deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job When I was in College, I spoke to a Musgrave representative at a careers fair. They spoke about the benefits of the programme and told me about the history of the business. From that conversation I decided to apply for the Graduate Programme. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme 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 My job found me! I have a great network going back through my career of people and connections I have made, and as the company was looking for a HR leader a recruiter approached me and here I am! Oonagh KellyHead of HR When I started looking for a job I subscribed to a UK-based weekly list of academic jobs. As lecturers tend to work in specialised areas I did anticipate that I would have to work abroad for a number of years, to gain experience and wait for a job to become available in Ireland.

Fortunately, I was nearing completion of my doctorate as DCU Business School entered into significant expansion. I heard about my job through a number of sources - it was advertised both in the Irish Times and on the DCU website.

At that point I was getting the Times every week, as were my parents. I was also told about by a fellow PhD student in Trinity, who was also working in DCU. I applied by filling in an application form, which was available on the web. I was given the opportunity to include additional pertinent information, so I sent in an extra document to accompany the form.

In this I emphasised the fact that my research interests were complementary to those of members of the HRM/Organisational Psychology group, as well as to those of the Learning, Innovation and Knowledge Research Center. I was also excited at the prospect of joining the Business School as it entered a dynamic expansion phase.

The selection process had two components, which were a few days apart. First I had to come in and make a presentation. This was to assess my teaching and communication skills. There was a panel with the Head and Professor of the Human Resource Management and Organisational Psychology Group, which I was applying to join; the Associate Dean for Teaching and Learning; an external representative; and a representative from the Human Resource Department.

In the next stage, I had an interview with what seemed a big panel at the time. The Dean of the Business School, the Professor of HRM, the Head of the HRM and Organisational Psychology group, two external Professors and a representative of the HR group asked me questions about why I wanted to work in DCU; my teaching and research experience and philosophy; course design and delivery.

The panel made an obvious effort to make me feel comfortable, but I was still pretty nervous - I really wanted to work here!

I was contacted by telephone two weeks later and was told that they would like to offer me the job. The offer was quickly followed by a formal letter and contract.

The decision to take the job was easy. I had also applied for and been offered two other jobs - one in Ireland and one in the UK. But DCU had a very clear fit with my research interests, I was very impressed by their strategy and I'd really enjoyed meeting my potential colleagues through the interview process. I had really enjoyed being in college in Trinity so moving into a similarly welcoming and collegiate culture was very important to me. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer I started my own company a year ago. I hired some people that I have been working with for several years and together we are building something incredible! Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies Through the CAO I applied for PE teaching in University of Limerick. At the time I had to complete a movement and ability test but I think that has since been removed as part of the requirements. I passed that test and once I acquired the points from the Leaving Cert. I was accepted into the course. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher I applied for my job the usual way. I had worked with the company for two summers as a student so I knew exactly what I was letting myself in for and what would be expected of me. I went through the normal interview process and was successful. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer 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 heard about the opportunity from a family member and decided to apply online. The process moved very quickly, and I had an interview weeks after I applied. I was interviewed by a panel of two partners in Northern Trust. The interview went very smoothly there was no pressure at all. I got a call from HR two weeks after my interview to offer me the position. Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice

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 I applied online, was interviewed twice and was offered the position. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer I responded to an advertisement which appeared in the Irish Independent newspaper. I attended an interview in the school and the school principal rang me the following day to say I was successful in my application. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher 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 Community Policing was an area that always interested me and when a vacancy came up, I applied through my Sergeant and my application was accepted. Niamh BriggsGarda 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 applied in the last recruitment campaign in December 2013. I passed all assessments and test and was invited to Garda College in Templemore for a 34 week training period, which I enjoyed a lot. Emilia GilroyGarda When the position was advertised, I submitted my application. From there I was successful in obtaining an interview, resulting in the position being offered to me which I accepted. Hugh Heraghty Fish Farm Manager 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 was contacted by a recruitment consultant who described the role and enquired if I was interested. I expressed an interest and an interview was arranged. I was interviewed by HR and my current boss. It was a general interview exploring pharmaceutical experience to date, general interests etc.

