deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job I applied for a traineeship by way of a detailed application form. I was then selected for an interview and called back for a second round interview and then offered a traineeship to become a solicitor. I was phoned by one of the partners who interviewed me to tell me I had been successful. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor

I heard about the cadetship after attending a talk with an Army Officer at a careers evening in UCD. I enlisted and completed my training.

After being commissioned as an army officer I was posted to my unit which is based in Dublin. I had to do two interviews, a fitness test and a full medical. I was notified via post and phone.

Tom TooherLieutenant - Army I did a Diploma in QA in NUI Galway which was fulltime until one got a Tuesday to Friday work placement. I got a placement in a chip manufacturing entity in Dublin. After this year long diploma, courtesy of my mother spotting a job advertisement, I got a permanent job in Iarnrod Eireann in the Technical Department in Inchicore Works, where locomotives, carriages, etc. are maintained.

I was involved in many interesting projects, mostly specifying and buying vehicles, e.g. the first Arrows, and this made me competent in contracts and legal issues relating to procurement. I was there from 1992 to 1997 and left primarily for a change and for more money!

I then worked for a number of years through agencies working for various pharmaceutical manufacturing companies, a year here, a year there, and the work, surprisingly, was like the previous railway work: specifiying and procuring; only this time it was things like high-speed Tube-filling machines, etc. Next, out of the blue, I got a call from a businessman who had gotten my name from Iarnrod Eireann and he offerred me a car, nice salary and a permanent sales engineering job, selling Bus, Truck and Railway parts, with the CIE companies being my main customer. That was interesting but hectic. A

fter one year, again I was appraoched (as opposed to applying) and was asked (because of a lack of people with railway engineering experience) if would I be available to supervise the manufacture of the Luas Vehicles in France! Of course I was! That was 18 years ago and, a couple of years after my return from France, I was made permanent and promoted to Rolling Stock Manager. 18 years later and I'm still here! Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland It was advertised in the national papers shortly after I completed my course. I applied for an interview & was subsequently offered the job in 2006. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy

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

My current job was advertised in the national newspapers. Before applying for the job I phoned the Occupational Therapy Manager in St. Michael's House to get some additional information on the post. Then I sent in my CV and was called for interview.

I was interviewed by the OT Manager, one of the Senior OTs and someone from Human Resources. The interview lasted about 30 minutes. A few days after the interview I was contacted to inform me that I was successful in the interview and I was being offered the job dependant on a medical exam. The medical was completed the following week and I was then sent a contract to sign, to formally accept the post.

Tomas FlanaganOccupational Therapist I did my apprenticeship on the sister ship of the one I'm on now. The two boats are identical so I already knew the workings of the two vessels so there was a job opening here and I asked for it and got it. Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer I went on college placement for 6 months as a product developer which really showed me what career path I could go down as my degree was very broad. This helped me gain experience in the food and drinks industry. I started a full-time job as an own brand analyst after college and then eventually apply for the Musgrave Graduate Programme. Sara Hickey Assistant Trading Manager I rang the army and requested an application form which was sent out to me. I submitted the application and in time was called for an interview.

The interview board consisted of three soldiers, an officer and two sergeants. They asked me questions about myself, my background, and what knowledge I had of the Defence Forces. I was sent a letter to tell me that I had been successful in my interview. 

I then had to complete a medical and a fitness test. I got a letter about one month letter telling me I was successful and when I was to start my training. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) I was actively looking for a new job in Scotland or Ireland at the time. My current job was advertised on the HSE careers website: www.careersinhealthcare.ie. It appealed to me because as part of the job you got to complete a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy and depending on where you were placed in interview, choose which hospital you worked in (the scheme involved the major teaching hospitals in HSE West and South).

I applied online and was shortlisted for an interview which assessed the candidates suitability for the job itself and the Masters. I got a phone call a few days later to say I had been successful. Rachel BerryPharmacist When I was looking to become a Paramedic I had to check the appointment section of the national news papers for the position to be advertised. Now the positions are advertised through different methods such as national papers and websites.

When you apply for the position you go through various selection procedures, beginning with responding to the advertisement and completing the application form. After this you have to pass an aptitude test which is followed by a panel interview and medical.

