we are in. Kate WalshBeauty Therapist

I should preface this by saying there is no ‘typical day’ in my experience of social work, with each dawn bringing its own new learning, opportunities and challenges. However, I would routinely start the day by reviewing my work priorities’ list for the week, checking my calendar and responding to emails that may have been sent the previous evening. After a brief check in with my teams, the day generally consists of a cocktail of meetings with my teams, advocacy on behalf of them, strategy meetings with external agencies, and ensuring that the department is operating efficiently. As a Principal Social Worker, my role is less ‘front line’ now, and my responsibility is to provide support and governance to my various teams to ensure that the young people we work with are getting the best service they can.

Jonathan O’ReillyPrincipal Social Worker A typical day consists of a high paced professional environment. From the minute you log on until the minute you log off it's a high paced professional environment which is challenging and therefore extremely rewarding. Everyone pulls together working as a team helping each other out and learning from each other to achieve a shared goal. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency A typical day would start with planning the day’s work ahead for all labour and sub-contractors on site and ensuring that they have the required material and tools to carry out their work.

Next would be to check up on correspondence/ e-mails which must be attended to.

Generally then I would review information that is required to keep progress going on site which would entail requesting or giving information to the design team.

Depending on the size of the project that you are on you could have to attend meetings every day or less frequently depending on scale of project.

Having the required information and research done for each meeting is vital. Creating and maintaining progress reports also falls under my role which is important to keep the project team up to speed on where the project is at any given time.

Each day you would have to allocate time to plan ahead where you would look 2 weeks ahead and beyond. Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry It’s split half and half between the ‘people’ side and the technical side. Yesterday for example, I spent the morning working with a team on their yearly goals and I spent the afternoon getting up to speed on some of ESB’ plans regarding Solar energy. Des LalorWind Engineer

• Main thing to note is ‘no two days are the same’
• Recruitment can change day to day
• One day – attending Grad Fairs, spending time meeting students and selling AIB as a great place to work
• Next day- Screening candidates, setting up interviews
• Next day- Making offers
• Works in cycles and this forms a typical day  

Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB I don’t think there is such thing as a typical day but that is what’s most appealing about the job, every day is different with a new challenge and focus. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator The most typical thing about my days is the fact that they all tend to be busy!

Days vary quite significantly in and out of term. Out of term days will be focused on course development, lecture preparation and research. In term, I generally try to have one day a week where I try to focus on research activity - at the moment I'm preparing two papers, one to present at a conference of researchers, and the other I'm preparing to submit for publication in a journal.

However, in reality this time tends to be distributed throughout the week. I have a network of people with whom I am developing my research. They are predominantly based in Ireland and the UK, but I am also developing some projects with European academics. So there may be e-mails or phone calls about something!

Otherwise, my days consist of a mix of teaching, an open office-hour where students can come to discuss their courses, assignments or concerns and administration. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer 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 During semester time, a typical day revolves around teaching. I teach a variety of subjects. Planning and preparation for lessons takes a lot of time and effort. Preparing assessments and exams require a lot of time and effort, too. In between lessons, I conduct research (gathering data, interviewing people, writing papers).

This involves a lot of deadline pressure, but it is a really interesting aspect of the job. It feels great when a piece of research that you have created is published and read by other people. Academics often travel a lot because research is usually carried out within large international networks and present their work at international conferences. I travel outside Ireland about once a month on average. Trips I have taken have been as short as one day or as long as three months, depending on the project. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer

There really isn’t a typical day in health and safety. There are common themes though – lots of questions from clients, deadlines to meet, novel or complex problems that take time to work through and a need to communicate all this in plain understandable language.

For the astronomy side of things, a typical day would involve checking the weather. If we’re all go for a clear night, it’s a case of planning targets, writing scripts for the automation software and then getting the equipment ready for a night’s run of taking images. The images are then analysed and data generated. Thus is then formatted before being sent to the Jet Propulsion Lab or the Minor Planet Centre.

Dave McDonaldAstronomer 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 It’s difficult to describe a typical day in research, because there are several aspects to what we do. During field work, our day can be dictated by daylight, tides and the seasonality of the species we study. In my case, jellyfish mainly occur in summer so most of my fieldwork is done then, which can mean long days in a boat, sometimes working around the clock. During the winter tends to be when I can focus on lab work, analysis and writing. In addition, we would attend meetings, conferences and workshops to discuss our work and look for new research opportunities.  Damien HaberlinEcologist (Post-Doctoral Researcher) 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 A typical day would start with me checking emails for any urgent items and addressing those first. We deal with a lot of our international offices so invariably when I arrive into work there are emails from our US offices.