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

Michael BohaneQA Manager

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

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

Cian O'MahonyScience Teacher Main challenges As JET Programme Coordinator there is a lot of work to be done, and you really hit the ground running, as promotion usually begins soon after the new Coordinator begins. It's also really important to stick to deadlines, and make sure that the applicants are doing the same! This means that it's really important to prioritise your tasks, and to be prepared for travelling and long days. Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy Main challenges we face at the moment would probably still be cost. Cost is top of everybody’s agenda so that is a huge factor.

Notwithstanding that we try to demonstrate how we add significant value to the client and that helps us to become a trusted partner. Karl CurranAssociate Director Attending to emergency situations where you are expected to act rapidly in a dangerous environment with a wide range of different people, some of whom may be hostile to you (e.g. in a riot or fight), also working with people in distress and taking decisions that will affect life and livelihoods and sometimes on the basis of incomplete and ambiguous information. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve As a family’s social worker, we continue to assess the family’s situations and apply interventions accordingly. One has to continue to keep ‘their eye on the ball’ within this profession as many of the family’s difficulties can be very much underlying and covert or ‘hidden’ to an extent. Our job is to continually investigate the child’s circumstances.

Also it can be challenging when continuing to working with parents when Court proceedings are involved. You must be able to handle this confrontation as well as maintaining your role as a ‘support’ to the family while attempting to effect positive change in family circumstances.

It’s important to remember that when working with a family you should always be ’firm but fair’ as you may have to be appropriately confrontational when addressing issues and concerns while also remaining fair and understanding some people’s life circumstances. Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker You can get stuck on certain problems which becomes frustrating quite quickly because you don’t have a big team to help you. And if you’re like me solving the problem is the fun part, writing up your results not so much although it is probably the most important bit. It can take some time and requires a lot of focus. Shane McDonaghRenewable Energy Engineer I am most challenged by the need to catch fish, i.e. enough to make good wages for the crew and myself. I get fantastic job satisfaction from this. Seeing a good catch of fish coming aboard gives me great motivation, you forget any problems and seem to get energy from no-where. Other aspects of fishing would stress me more; i.e. slack, fishing boat breaking down, bad weather, bad fish prices, and some of the ridiculous rules and regulations which are in force at the moment in Ireland. Liz O'TooleSkipper Everyone will probably say time to try and fit everything in and I'd have to agree! Prioritisation is key in every walk of life and that helps me stay engaged and interested while at work. Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking Dealing with difficult people, administration – necessary but very time consuming.  Niamh YatesValidation Engineer AIB is quite new back to the market in the Graduate Space – Playing catch up but we are very fast to do so. Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead I think the most challenging aspects of my job and of any job is the skill of communicating. It is an essential skill to attain. Because my job offers different challenges every day it requires you to think and be innovative on a constant basis.

This is an definite element in a company that always thrives to do things in a better way. My job is also very complex with relation to in-house computing systems involved in the design of processes. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer Biggest challenge is meeting customer needs in an efficient and effective manner. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager Sometimes we get demanding guests in. However, due to our training I am well able to deal with all sorts of guests and any challenges thrown at me. Kate WalshBeauty Therapist 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 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 The main challenges are: - the ever tightening quotas - the increasing costs of running vessels. - finding crew - Departmental constraints Alan O'NeillFisherman Managing my time during the school day is the biggest challenge. For example, timing practical work to be finished before the pupils have to be off to their next class is always a challenge! Cian O'MahonyScience Teacher Meeting deadlines for orders. Ray PowerPotter The main challenge is to meet demanding targets, both financially and time wise, with multiple competing projects often involving the same few personnel. Jonathan PugsleyEnergy Manager

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

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker The demands of the new technologies has meant that fabrication tools are ever increasing in size and complexity. These tools have thousands and thousands of metres of required facilities that all have to be modelled in increasingly smaller footprints, while still maintaining strict safety standards, functionality and ever stricter cost budgets. Its proving to be a tougher and tougher challenge to manage such a large scoped project with these constraints. Darryl DayIQ Engineer Typical day Generally, my days consists of attending meetings, collaboration with other team members or cross functional teams, working closely with Quality and EHS teams for approval and guidance on ongoing projects, providing support for new product and process introductions, ensuring that all activities are documented in accordance with the Stryker new product development procedures. Data tracking, analysis and presenting current work.  Laura FinneganProcess Development Engineer

The day starts at 6am when I get up - the first job is going for the cows and doing the morning milking. Then I generally set up the work for the day.