On successful completion of these stages in which you would be awarded scores/ points based on your performance, you would be placed on a panel reflecting the amount of points you’ve obtained. This means the better your performance and competencies the more points you gain, and the more points you gain the higher on the panel you get.

Once selected from the panel you may be offered a place as a student Paramedic and sent to college for training. From there you must demonstrate that you have the ability and competency to become an operational Paramedic by passing the college exams and assignments as well as the State exams to secure a place on the State register*.

*State register; to practice as a Paramedic or Advanced Paramedic in the Republic of Ireland you must successfully complete the exams and secure a place on the statuary register outlined by the Pre-hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC). Keith HayesAmbulance / Paramedic I was offered this job when the previous incumbent moved on. By coincidence, I was looking for a change from the job I had at that time so it was opportune. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator There are a couple of ways that singers are hired for work, one is via auditions. Typically at an audition, you are invited to sing for an opera house or casting director, you bring 5 pieces with you, and they provide a pianist (sometimes there is no time allowed to rehearse with the pianist beforehand!) and you sing 2-3 pieces from your list, and based on what they hear, if they like you and have something suitable to cast, then you're in luck!

More often than not though, singers will be cast because a director or conductor has worked with them before and knows they would be suitable, or they'll have seen them on stage or in concert and want to work with them based on that. So it's really important that when you're performing, it's to the best of your ability. You never know who's in the audience! Sharon CartyOpera Singer I applied to an advert via a recruitment agency. My experience at the time was a good match for the role required. Des LalorWind Engineer

In 2008 I did a Masters in Advanced Engineering in DIT, with subjects picked to set me up for a career in renewable energy.

I started to become very interested in ocean energy and realised how important it is for Ireland. My thesis was about wave energy in Ireland, and this led me to see what companies might be looking for someone with my qualifications. Wavebob had not advertised any positions, but I sent in a CV anyway as I knew they were doing work that I wanted to be a part of.

Following some initial phone calls, and then an interview, I was offered a graduate engineer position.

Elva BannonMechatronic Engineer 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 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 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 I made sure to get the most out of the graduate programme, from fully participating in the formal aspects such as the IMI modules, to fostering good relationships with influential people within Musgrave. These people then became advocates for me as I sought a full time, post-graduate role in the company. Shane O'SheaSuperValu Regional Support Manager Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Main challenges 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 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 As a Revenue Auditor the challenges faced are numerous. Tax Payers tend to view Revenue Auditors and the Audit process with a certain amount of caution and trepidation. In such circumstances it is necessary to be able to make the taxpayer feel as comfortable as possible. I deal with such situations by ensuring that the taxpayer is fully aware of how the Audit will be carried out.

Revenue has a “Code of Practice” for Audit and I will notify the taxpayer in advance that my Audit will be carried out in accordance with this Code and I will direct them to our website so they can examine this document in advance.
I will always ask at the start of the Audit if the taxpayer is aware of how the Audit will be conducted and I will answer any questions or clarify any issues they may have before I commence my Audit.

By setting out how the Audit will progress, the taxpayer should be prepared for what will happen and I have found that this helps to manage the Audit process for me and the taxpayer. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer Troubleshooting excursions in order to understand them and prevent them in the future is challenging. Training into a new environment is always a challenge. Adapting from a college environment to a working environment is a huge change and a challenge I am still overcoming. Rebecca TigheProcess Engineer

The fields of medicine and pharmacy are constantly developing: new clinical trials are published, new drugs developed and new ways of using medicines are introduced. It is a challenge to keep up to date with all this new information and it can appear quite daunting at first. I've recently started studying for a Master's in Clinical Pharmacy and have found it to be a great help as my learning has become more focused, manageable and "real" (I can relate it to actual patients).

On a day to day basis there is always something new or unexpected. These things could be interpreted as a challange but I like to think they keep me alert and interested in the job. In terms of the pharmacy department as a whole I think the main challenge is addressing how best we can meet patients needs and provide a quality service in the face of limited resources.

Rachel BerryPharmacist 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 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 Out at sea everyday is different so each new day has it's own challenges! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer The main challenges are: - the ever tightening quotas - the increasing costs of running vessels. - finding crew - Departmental constraints Alan O'NeillFisherman

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 Generally, library members and researchers can keep you on your toes, each new day brings a new array of requests. Its also important, as librarians that we keep up to date on library policies which affect the day to day running of the library.