I would then plan my day out, action any items which need to be actioned and perhaps visit a client or insurer later in the day. Karl CurranAssociate Director Further training... I have undertaken a part time masters over the last 2 years. As part of my role I must take part in continued professional development (CPD) which ensures that professional personal continue to develop themselves after they have obtained their degree and job.

Construction like many other industries is always evolving and so you have to be willing to learn new techniques to complete your role efficiently and effectively, Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry Engineering Course - 3 week basic course. This gives you the essentials. Alan O'NeillFisherman 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. Currently working with a Business Psychologist, Johanna Fullerton on Leadership Development. Richard KinsellaManaging Director I will definitely be undertaking further training, what this looks like however is unclear at this moment in time. Shane O'SheaSuperValu Regional Support Manager In my previous jobs, I had taken the opportunity to learn advanced financial modelling in Excel for valuation and to develop a good working knowledge of some of the key databases used to support several functions in Corporate Finance. In my current role, I plan to learn Data Analytics as it is a crucial function that has proven its importance in all businesses today and is highly useful as a tool to support decision making, which I believe will be helpful in my current and future roles. Madhuvratha VasudevanSenior Investment Analyst

Yes, it is very important to continue with upskilling throughout your career. In the last few years I have started to learn and use new-found skills based aroung lean six sigma principles.

Throughout my career I have been fortunate to take a number of specialised training courses that have benfitted both the company and I.

Energy Management Pumping systems, Time Management, Intensive French, Health and Safety, Remote Emergency Care, Lean Six Sigma (Green and Black Belt), to name only a few.

I would like to go on to do an MBA in the future when kids leave home and I have more time available to study.

Jonathan PugsleyEnergy Manager Yes I plan to go back this year and finish off my engineering exams for the class one engineer. Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer Yes, I would like to get an Anaesthetic Fellowship, Pain Diploma, MBA Health Care Management and maybe a diploma in computer networking & database control. Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist

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 As of yet, no I haven't, but hopefully when I get to grips with my job and settle down I would like to do a Horse Management course, maybe online. Other than that I can't see me having much time to go back to college in the near future. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock I am always open to upskilling; I regularly attend webinars so that I am up to date on current matters. Jenny DonnellyAsset 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 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 I have done courses on Special Education, Learning Difficulties inc. Autism, Asbergers. Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications I have undertaken courses in Professional Development every summer since I began teaching and I have recently applied for a Masters in Visual Arts Practices in Dun Laoighaire - which is a two year part time course. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs I would like to study something more about business as it’s a rapidly expanding sector within the global space economy and it would be really useful to have. Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications Yes I am currently studying in DIT for a level 7 degree in Construction Management which I was allowed advanced entry into because I have a trade qualification. Colin ButterlySite Manager - Trade Entry

After completing my BSc in Physiotherapy, and then changing my career path, I worried a lot about doing the ‘right’ course this time around. In hindsight I probably was overthinking things! Within my first few years in AIB, I finished my exams to become a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA). This was a big achievement, and felt like a real milestone in establishing my career on the business side. I took a few years off studying to find a course that suited where I wanted to go, and recently completed a Diploma in Digital Transformation (Financial Services) awarded by UCD. I was delighted to receive a first class honours in this course, as it almost proved to myself that this is an area in which I thrive. This Diploma is a stepping stone to a wider Masters in Financial Services which I’m hoping to complete over the coming three years.

AIB have supported all my post graduate education to date – definitely another perk to the job!  Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB Advice if considering this job For my particular job role, as a yield analysis engineer, good organization and communication skills are quite important. Along with having the technical knowledge, being able to properly communicate your ideas/findings is very important. A lot of my day is spent dealing with other people in the factory and it is very important to be able to communicate efficiently with them. Deborah CaffreyElectronic Engineer If you’re unsure of whether or not you’ll like the area you’re thinking of studying in, try some beginner online courses or lessons such as those on Coursera. Trying out things that you mightn’t have had much exposure to in school, like coding, can really help you decide if it’s for you. Catherine AhearnData Scientist The most important thing to keep in mind is that this is more of a life style than a job. Luke DreaEvent Rider

Whilst in secondary school, I changed my mind many a time regarding the career path I wanted to pursue! I always knew that I wanted to work with people but was unsure about the profession which would most suit my interests and skills in this regard.