The good thing about farming is that every day is different, this allows me to be my own boss and work to my own scheduele. Mornings are usually for checking stock and afternoons are generally for other farm work needed. I try to start the evening milking at 4pm so I can finish up the days work in the early evening.

Bryan DanielsFarmer - Dairy In many ways there is no typical day. In any day one might be involved in a host of different activities. Such activities could include taking a careers class, doing one to one careers interviews, conducting psychometric tests, having one to one counselling sessions, liasing with parents and teachers, administrative work and attending career related or continuous professional training events. At different stages of the year different priorities come to the fore. Brian HowardGuidance Counsellor Certainly no two days are the same. You can never predict what might happen at any time. The challenges are those of sticking to a prescribed timetable. But the rewards are the gratitude of parents and students and actually seeing the pupils learn in a fun environment. Cian O'MahonyScience Teacher 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 Check to-do list written previous evening. Check emails & reply. Weave and organise completion of various production tasks

Allocate time to marketing & promotion, finance management & accounts. Updating my Website. Ongoing maintenance of equipment. Liz ChristyTextile Design/Handweaver A typical day would begin with prayer and roll call. Then we would go through the timetable for the day beginning with Irish then Maths, English, Religion, History or Geography, Drama, Music, or PE -  just a sample of the many subjects we get through in a day. 

Most classes are of half an hour duration during which time you are trying to keep all levels of ability engaged and also two classes working as I teach in a multiclass situation. The timetable can be completely altered by visitors, dramas, choir practice and preparation for first holy communion to name just a few! Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher 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)

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 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

As a Child Protection and Welfare Social Worker no day is really the same, all the families that I work with present with various complexities. I will attempt to explain a typical Monday morning, I usually have my morning coffee while at home while I read my emails and listen to any voicemails received over the weekend. I try to keep Monday’s diary free as it is usually a day where I will be completing various unannounced visits and follow up with any referrals or concerns highlighted over the weekend. My day can change really quickly depending on what comes up, I try my best to meet with the children and parents that I work with as often as possible to build a meaningful relationship to ensure that they can talk to me about any worries and concerns that they may have.

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker

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

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

Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) I aspire to work 5 days a week (8am to 4pm) however since I am an entrepreneur who founded a start-up food company so my working hours can be less or more depending on the week and its demands. I don’t have a typical day. The advantages to being my own boss is that I can be flexible with my time to suit my family (I have 2 kids). This is really important for me. In turn, I need to make up for this time another way so I often work after the kids go to bed and sometimes I need to work on the weekends (in this case I’ll try to get another day back to spend time with my family). Balance is really important for me. Running my own company is demanding and challenging however I love what I do so I wouldn’t change it for anything! Fiona UyemaChef

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

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

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

The week before that I was in the States; next week I'm back to Knoxville, the week after I might go to Russia. It sounds great and glamorous, but I don't like being away from my family for more than two days, so at the moment I'm trying to cut it back. If I was single and young it would be a dream. With my kids, I prefer to spend time at home now. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre There is no typical day in the sense that a knock on the door might mean a 30 second conversation or it might be a problem that would dominate the remainder of the week. The job entails huge interpersonal interaction, with a good deal of conflict management.

It involves a lot of administrative and organisational skills. It also provides opportunities for longer term planning and leadership.

The day starts at about 7.30.pm. and may not finish until late in the evening if there are Board meetings or meetings with the Parents Association. Paul MeanySchool Principal Each engineer in the Yield Analysis group is assigned a product for which he/she is responsible. Day-to-day work involves monitoring end of line yields and if/when there are any yield depressions performing analytical functions to try to understand what may be the problem.