While our internet facility has sophisticated software to block unwelcome sites, its always important to make sure nothing escapes our attention, by reporting it immediately to I.T. Jonathan SmythLibrary Assistant The early starts & the variety of practical & technical skills needed to run a large intensive dairy farm provide an on-going challenge Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy Shift work can be tough – our group works an alternating pattern of days and nights.  Also coming into a department that had only ever had Chemical Engineers working in my role was daunting, but it provides a great opportunity to learn, and to help others learn. Rachel BennettIndustrial Pharmacist 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 We have a lot of projects at once, so juggling all them at the same time can be a challenge. Megan WalshMechanical 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 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 The main challenges for me are managing expectations of those to whom I am presenting data and analysis as people can have differing or conflicting views. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst My main challenge in my current role in the ISIF was joining the team remotely. I was the first member in the ISIF to join in a work-from-home environment. It took a good bit of work and effort on my part to learn different tasks on the job virtually. A bigger challenge that I still face while working from home is developing strong working relationships with everyone on the team, especially those that I may not work with on a regular basis. I have always found it a lot easier to build rapport through in person interaction. However, it has been a year of working remotely for me and I am always learning ways to make it work. Madhuvratha VasudevanSenior Investment Analyst 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 Typical day Being a Garda is different from other jobs where you have a pre-set task ahead. Everyday is different from the other, but a typical day starts with a parade in the station where you get briefed of any situation at hand, this is followed by regular beat patrol within the community, attending to calls and needs of the public. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve My days are extremely varied, no day is the same but hopefully this will give a flavour: I arrive in and have a 9am Conference Call with the French company who supply our trams. The discussion might include things like a new energy-monitoring system we want on future trams, the Floor Slip Resistance of the existing trams, the new Door Control Software safety approval certificate and independent testing, etc. as well as prices for equipment and new trams. 10am: get to see my emails and generally there would be 10 to 20 new ones since the evening before, relating to, say, Extension of the Tram Lifting System for new longer trams we have (e.g. power consumption query from supplier); or an email from someone requesting me to give a talk or an email from HR requiring me to attend an IT Security briefing or an email about Maintenance spares.

12pm: e.g. Meeting with the MetroLink team to review latest issues under discusion with the external Engineering Design consultants. This could include discussions on Vehicle Fire Standards, passenger capacities, low-floor versus high-floor, infrastructure (segregation) requirements if driverless, etc. 1-2pm LUNCH! 2pm e.g. More emails akin to those earlier. 3pm e.g. Meeting with Risk Manager to review risk registers e.g. Functional (Department) Risk Register (sample item on this: the need for and reasons why additional staff are required); and Project Risk Registers e.g. Make sure the contract for X includes us getting an Advance Payment Bond before we make the first payment.

4pm Catch-up and brief my manager. 4:30 / 5 / 5:30 / 6pm. Emails, plus e.g. Preparation of report (e.g. commercial report for final settlement of a contract at cost neutral, i.e. our late delivery penalties match their additional unforeseen costs/claims or Preparation of a Business Case for the National Transport Authority in order to get approval for expenditure for something) Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland

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

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

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

Nicola O'HigginsFishmonger No two days are the same but my typical working hours are from 8.30 – 5.30 each day.

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

My days would mainly consist of making /receiving phone calls and sending/receiving emails, attending meetings and interactions with my team. I very rarely get through all items in any given day and for that reason prioritisation of tasks is key. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations A typical day would be similar enough to any other company following the Agile way of working; stand ups in the morning to track everyone’s progress and give/receive support if needed, perhaps sprint planning or backlog grooming meetings (depending on what day of the sprint it is), and other than that I’d be spending my time coding and working on whatever project or task I’m doing at the time. I liaise with colleagues who may be working on a particular task or project with me throughout the day aswell, it’s an open plan office so this is quite easy to do quickly and efficiently. Claire PurcellSoftware Engineer From 9:00 to 5:00 I am involved in manufacturing, sending out orders, and dealing with customers in the shop. I do the accounts at home after hours. Ray PowerPotter Arriving in, checking e-mails and going through data from tests I set up previously. Creating new ways to improve the products I am working on by thinking outside the box, and trying to make things as simple as possible. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer A typical day begins with a meeting with the MEP to discuss the day’s agenda, followed by, typically a committee meeting, which could involve taking votes on certain issues. We could then have a lunch time meeting with visitors from Ireland, followed by an afternoon meeting with stakeholders such as farm and environmental groups.