While in school, I definitely found that being unsure about the type or area of work you want to pursue is a very difficult and confusing position to be in, especially given the array of career choices now available and the pressure one feels in trying to make one’s mind up.

To this end, I would strongly advise anybody in this position to research courses and job descriptions well in order to make the most informed decision possible at that time in your life. 

I recommend one tries to gain as much work experience as possible as it will provide you with valuable insight into your skills, ability, likes/dislikes for certain areas of employment!!!!

Also I would research the courses and job areas as much as possible so that you can make an informed decision regarding your choices. If you can't gain enough information in school, contact the college directly or arrange to talk to somebody who facilitates the course. In particular, it would be really valuable to talk to somebody in the profession to gain a realistic and practical insight into the job.

Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker A broad science background is very important. An ability to recognise small inconsistencies is equally important. For example do you recognise small discrepancies between different camera shots of the same scene in films and TV series?

An ability to question everything and think laterally is important. Also the ability to say 'no' (not everyone is comfortable doing this). Working in quality is not about being popular and definitely not about being a tyrant but one needs to be approachable, consistent and have good interpersonal skills.

Not all of your decisions are going to be popular but they need to be based on a sound rationale and you need to be able to support them. One also needs to be acutely aware of the fact that your opinion won't always be right.

One must always be open to being convinced of an alternative argument. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Ideally, try and get a job in the industry for a summer, or get a bit of experience before you go into it. You have to be happy with working outside, and doing physical work. If you are not prepared to work hard or are looking for a soft job, don't go into Landscaping. Design is very sexy at the moment, everyone wants to be a designer, a Landscape Designer. It's different on the ground, you have to be out there on sites in all weather and you have to make sure projects are managed well and you're able to muck in with everyone else. Biology is most important for anyone going into Horticulture or Landscaping as it covers propagation and helps with the identification of plant names, species and families through the universal use of Latin. Chemistry is also helpful as the use of various chemicals is a constant in horticulture. The chemical content and dangers of fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides in use in Amenity Horticulture needs to be understood anyone going into this business. Geography would be a relevant subject as well. Also, the simple things like having a full, clean driving licence, which can make you a lot more employable if you are trying for a job with a Landscape Conractor. This indicates that you are more mobile and can also drive a company van if needed. Be sure you're happy with the outdoor life. Having taken a Horticulture course will give you an advantage. However, it's possible to take a job first and study later, e.g. in IT Blanchardstown it is possible to study at night. I think you cannot beat doing the Diploma Course in the National Botanic Gardens because it is a good practical course which also covers all the theory and is invaluable for gaining plant knowledge. Paul DowlingHorticulturist Teaching as they say is a vocation, it is a job that requires patience and enthusiasm. If you are considering teaching you need to look beyond the holidays and think of the 9-4 Monday to Friday spent dealing with children or teenagers and the challenges which they might pose.

I would advise anyone thinking of teaching as a career to speak with Teachers and learn of their experiences, both positive and negative. I personally would encourage people to consider teaching as it is an extremely rewarding profession in terms of the interaction you get daily with young people and the colleagues you meet in the job. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher Consider your options carefully. It is likely that you are expecting top grades in your Leaving Certificate if you are considering pharmacy as a career so there will be plenty of doors open to you. Make sure you do plenty of work experience in different areas of pharmacy and if it is healthcare you are interested in then consider getting some work experience in medicine etc. I know quite a few people who have completed a pharmacy degree only to realise they actually want to do medicine! Rachel BerryPharmacist

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 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 Follow your interests. The people I know who are happiest in their jobs (including myself) are the people who have pursued the things that interest them most not necessarily the things that will pay best or have the highest status. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer

Get some experience working with both children and the elderly and feel comfortable working with both. Throughout college you will take part in clinical placements where you will be required to work with various age groups.

Work hard in school and achieve good Leaving Cert. results in order to get the necessary points for entry into the course.

Research the career thoroughly and arrange to speak with a speech and language therapist to discuss the job further.