A typical day usually involves meeting with the other members of the group to discuss issues and meeting other engineers in the Fab to try to resolve those problems. Most days throw up different problems and issues and thus each day is usually slightly different from the last! Deborah CaffreyElectronic 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 A typical day is when I don’t get to work on what I had planned to work on! Each day I will spend some time commissioning new material or editing material that has been written by someone else. I spend a lot of time checking facts and statements. Some time is spent coordinating with other PR partners, running the editorial board, scheduling publications, and planning for new outreach projects. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator The average day starts with distributing the sales information for the previous day. That is usually followed by a catch up with team members to discuss that day’s priorities and divide workload as required. This work can be individual projects or group assignments. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Further training... Not at the moment Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy Besides inservice in both PE and Geography which I have taken and plan to do in the future I have no plans for further training at present. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher My training firm (KPMG) required me to complete the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification. The Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification is the most widely recognised and best regarded tax qualification in Ireland. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant I have just begun the Green Belt in Lean Supply Chain Management, which will definitely help me in my current role, this is a programme Musgrave offer jointly with UCC. I have also begun a 4-week Project Management course to understand the basics of this. Later on, I would like to go back and do a Masters to help me with my future roles, but that will be another few years down the line. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst Most definitely. It’s important to upskill yourself at every opportunity, even if you’re happy with your current role. It can be a challenge at times, as day-to-day work can get in the way and you can end up putting training to the bottom of the priority list. For this, I set reminders in my calendar do something small every week to up-skill myself. Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP 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) 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

There are ongoing training opportunities in this job which are organised and facilitated by the HSE. Training pertinent to Social Work is actively promoted by the agency. For example, I have completed courses in the following:

• domestic violence,
  
• mental health,
  
• framework of assessments when working with families and children,
• attachment theory in practice etc.
  

Also there are opportunities for a social worker to take on students for their college placements which mainly involves being their ‘mentor’ while they gain work experience in your agency setting.

At present, I am also considering doing a part-time two year course in addiction studies and counselling. The benefits of a Social Work Qualification is that it opens many 'doors' and provides much opportunity to explore or specialise in other related areas.

Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker

At Intel we are encouraged to continue our training and there are a number of courses available on site whether it is a Time Management course or a statistic source. My job deals with million dollar machines which have hundreds of different mechanical components as well as numerous different types of software so I need to be trained to a high standard so that I am able to fully trouble shoot any of problems that are encountered on this machine.

Training for this takes place in America, so my job also provides a great opportunity to travel and see the world while at the same time learning. I have also lived in USA for 1 year as part of training for our new factory. This gave me the opportunity to train under world class engineers and the experience was amazing. Not only did I really enjoy the experience I came home with a lot of new knowledge and skills that have been applied in my job here on an everyday basis.

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process Yes, I am undertaking level 8 Business Studies with Dublin Business School. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Engineering Course - 3 week basic course. This gives you the essentials. Alan O'NeillFisherman For now, I'm planning on finishing the course with NCI and hopefully progressing my career with NT Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice 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 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 The QP course was undertaken through distance study while working in a previous role. I intend to study for an MBA within the next two years. The course will enable me to understand the business needs of the company and meet these requirements. Michael BohaneQA Manager One of the best things I like about my job is that every day I learn something new. As engineers we are continuously having our skill set ‘upgraded’, so ongoing training is almost a requirement. When I was employed by a multi-national corporation we had many engineers world wide who were experts in various fields, and we used in-house training sessions to improve our knowledge. Over the years I have also attended numerous international seminars, and industry gatherings. Each project that we work on always involves a research stage where we have to acquire a new piece of knowledge as we continue to develop cutting edge products. Shane CallananElectronic Engineer One of the main features of my job is constant improvement and training. I will, throughout my career in the Defense Forces, take part in many training courses and development programmes including; Snipers Course, Mowag Driving Course, Potential NCO's Course and RECCE Course. Keith LynchPrivate (Line) Currently working with a Business Psychologist, Johanna Fullerton on Leadership Development. Richard KinsellaManaging Director My job involves me constantly learning. This is both in terms of formal courses (mostly day-long seminars etc) as well as informally as I build up experience through the daily carrying out of my job. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur Yes I have and willing to do more. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Advice if considering this job I would offer 3 pieces of advice:

- Have a open mind and embrace change in order to grow
- Believe in yourself and your team - anything is possible!
- Be a problem solver, any problem big or small has a solution if you commit to finding one. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager While I find my career extremely rewarding there are some aspects of it that I hadn't been prepared for. It's a very harsh industry and you need to have thick skin. You could go to 10 auditions and get a no before you get a yes and this process can be quite draining. For that reason it requires not only extreme dedication but also a lot of passion as without the love for dance sometimes it could all seem too much.