In the evening there are usually further informal events, such as dealing with animal welfare. Other daily tasks would include researching important issues for the MEP, briefing them prior to meetings, assisting in drafting amendments and helping them generally in their day to day work.

I am currently working on drafting the new Data Protection laws that will cover all five hundred million people in Europe, allowing innovation in the online environment. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant We have class from 9am - 5pm every day where we have very practical classes learning the legal aspect as well as the practical policy elements. There is also a high emphasis on physical fitness for duty. Mark Spain Garda Trainee

The first thing I do when I go onto the ward is to look at the drugs the nurses have ordered from pharmacy. The nurses will have ordered drugs for new patients and this is one way of spotting any potential problems early on e.g. drug not stocked by the hospital, wrong dose or strength etc. If anything strange does show up I go to those patients first and address the problem.

The next thing on the list is to go and talk to all the new patients and get a list of all the medicines they were on before admission. Most of the time this is relatively straightforward (and quite enjoyable as most of the patients like to have a bit of a chat) but there are occasions when it still isn't clear, even after speaking to the GP, the patient and the community pharmacist.

The list I obtain is compared to the drugs prescribed by the doctor. If the lists don't match I first of all look to see if there is an explanation and if not then let the medical/nursing staff know. Sometimes a patient won't be on a drug that they really should be taking according to their medical history or vice versa and I will highlight this as well.

Once the new admissions are sorted out I try to go round all the other patients and check that the drugs they are prescribed are suitable. I'll also answer any questions they have regarding their medicines and pass anything I'm unable to answer on to the medical/nursing staff. How busy I am depends on how many new patients there are and whether or not they have complicated drug histories. I have other non-clinical commitments which need to be fitted in as well.

Rachel BerryPharmacist Scientific research is a cycle of a) devising an experiment to find the answer to a particular question, b) running that experiment - whether on a computer or in an experimental laboratory, c) analysing the results and d) publishing your conclusions. A typical day depends on where in this cycle you are and, of course, you could be trying to answer several questions at once! A typical day for me includes reading the relevant literature to see what people already know, using computer code to model the properties of new materials, and writing up my methods and results so that I can communicate them to my colleagues. Nuala CaffreyResearch Fellow in Computational Physics

8am: theoretical training session.

9am: preparing for 1st patient, i.e. preparing drugs, checking machines.

9am -17pm: perioperative anaesthetic care of patients in theatre.

Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist My average day starts at about 7.30am, as does that of my employees. Our workforce is organised in three crews of two or, sometimes, three men. On a Monday, we would normally go on a run of maintenance contracts, maybe seven or eight sites and I would work with one of the crews during that run. On Tuesdays, we tend to concentrate on new landscaping jobs. I would organise the materials for the job and any deliveries of materials. I'd then set out the planting and allocate various tasks to my helpers, make sure that everything is going smoothly and that the job is finished well. Our work days finish at four in the afternoon. On Wednesdays, after allocating the various tasks to the staff and ensuring that everyone is on site, I spend the rest of the day in the office. This is a vitally important part of my work, although the least enjoyable. Accounts and credit control have to examined , bills paid, lodgement of cheques received and wages for the week prepared. There is usually correspondence to be dealt with as well as quotations and tenders for future work prepared. A lot of time is spent on business calls not only on Wednesdays but throughout the week. The other days are taken up in much the same way as Mondays and Tuesdays. Contact has to maintained with the clients on a regular basis to ensure that they are satisfied with the service we are providing. Also regular contact with suppliers, such as Nuserymen, is very important to make sure that we know which plants or other materials can be sourced at any one time. Paul DowlingHorticulturist My day varies from day-to-day. It depends what kind of experiment that I am running on that day itself. Normally I will start doing experiments in the morning, so that I have plenty of time to do write ups or read some journal papers in the afternoon. My experiments involve analysing mouse brain tissue, RNA samples and sometimes we do studies on paediatric brain samples too! Before heading back home, I will plan the experiment for the following day and prepare the necessary chemicals required for that experiment. This is so that my following day will be more organized and I don’t have to worry about rushing and preparing the chemicals in the next morning. Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI I have a meeting every morning with the HR team followed by a review of metrics for a different topic in the Training arena on a daily basis. During the day I'll meet various business leaders across all roles to promote and drive a learning strategy that gives results to the organization & the people within.  Mark MeehanSTEM Learning Head I work on many different projects daily. Some projects are located close to home and others are worldwide. My typical day includes: carrying out detailed design calculations on a structure for large scale projects, regular meetings with people from other disciplines and travelling to site when required. I have done a lot of travelling around Europe recently to carry out visual building inspections for a global client. Shauna HurleyStructural Engineer 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 Oisín:
Assisting in a machine shop, assembly of joinery items, finishing joinery work i.e. oil laquer spraying. Keeping the surrounding bench area tidy and setting out of joinery work. 