Think about the personal characteristics mentioned below that are important for the job and think about whether you possess these characteristics

Lisa KellySpeech and Language Take every opportunity available, don't be afraid to do voluntary work and get involved in communities. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee Take a risk and see if you enjoy entrepreneurship. Creating a business in the STEM sector can be very rewarding. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies It is essential to be a very patient and organised person. Also you must have a sense of humour, be easy going and not take yourself too seriously. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs I would advise any college student considering a career in tax to undertake a summer internship or placement in a firm offering tax services. I found this an excellent way to understand what a job in tax would actually involve. Researching careers in tax online also shows the endless and exciting opportunities that a tax qualification can offer. I have found the more I have learned about tax, the more I understand how varied roles in tax can be. Anna Holohan Tax Manager The best bit of advice I could give anyone thinking about going into dairy farming is to go out and get experience first hand on a farm. This way you will know if you enjoy it and have a passion to do it first hand. If you do then studying agriculture in school and then onto an ag college is a great foundation to get the required knowledge you will need in the future. Bryan DanielsFarmer - Dairy 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 You do need to be naturally good at maths and problem solving. If you enjoy that type of work, then try to get as much on-the-job experience as you can early on either as a part-time job or through internships. If you want to work in an industry that is heavily involved in manufacturing try to get internships on a shop floor to give you the fundamental understanding of the manufacturing processes. Studying is incredibly important but experience will give you an edge over your peers. Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer Don’t be afraid to speak up, be yourself and always learn from each other. Xiaona HouProduct Engineer The lifestyle Yes Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician It does. Always room for improvement! Owen HughesManufacturing Technician We built our business from scratch and it is now in a growth stage, we have had to make a tremendous amount of sacrifices. My husband Jim still works in America and our first little boy James was born in 2015 just one year after we opened our business. We need to work harder on a work life balance as unfortunately our business has always been at the forefront.  

What is rewarding from our job is the feedback from our guests on the connection they feel with Ireland, some visitors describe it as re-tracing their ancestors footsteps because our surrounding landscape acts as a living museum telling the story of centuries gone by from the interpretaion of the potato ridges, existing pre-famine cabins and bronze age sites.

There is a tremendous feeling of pride that we have preserved this place to share with others. Also, we employ local people and provide a platform for local crafters, knitters, jewellery makers and musicians to sell their produce in an area that lacks enterprise and employment, it is not just about Glen Keen, it is about Community and preserving Irish heritage. Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms Yes, it is part-time with relatively flexible hours so it gives me the opportunity to do other jobs and study as well as spend quality time with my family. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Yes, absolutely. As a Third Secretary I can expect to spend large parts of my career working at Irish embassies abroad which is a prospect I find very exciting. At the same time I will spend time based at Headquarters in Ireland which means I will always retain that strong connection with home. I am currently based at Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU which is Ireland's largest diplomatic mission abroad. Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs Thankfully in my current job, I am able to balance my work life commitments. When I trained with KPMG, they gave me more than adequate study leave when I was pursuing the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification which was great. It can be difficult to go to lectures some evenings after work and at the weekends but if you can’t make it they’re also available online to catch up on in your own time. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant

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 Unlike some of the other health professions, Occupational Therapists tend to work from 9-5 Monday to Friday. This leaves both the evenings and weekends free to pursue other interests. OTs also get 25-27 annual leave days a year. These tend to get used up with holidays etc.

The caring professions aren't generally renowned as high income jobs. On qualifying from College Basic Grade OTs start on lower salary scales with salary increments each year. After working for 3 years as a Basic Grade, therapists are eligible to apply for Senior OT positions, which start on a higher salary scale. Tomas FlanaganOccupational Therapist 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 I would like to have more time for leisure & social activities!

The job is interesting but weekend work & early starts are to be expected in agriculture. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy Yes 100%. I get to travel the world AND get paid for it. What's not to love?! You work hard but you play hard and I get 3 months holidays to enjoy back at home with friends and family. I save a lot of money on the ship so when I have my 3 months off I get to treat myself a lot. Kate WalshBeauty Therapist

Where I live is very important to me as I love out door activities, working in Letrim is pretty much ideal for all I want to.

I have to say that being an Energy Manager/Plant Optimisation Engineer allows me more freedom than certain other career choices would have. For example I am lucky to be able to solve problems that will allow other employees to make a better contribution, not only to the business but also for themselves.

I have a good work balance in that I am in the office and out about roughly 50/50 split and its never boring as different opportunities come my way all the time.

Jonathan PugsleyEnergy Manager Working as JET Coordinator can be quite hectic as I have to visit lots of different universities and often have to get up early or don't get home until late, but it's nice to still be in a Japanese work environment after coming back from Japan - a great way to ease myself back into Irish society without as much reverse culture shock being home. Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy 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 Yes, I usually work a five day week, times can be flexible when required. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager When I was younger, one of the most important factors for me was to earn a really good salary as I wanted to be comfortable (my parents struggled financially so I didn't want to have the same struggles). However, I realised in my late twenties that although I wanted a good salary to be financially comfortable it was equally important for me to be as happy in my professional life as I was in my personal life.