I would say to anyone hoping to dance professionally to get into as many technical dance classes as they can now as they'll help you greatly in your training. Pay attention in business studies as soon you'll be promoting yourself as a business be it as a teacher, choreographer or performer. Confidence is key in this career and while that is individual to each person, in general, the more experience and knowledge you have the more confident you're going to be so watch videos, read books and most importantly go to see performances to get a feel for what's involved. Megan McEvoyDancer

Make sure you are willing to go the full distance in terms of the time needed to train as a Clinical Psychologist – it’s typically at least six years academic study, and invariably this period is interspersed with work in a relevant field.

Do be as confident as you can that you’re happy being a “listener” and “observer”, as you will spend significant amounts of time in your work life as a Clinical Psychologist being in this role, as well as being in the “do-er” role and being in the limelight.

To have a good ‘fit’ with this career you’ll need to be happy working with people – as individuals on a one to one basis, with groups (e.g. families), and as part of a team in the workplace.

You need to have a good attention to detail as the job needs good observation skills, record keeping, and organisation skills.

Be prepared for learning and self-development to be on-going for the whole of your career because, as a Clinical Psychologist, you’ll be learning and using techniques and intervention approaches that are being constantly developed, and be working in accordance with policies and laws that are also constantly evolving.

The last piece of advice I’d give to someone considering this job is to be as sure as you can that you feel comfortable and even excited at the prospect of your career revolving around people and groups with all the varied, diverse, and unpredictable rewards and challenges that this brings!

Elaine MacDonaldPsychologist - Clinical Some may think that you can go untrained into fishing. The best advice I would give people considering fishing as a profession is to get training. Fishing is an all encompassing career - when you need to go fishing, the rest of your life goes on hold unfortunately. It is very unpredictabe because you could be fishing non stop for three weeks and tied up for two. Alan O'NeillFisherman Work hard, push your boundaries, have belief in your abilities, set personal goals and seek feedback. For those who have not completed a college degree or third level education – seek a career path that will give you the opportunity to further your education and learning. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations

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 With regard to education I say don't worry if you think you have the wrong subjects in school. I certainly didn't have the subjects you would typically expect.

There are a number of courses that cater to different backgrounds. The most important thing is to do your research. Go to open days, talk to the colleges and generally just find out what exactly you would be getting in to.

Don't just take for granted you know what a certain course or career is all about. Think about what you like to do, and not just necessarily in school, if you find yourself being curious about how things work or how thing are made, it's a good indication that you could like something like engineering.

One of the best things about engineering is that it really can be your passport to the world. There are great travel opportunities within the industry and chances to be involved in the next big thing.

Practically every man-made product around you came from a manufacturing plant, it's a huge industry with a lot of different avenues to take. Innovation is a really big part of what engineers do. The desire to be creative and improve production and processes is an important attribute for a manufacturing engineer. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer It can take time to get to know people with learning disabilities, patience and good listen skills are very important. Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant To get physically fit for the entrance tests and also for the demanding physical nature of the job. Also I would tell people to enjoy themselves before they join as it’s a job for at least 30 years.

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

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

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

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process For those of you interested in becoming astrobiologists, then I would advise you to study multidisciplinary subjects relevant to astrobiology (everything from astrophysics, geology to biochemistry). Get as much experience doing research in this field as possible, for instance by doing internships during your studies, doing extracurricular projects, attending international conferences and reading a lot about what in particular interests you the most in astrobiology.