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter I am currently working on a project where I am determining the equipment that is required to make the medicine. When the equipment is made I then test it to ensure it is working correctly and the medicine it makes meets the requirements that will make it work and keep patients safe Niamh YatesValidation Engineer Further training...

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 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. Yes, I believe in continuous learning and seeking new challenges. There are always industry events, projects, trainings as well as online education opportunities. Semin Soher PowerSenior Inflation Trader Management training is a constant over the past twenty years This is necessary both for good practice and for keeping abreast of developments in the management skills area and in the area of legislation.

Most recently I attended a four days course on Leadership in Catholic Schools. Paul MeanySchool Principal Yes, I am undertaking level 8 Business Studies with Dublin Business School. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia 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 am continually learning through my job. This summer, I spent some time at the European Space Agency learning the latest techniques in satellite data assimilation. Keeping up with technology is both fun and vital for my business. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies

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 It is definitely my intention to return to education in the very near future. I am out of college two years and even now I can see the advantage to continuous education.

The one thing that is always recommended by engineers that I have encountered is to take any and all education that you can. Apart from the fact that it makes you infinitely more qualified for different jobs, it keeps you up to date with new technologies and methodologies.

Sometimes a company will contribute towards costs and give you time to attend college if it is related to upskilling for a role which the company values. To date, I have witnessed a number of people transition from one type of career to a completely different career within the same company.

Education is the tool that allows you to change your work life to whatever you wish depending on how you go about it. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer I have done a number of different courses for my job. I did a Filleting Course one year ago. I also did a Forklift Course two years ago and I've have done two HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) Courses in the past few years. Brendan WhiteFish Filleter

Since graduating from College I have attended a number of courses to develop skills in specific areas. These have included courses on handwriting, posture & seating and sensory integration. Continuous Professional Development (CPD) is vital for keeping your skills up to date as OT is a dynamic profession.

I hope to continue to attend professional courses to further develop my skills. In particular I would be interested in undergoing additional sensory integration training as this is an area of particular interest to me and it is relevant to my current caseload.

In the future there is the option of undertaking a Masters in Occupational Therapy or a Masters in Intellectual Disability. This is something I might be interested in doing in due course.

Tomas FlanaganOccupational Therapist As part of the job there a lot of job specific courses that can be completed during your trade . I have completed mobile tower assembly, boom and scissor lift driving, confined space training, occupational first aid, abrasive wheel training. I hope to follow up at the end of my trade and do engineering. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician The Army encourages continual development and advancement in training. I intend on doing an NCO's course, advanced weapon training and more computer courses. There are plenty of courses that I intend on doing but most of all I plan for promotion. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) 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 In this field it is critical to have the most up to date information available to me whether it is fish nutrition, safety, or any other area; hence I am always willing to participate in any training that may become available to me. To date I have completed over forty courses between Marine Harvest and BIM. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager In the Garda College I have completed a suicide intervention course which has proved to be a very worthwhile course.