I was working as a tax consultant and my job was well paid with great benefits. I was getting bored and frustrated with the lack of excitement. Overtime, I transitioned to work for myself in the food industry using all the knowledge and key skills I gained in all my previous jobs e.g. I've financial and tax awareness from my previous job. Fiona UyemaChef

My job allows me to have a good work life balance, it's a 9-5 day job with good terms of employment.

There is good flexibility for working around personal commitments. There are many opportunities across Finance and lots that allow you to progress to senior decision making roles or in sectors that you have a personal interest in. Job security has remained strong even in recession times.

Madonna DalyBusiness Manager I always knew I’d prefer a “Monday to Friday” type job with regular hours where you can plan ahead more easily and have two consecutive days off each week. Since I’ve had kids, it works well to be off at weekends. I feel I’ve got job security in my current role and I like that there’s a clear progression path, with ample opportunities to progress for those who wish to avail of them. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant

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 Working on shift allows me to lead a very flexible lifestyle which would not be possible with a 9 – 5 job. Typically I work a 3 or 4 day week, with each day comprising of 12 hour shifts. This means there is a lot of time off during the week to have a life outside of Intel. Rebecca TigheProcess Engineer Whats cool The cool things are the hours, the time off i.e long summer holidays etc. I like the interaction with children and fellow teachers. There is a great sense of satisfaction in seeing another person develop both academically and emotionally. Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher

I spend much of my time building and controlling some seriously powerful computers, way beyond what PCs are capable of. I get to work with hardware sometimes worth upwards of a million euro. I get to work as part of a team that are producing stuff worth literally billions of euro.

I get to hang out with some of the world's most techy geeks; eg. having lunch with an astrophysicist, a plasma physicist and an ex-systems administrator for the world's most powerful supercomputer (not all at the same time though :-). I sometimes go on expensive business trips to the US or middle-East; and naturally get to spend some holiday time there too.

Jason RuaneComputer Programmer Every day is different! I never have time to get bored, and there’s always something to learn; new equipment, unfamiliar processes, technical challenges.  Great for a curious mind!  I also get to work with most departments on a daily basis: Lab, Quality, Technical Operations, Site Services, IT, Engineering, so get a good awareness of what is happening around the site. Rachel BennettIndustrial Pharmacist Being involved in peoples lives at such a basic level is really 'cool'! It is cool to have such great opportunities to relate to our clients in a real and meaningful way and see the difference your team can make on the lives of those in your care.

You have some great times, great fun with your clients, you get the opportunity to expose them to great challenges and to see them develop new skills and participate in society in a meaningful way.

I love to see a client find a new skill or hobby or to be involved in making something happen in their lives which before would have seemed impossible i.e. that they would find employment in mainstream society or that they would join a film club. Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker The coolest thing is working with such a fantastic, hard-working, enthusiastic, energetic and intelligent team. We are a small company, based in Ireland and we are performing truly world-class research which will have a significant positive impact on the bottom line of many of the major pharmaceutical companies who we list as our customers.

Another cool thing is the nature of the work we do constantly changes in that we are always working on new projects with new customers which keep us challenged and excited. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur The holidays!! My colleague says “the education of our future generations”!!, that too, of course. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher Responding to Emergency calls is pretty ‘cool’, all the action and the excitement. This can get your adrenaline going, having to think on your feet and getting to use your skills, medications and equipment.

Driving on blue lights and sirens is pretty ‘cool’ too. Although most of the time when you arrive at the scene of an incident, things are bad. However, there are still ‘cool’ times such as delivering a baby in the back of the Ambulance or a car at the side of the road, that can be magic.

It’s a great feeling when you learn new skills or administer new drugs and you can see the patient improving immediately. Keith HayesAmbulance / Paramedic

Anything with a bit of adrenalin attached is cool. Whether it is boarding a trawler in very bad weather, a gunnery shoot, exercising ships gunners. Approaching a port with a large concentration of traffic, anything that is challenging really.

Also the opportunity to travel the world, though my career to date I have been lucky enough to have been to many different places, from Singapore to L.A. Argentina, Hong Kong, India and Egypt.

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy I am very much a people person and love the opportunities which this job provides. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee The opportunity to travel is one of the aspects definitely favoured. I also work with a group of really great people who rise to the challenge on a constant basis. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer My favourite thing about the job is helping others. There truly is nothing like the feeling that you've done something to make someone elses life just a little better. Emilia GilroyGarda Knowing that what I do every day is seeking innovative solutions which strive to improve healthcare products. Xiaona HouProduct Engineer I get to work with people from the full Musgrave network. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst

I’m part of a team inventing something new that has the potential to provide clean renewable energy.