Finally, don't hesitate to approach people experienced in the field, like myself, to ask for advice. In terms of becoming a senior research advisor/consultant or even a chair/vice-chair of an organisation, this will take a lot of determination and hard work. On top of being very skilled researchers, you will need to acquire managerial, teamwork and leadership skills (described in more detail above). For this, you will need to take part in interdisciplinary and ideally international projects, work with people from varied backgrounds and learn how to become a good and fair leader through these experiences. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services I would advise them to give it a go - it doesn’t mean you have to work there long term. You must know how to speak a language other than your mother tongue reasonably well, as a good proficiency is essential. It’s also important to know and understand the cultural diversity that makes up the European Union.

Our internships are a great chance to come for a short period to determine where your interests lie and taste the experiences. Starting out your career path with the EU gives you a really good foundation of insider knowledge of how the EU works and is so useful professionally, even if you don’t plan on working there forever.

It is also important for young Irish people to consider moving to countries that are not English speaking and working for the EU would be very useful to your long term career. Catherine DaySecretary General Being an Engineer is a great career choice. It offers so many opportunities both in Ireland and world-wide. Most positions will have terrific travel opportunities after a few years experience under your belt, and if you choose you course carefully your qualification will be recognised by employers all over the globe. Also an engineering qualification will open doors into management roles if that is your preferred career choice, but the reverse is not the case (if you do a course outside of engineering, you will probably not be able to branch off into engineering a few years after graduating). Shane CallananElectronic Engineer

• Have a passion for where you work – Selling AIB as a great place to work is a huge part of the job so you have to believe in it. 
• People person
• Good organisation

Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead If you have a good attitude, a willingness to work hard and can work with others then I believe you could achieve high results in this job. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency Work experience is always a great way to figure out what aspect of property you are most interested in, a number of companies offer a summer internship which are helpful and often lead to a job after college! Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager Take every opportunity available, don't be afraid to do voluntary work and get involved in communities. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee Anyone considering this job should be ready to work thoughtfully rather than reactively. Also they should be emotionally present and ready to facilitate meaningful conversation. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Do not judge the job by your experience in the college. Join the Garda Reserve to gain experience of the outside world. Be yourself and put in the effort to achieve your goals. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee The advice I would give is firstly talk to someone you may know that is already in the trade and ask them any questions that you may have or ask them about some of there first hand experiences.

Another good piece of advice would be to go onto YouTube and search some basic electrics, keep in mind that these are the kind of things that you will face when you go to the college phases of your apprenticeship . There are books and e-books that can be purchased to get an understanding. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician The lifestyle Very much so. Your job will always be as good as you make it. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee Initially as a young free person, the hours in hospitality were varied and I liked that. I could be on or off any given day. The variety suited me. If I needed a night off or to go out on the town over the weekend, I requested it and got it.

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

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

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

Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel

Yes, very much so. I am heavily involved in a number of sports at national and international level and having a career in the Air Corps allows me to fit in all the necessary training that I need. Air Corps personnel are required to maintain a certain level of fitness at all times during their career, hence sporting activities/fitness/training are considered very important.

During the week, a number of lunch time training sessions are organised, circuits/pilates/running, and people are encouraged to participate. Also, there are a number of sports teams and activities (e.g. Football, Hurling, Soccer, Rugby, Volleyball, Parachute jumping, rock climbing, absaling, to name a few) which are available for people to get involved in.

Apart from the Sporting activities, however, the Air Corps gives job security, a very good salary with plenty of annual leave. Generally weekends will be free, apart from the odd weekend duty which allows plenty of time for family life also!