In the future I hope that I can further my education and build on the degree that I will attain at the end of the training. I think that furthering education will be crucial if I want to progress my career in years to come. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda I always look to do some level of new training every year and this year I will do training through Barclays to keep me moving forward. Brian DelahuntyHead of Corporate Banking 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 Yes, I am passionate about learning, I actively encourage my team to commit to their studies by highlighting the benefits of continuous professional development. I will complete the MDI qualification which contributes towards credit for ACII. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Advice if considering this job In terms of education, people on my team are generally either actuaries or hold the CFA qualification. While I’m an actuary, I would advise anyone setting out on this career path to head down the CFA route. It’s (arguably) more relevant and, while the exams are very challenging, there are “only” three of them, so even if you’re finding it tough, at least the end is always in sight!

Having a genuine interest in markets and the world around us is a big benefit.

As a consultant, you need to enjoy dealing with people. The key skills required are strong communication skills – both with clients and colleagues alike. Team work. I’m lucky to work on a great team in Mercer, with a strong team spirit – I’m surrounded by very professional people who are obliging and keen to help each other out.

In terms of advice, don’t under-estimate the skills you’re developing while still a student – regardless of what career you choose, communication skills are really important. Any presentation you do in school or college is fantastic experience. Any part-time or summer job you have is so helpful in developing really important life-skills that will stand to you in any career e.g. the ability to work well as part of a team, meeting deadlines, prioritising etc. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant 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

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

Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel I would advise anyone starting out to get in touch with people in the industry. Ask plenty of questions and get a part-time job in the field you are interested in. Kevin O'HaganDesign Engineer I would advise those considering the job to be patient and to be good at what you are doing and when the opportunity comes to join An Garda Siochana just take it!.

If you are part of a minority group in Ireland and considering joining An Garda Síochána then my advice to you is to go for it because as a foreign national working in the organisation I promise there is no discrimination in An Garda Síochána. Nan Hu Garda 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

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

It involves making difficult decisions, which will have life changing consequences for the offenders. If you think you have the ability to handle all that, it is a truly great job with amazing opportunities. Emilia GilroyGarda 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 You need to be hard working, enjoy the outdoor life regardless of the weather and must be willing to work as part of a team at all times. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager Don't just go into teaching because you are looking for long holidays. To teach everyday you need to like children, be very patient and understanding. However I feel it is one of the most rewarding jobs out there. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Take the time to get your head around the subjects. Sometimes it can be tempting to just learn off methods and exam questions to get a good degree but at the end of the day that won’t help you in industry. You may find then that you’re back at square one having to learn how to code for yourself when there’s no examples to copy and paste, and no friendly classmate to give you their code. The best thing I do for my own learning in college is take the time to really understand what’s going on in assignments and exam questions, because once you get it using it becomes so much easier. Claire PurcellSoftware Engineer 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

Look up the Defence Forces website at www.military.ie and talk to serving personnel. If its possible try to visit a barracks.

Tom TooherLieutenant - Army Try and get as much practical experience before entering the job as possible. Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist 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 Be prepared for hard work.
Be a team player.
Have a good sense of humour.
Learn from your mistakes. Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager A common misconception about a career in tax is that it is just about numbers, however, tax law has a strong basis in legislation and case law. Therefore, it is really suitable for graduates from a legal background, or for qualified solicitors and barristers. Caroline AustinSenior Associate Solicitor Find something that you’re passionate about and it will make your life a lot more enjoyable.  David McKeownSpace Scientist The lifestyle 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 The hours are good, you still have enough time in the evening to follow pursuits which interest you. In the last number of years, I got married abroad, in fact, in Cyprus and my wife and I bought our new home in 2005.

The house has a study/ writing room, to which I go in the evening time. I'm not big on excessive luxuries but we do have a car and like to go on family holidays, usually somewhere hot like Spain. I also have my series of dvd collections, for example 007 movies and cult t.v. shows like 'The Prisoner', which I regularly add to. We also have a lovely garden where the children can play and I can relax, if only!. Jonathan SmythLibrary Assistant I get to travel a lot which is fantastic and also my days are not always structed the same which I like. Ian McKinleyRugby Player

Brilliant Work/Life balance in AIB

Great flexibility for myself over the past few months due to personal reasons and I received amazing backing from my team at all levels to support me on this

Allowed me to have the balance I needed at that time. Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead

I find job security a very important feature of my job. Althought I may not make my millions, I will never be unemployed. A large part of my lifestyle revolves around sports and fitness and I feel that my career is perfect for that aspect of my life.