It is incredible to think that the work we are doing can really make a difference. As it is completely new, there are no instructions to follow. We have to develop new methods for much of what we do, or adapt methods used by other industries.

Some of the tank tests we have carried out are a great breakthrough. I have also been able to contribute to large international projects and international standards for wave energy. To view a video: click here

Elva BannonMechatronic Engineer Living in Brussels - It’s a similar size to Dublin so it wasn’t a big disruption to move here. I like living on the continent because it makes travel so much easier when you can just get in your car and drive to another country. I also like the multi-national environment because it’s permanently stimulating. Catherine DaySecretary General The Revenue Commissioners offers great opportunities to its staff. There is huge scope for movement within the organisation both in terms of lateral movements and promotions. Revenue has a great mobility policy which ensures that staff do not stay in the one section / area for long periods of time. As a result staff are regularly rotated around to ensure they gain experience in numerous sectors and areas of tax.
The nature of tax is extremely diverse. Tax is changing all the time and as a tax consultant you must stay up to date. After every Finance Bill / Finance Act it is necessary to review any changes brought in or new taxes introduced. It is a challenging and rewarding career. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer 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 It’s cool that the work I’m involved with makes the news on a regular basis. For example, when Cassini flew past the moon Enceladus and the data indicated that there was a plume of water ions coming out of the moon, that made the news.

That discovery was led by the magnetometer team, of which I am a member, so it’s great to see the general public interested in what we do!

It's also nice to get to travel to conferences all around the world. I have been to meetings in San Francisco, Texas, Vienna, Italy, Germany, Wales.... Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist There is a great team feeling in the Defense Forces and this is seen best in the sports activities that we engage in regularly including Gaelic, Soccer Orienteering and Golf. The fact that we regularly get to spend time in the open air doing physical activities as opposed to being stuck in an office block or call centre is one of the main reasons that I love my job. Time off is also very important and can be taken at your own desired time once requested. This is an aspect of my job that I find cool. Keith LynchPrivate (Line) Best thing I like about my job is it can be so rewarding and we get to see alot of Europe which is quite cool! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer Not so cool There are times where the pressure is turned up and additional effort and work is required this only happens a couple of times a year, but you need to be mentally prepared to put in the work that is needed. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Burying animals or having to put them down. Being so busy some days that you don't have time to eat - starving in the evenings. Not getting home as often as maybe I should. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock Repetition, so that would be opening and locking the building, completing daily cash sheets, it can become boring. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Long production times and paperwork can be a bit boring sometimes. Owen HughesManufacturing Technician

Sometimes the cases are difficult and take longer than expected but it is important that enough time is given to complicated matters.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor Time management! It is a busy job and I don't always have time to do as good a job as I want to on some tasks because other things are more important or urgent. For example, sometimes you want to spend more time working on a piece of research but you can't because you need to respect a deadline given to you by a publisher. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer Gender, racial and sexual biases in the workplace. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies Administration tasks!!! Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker Definitely drafting meeting minutes. I don’t think anyone enjoys that. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant There is very little I do not like about my job but if I had to select one it would have to be the the lack of control I have over my day-to-day activities as my day is timetabled by others. However generally I find this a minor annoyance. Keith LynchPrivate (Line) 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 I have thought about this question and have asked a number of my colleagues.... None of us could think of anything that is not 'cool' about our jobs. For me, this is a dream job and I would not change a day of the time spent on the Air Corps so far. Oisin McGrathLieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp I wouldn't say there's anything I don't like, however things can get extremely busy at times which can sometimes be daunting, but there's always someone there willing to give a hand. Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice 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 It was a challenge to balance studying and working at times, but I managed very well as the Irish Tax Institute really supports you through the qualification by offering a flexible study and learning approach that makes work life balance very manageable. Caroline AustinSenior Associate Solicitor There's always parts of any job that can get on your nerves but it's important to remember the positives and not to focus of the negatives. I'm very grateful that the positives far outweigh any negatives at work! Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking For me it is the repetitious work in wintertime such as bedding cattle & preparing cow cubicles twice daily. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications I do not like billing but it is a very necessary part of working in a commercial firm! We need to record the time spent on client files and account for every minute while in the office and this can be difficult. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor The pay at the moment. Coming from a full time job it was very hard to adapt to the allowance paid during training. Mark Spain Garda Trainee