Oisin McGrathLieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp Absolutely, the work life balance within Musgrave is completely in sync. Shane O'SheaSuperValu Regional Support Manager Most definitely. Intel promotes a healthy work-life balance and as a result there is a lot of flexibility. There is never an issue with taking time off, or adjusting working hours to suit personal needs. I also work with a great group of people and we regularly play 5-a-side, organise socials and meet regularly outside work. Although, I could always do with being paid more! Darryl DayIQ Engineer Yes, I have a little girl and another baby on the way so work/life balance is very important. I work from home one day a week. Des LalorWind Engineer Absolutely. I get the best of both worlds. I work from home and do analysis myself, but also have the opportunity to go to different sites across Cork, Kildare and Belfast and meet new people. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst My job does allow me a lifestyle that I am happy with. I drop the children off to school in the morning and start work at 9.30 am. I finish work in the afternoon and I am home the same time as the kids. I spend quality time with them every afternoon and I am there for the homework. I am also there to bring them to other activities outside school that they want to be involved in. There is enough time too for myself and family life as a whole. Ejiro O'Hare StrattonClinical Nurse Manager 2 Yes, flexible working hours, managing my own work. I take ownership of my career and job choices. Niamh YatesValidation Engineer Oisín:
Yes, occasional overtime at short notice but my social life is not greatly affected.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter I am currently working a 35 hour week. The week usually flies by, because work is quite busy at times but also very challenging. Sometimes you may have to work beyond the 35 hours but effort by employees is readily acknowledged by management.

My current job allows for adequate time off, which allows for good quality time with family and friends. It also offers ample opportunity for leisure activities and a good work life balance. So I have no excuse for "lack of exercise ". Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager 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 I believe it does, my manager always promotes a healthy work-life balance and helps with managing workload and expectations. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Working with horses involves long tiring hours of very hard work especially during the busy competition season. This, in my opinion is a non-negotiable part of the hands-on side of an equestrian career and people should bear this in mind.

In my situation I take advantage of our crap Irish winter and try to make up some time for myself when the weather is bad and the days are dark either by getting down time at home or by getting away in the winter when things are quiet. Luke DreaEvent Rider My job is very flexible time-wise, which is good as I would definitely not describe myself as a morning person! It is also quite self-directed.

When I have deadlines, or when I’m feeling extra inspired/motivated, I work long hours, some evenings and weekends. In contrast, there are quieter periods where the working hours are not so rigid.

The travel to international conferences is also a great perk. I feel very lucky to do my job. Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist 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 In Revenue, you have flexible working hours which are managed through an electronic time and attendance recording system. You can start work at any time between 8 and 10 o’clock and you can finish your working day any time from 4 o’clock. This allows great flexibility and ensures that you can organise your day in such a way as to create a balance between career and personal life. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer Yes, thankfully I can maintain a good work life balance, where my hard work is rewarded. Caroline AustinSenior Associate Solicitor I enjoy my work and I’m very happy with my decision to join An Garda Síochána.  Emilia GilroyGarda My profession is a “caring” profession – I am involved in protecting people’s health at work. I guess that’s one of the reasons I chose it. It certainly has been very good to me on the earning front. And while it has taken a few years to save up for life’s “luxuries”, I am certainly in a very healthy position to take great vacations, have a nice house and spend a significant portion of my earnings on my hobby. Dave McDonaldAstronomer Whats cool

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 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 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 I get to work with people from the full Musgrave network. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst 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) 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

Building relationships with the families that I work with, sometimes once I am first allocated to the case, it can be difficult for the family to open up and trust the service. It is important that we meet the families where they are at and be very mindful of any power dynamics in the relationship.

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker Getting to meet and work with Astronauts! They are very down to Earth people! Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications I love lots of things about my job, the friendly/laid-back environment, the people, the place, but most of all I love what I do! Writing code and having something to demo is such a satisfying feeling Claire PurcellSoftware Engineer Being outside! Getting out in the boat to take samples is great and I really enjoy going to sea in the larger research vessels, and heading offshore for days/weeks at a time. I enjoy meeting other scientists, and meeting people within other industries. Damien HaberlinEcologist (Post-Doctoral Researcher) Modeling something from scratch, and seeing the physical part after manufacture Megan WalshMechanical Engineer I love the ability to talk to clients and colleagues all around the world (and I get paid to do something I love)! I have been the local lead on launching a new product in the bank, which very few people get to do in such a mature industry. Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking Space exploration and generally the whole space sector is very cool and exciting! I love the sort of work I get to do with my job. Also, I love the freedom and creativity involved in doing scientific work, which really reminds me of doing art a lot of the time. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services