There is also the prospect of promotion within the ranks and with that comes responsibility which I'm looking forward to as a new challenging aspect of my lifestyle. Being overseas can be a difficult aspect of the lifestyle, being away from loved ones for months at a time, however, living so close to my home unit offers me much more time to spend with family and friends.

Keith LynchPrivate (Line) Yes. The time off is very substantial. After working for six days straight you get four days off in a row.

As a family man it means I can spend time with my children and do any jobs I need to during these four days. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda Yes, my job fits in with my life perfectly. Although, we are very busy, the role is flexible to allow for appointments. After working in residential centres for many years, a Monday-Friday working week is very much enjoyable! Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker

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 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, 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, thankfully I can maintain a good work life balance, where my hard work is rewarded. Caroline AustinSenior Associate Solicitor 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 Yes! Ray PowerPotter 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 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, flexible working hours, managing my own work. I take ownership of my career and job choices. Niamh YatesValidation Engineer I love working for AIB as I’ve got a good work life balance and lifestyle although with Covid it was a challenge but I’ve always worked hard and its not always perfect but I suppose having worked globally in a number of industries and also been in many situations it’s the one organisation that has enabled me to cultivate and maintain authentic connections inside and outside of work: along with coaching studying and pursing volunteer work, and other interests and where the people really do make the difference. Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB Yes, it is my dream job. It is secure, has lots of flexibility, allows me to travel, and gives me a lot of control over my future. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer Commercial fishing can be anti-social due to  the long irregular hours and the irregular days that one works. The job is completely weather dependant. A motivated person can easily progress up the career ladder with great personal and relatively good financial reward. Pay is a share of the catch. The choice of going out fishing/taking time off is largely yours within reason (i.e. if you have a good understanding with your boss). Liz O'TooleSkipper Yes, my job allows me the flexibility I desire and also provides good travel opportunities. This is very important to me. Karl CurranAssociate Director Whats cool Being your own boss a lot of the time, making your own decisions, being able to step out of my back door every morning and stepping into my 1,000 acre office. Kieran MageeFarm Manager - Dry Stock 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 variety (two days are rarely the same) and the fact that I can control how my career develops. You are given a lot of freedom by the university to research what is most interesting to you, and this can change over time. I think the opportunities for international travel with a stable Irish base are great as well. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer My friends think that it is exciting and cool that I fire weapons and carry out war games in the mountains etc.  I also find it exciting and really enjoyable. My friends also think it is cool that we get to travel over seas for long periods of time. I like the fact that I get to meet a lot of different people and make many friends. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) 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

I’m genuinely blown away by the energy in the department! Everyone who works there, regardless of their job, brings their all to the workplace daily. There is a consistent hum of productivity and collegiality, and it is inspiring.

Jonathan O’ReillyPrincipal Social Worker What I really like about my job is that it's very social. I did not expect that coming into an office environment. There's a very friendly atmosphere in here, which makes any stressful day a lot easier. We also do a lot of events and meet ups outside of work too, which is great for team building. Another thing I must include is the free tea, coffee and on-site lunches. It saves so much time in the mornings! Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP 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

Before I worked for an Investment company, I thought that investing was something that only wealthy people did, I didn't realise that it's possible for everyone. When I first started in the role, I had a project where I had to help non experts in the organisation learn more about investment and I ended up learning so much for myself! It's a great feeling being able to understand the basics of investment and know that you have the confidence to manage your own money for your future.

Yes definitely, my role allows me to help others to learn and develop and that is really rewarding, when people tell you that you helped them realise something that is going to help them in their life or career it's really satisfying. One of things I most enjoy about my current role is getting to work with people all over the world, it was brilliant when I got to travel and see people in person in some of our offices in India, Germany, Luxembourg for example.

Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead It’s quite cool to be working on the most advanced manufacturing process in the world. The first time you walk into the fab is like going to a different world. Darryl DayIQ Engineer The flexibility the job brings, working in different places with different people regularly. Eileen FahertyElectrician / Quantity Surveyor It’s very interesting because no two days are the same so that’s good. You get a sense that you’re representing your own country and also you have the opportunity to develop a broader outlook on the world.

You also gain friendships with people from all over Europe that all have interesting things to say and as a result, have a very active social life. You’re never stuck for too long behind your desk either. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant

First and foremost – it’s the people (without sounding too corny about it!).

I’m surrounded by a great team, and it makes any job more enjoyable. I strongly believe you can tackle almost anything in the day job with the right people who have an open and honest outlook.

Before AIB, I worked in smaller companies, and always thought the concept of working in a big organisation would be quite daunting. With so many thousands of people, how would you know where to go, or who might be able to help etc? Now I see it as the very opposite. Meeting new people is something that I really enjoy. And as new projects arise, or changes and restructures take place on different teams, you often get the opportunity to learn about somebody new. The diversity amongst the team makes each day interesting.

Flexibility has more recently become a nice perk, and the annual leave is always something I cherish! Each employee was recently granted an extra days holiday to ‘digitally disconnect’ – definitely something I welcomed, but more so it was AIB’s acknowledgement of the importance of switching off.

Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB Delivering for the Irish public is a key personal driver of mine. When a new depot, tram Luas line is launched, my colleagues and I do feel (justifiably, I believe) very proud. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland 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 I like the fact that my job gets me involved with all aspects of the business - planning, purchasing, finance, engineering, human resources etc. It is this diversity of contacts which ensures that each day is different and interesting. I also like the pressure in my job. I'm never short of something to do. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer My job offers me exposure to a highly diverse pool of assets. As managers of taxpayers’ money, the team collectively holds a huge responsibility. The Fund is unique in its investment mandate; however, it is also highly agile in dealing with any new issues that may arise. A good example of this would be the setting up of the Pandemic Stabilisation and Recovery Fund, a €2bn fund to support medium and large enterprises in Ireland affected by Covid-19. Finally, is a fantastic team with people from many different backgrounds, giving me the opportunity to learn something new every day. Madhuvratha VasudevanSenior Investment Analyst Reward and Recognition play a big part in the culture of our organisation where success is celebrated and high performance is recognised.

Several initiatives have been introduced such as Employee of the Month, Silver/Gold awards etc. which instils a culture of high achievement across all areas. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations The opportunities to experience different roles, sectors and cultures within this industry are fantastic. Gillian MorganManufacturing Process Specialist Regarding my astronomical drawings, it is totally cool to see photographic images taken at the same time of the same lunar or solar feature that I have also drawn. Compare both and be amazed at how close I got to reality with my eyes. It’s the coolest thing in the world to see children’s smiling faces when they have learned about a solar system object for the first time and produced a wonderful drawing of that object for themselves. Deirdre KelleghanAmateur Astronomer Not so cool As a call centre and a developing business, we are always striving to meet the needs of our customers, part of that is that we operate 6 days a week and open late mid week.

Whilst a lot of insurance brokers operate on a 9-5 basis, this represents a challenge in managing and monitoring a call centre with extended hours. When resourcing the department it can also be difficult to find staff that will commit to shift work. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Seeing people upset and not knowing how to help them. Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant 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 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 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 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 Special Needs teaching can be enjoyable and rewarding. However there is a lot of paperwork. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Having to tie the vessel up because of no quotas! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer 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 I really don’t like going to a scene that involves casualties or serious injuries. I don’t like bringing bad news to a family. It can be very upsetting for a number of days. Nan Hu Garda 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 Everyone has days when you want to do nothing but lie in bed and dancers are no different. Sometimes it's tough to always have energy, especially on days when your body is hurting. I think people forget the immense physicality of dance but it's no mean feat to do an hour show every single night for 3 months straight with no night off. It's that exhausted feeling that I don't like. Megan McEvoyDancer Tearing the net and mending it. Getting no fish and therefore getting no money. Alan O'NeillFisherman People constantly asking if you can get them cheaper car insurance! Karl CurranAssociate Director Lots of challenges come with working with big data. Performance and scaling problems can be tough, and finding bugs can be frustrating at times, but it is very rewarding when all of the work finally comes together. Catherine AhearnData Scientist 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 Down in the weeds tasks - running reports over and over, or sometimes the nature of lastminute.com asks can be a real challenge! Oonagh KellyHead of HR Gender, racial and sexual biases in the workplace. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies The challenges mentioned above: too much work sometimes, having to multitask a lot and still needing to prove myself to others, many times because of my age and sex. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services 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