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

Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB Chill is all about making Insurance easier for the customer. As a company, they are always open to new ideas and changes to make us better at what we do. This gives staff the opportunity to improve things and build on ideas that will improve the company and what we do. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Some of the new materials we get to use. Observing animal trials & seeing our devices being used. Observing procedures at the hospital & getting feedback from surgeons. The coolest thing of all however is to hear that the device has worked & the quality of life of many patients has improved. Sinead KennyDesign Engineer

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

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor I really like the different activities and duties I engage everyday and I like helping people on daily basis. For example I could be working in the public office or patrolling the district in a patrol car or be on foot patrol and doing my personal favourite; mountain bike patrol. Nan Hu Garda Tax professionals can add real value to a business and can be critical in shaping major decisions. I really enjoy seeing the value that I can add to the business. The tax analysis is critical in so many business decisions and in a lot of cases drives the decision. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant My favourite thing about my job is the opportunity it gives me to work with talented people from all over the world. Academic conferences can be held anywhere, so I have travelled to the US, Russia, the Caribbean, and all over Europe for work! Nuala CaffreyResearch Fellow in Computational Physics Not so cool

The things I like least in my job would be:

• Personal care! - its an area that no-one likes to do but you have to do it and be respectful and professional, knowing that they probably don't like it also but its necessary for their health and over-all well being too!
• Challenging behaviour - if your client does get upset and displays aggresive or anti social behaviour it is very stressful and sometimes dangerous to ourselves so this is not a highlight!
• Weekend work - you usually work every 2nd weekend and though I enjoy the weekends as you can do lots of activities with the clients and the house is more relaxed than during the weeks, its hard sometimes to be in work when your friends are out partying!

Naoise PyeSocial Care Worker Nothing really as every job comes with its own hazard. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Sometimes, I found at times it was difficult to balance work and studying for the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification, especially when work was busy. However, I was lucky enough to be working in a company which allowed for study leave and so I had sufficient leave to allow me to adequately prepare for the exams. Edel ButlerAdministrative Officer

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

Lisa KellySpeech and Language 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 I'm not a fan of having to memorise music! Sharon CartyOpera Singer I would not say that there is really anything I don’t like about my job. If had to mention something, I would say I am not very fond of operational tasks in any job, which is, fortunately, only a very tiny part of my job. Madhuvratha VasudevanSenior Investment Analyst 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 Sometimes the early morning starts and cold weather can be difficult but as time goes on you start to get use to it. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician It’s safe to say we still undertake a number of ‘tick box’ exercises. What can feel like pointless tasks which don’t seem to benefit anyone, either the customer or the business. We do our best to challenge some of these tasks, but at times there can be a mentality that it’s easier to just get them done. It’s always a nice win when you can shut down these types of tasks, and I always encourage people to stand back and question everything they do. But in saying that, there are moments of the week where you can feel like time was wasted on something that is now just saved in a folder on the off chance someone might need to refer to it in years from now. In those instances, I can’t help but think that surely we could have spent our time better! Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB Administration tasks!!! Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker There's no aspect of the job that I don't like. Rather, it can be frustrating to have to my work spill over into my personal time, to finish things to the standard that I want. But really that's a personal choice.

Next term I have a class with over two hundred students, so getting all of their assignments marked within a reasonable time will take a bit of a push! And sometimes it can feel like there are a lot of meetings - about specific degree programmes, about the HRM group, faculty meetings etc. But it is a huge advantage to work somewhere that emphasises including its staff in decision making, so there is a significant upside to that. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer 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 Sometimes the paperwork can be time consuming, but necessary to do the job. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager The downside would be when you get bad, wet days, and you have still got to get on with the job. You have to keep it moving, you've got to get out there in all weathers. Also, when suppliers let you down with late deliveries, and you have staff hanging around, waiting for deliveries with consequent loss of productivity. It doesn't happen that often, there is normally plenty to do on the sites before deliveries get there but it can hold you up. When you're running a business, you have to do the bookwork as well as the things you enjoy doing, you have to do the nitty gritty things. Tax returns, VAT, PRSI, PAYE, etc. It's not all the glamour stuff like planting or designing new gardens! You have got to be a Multi Tasker. Paul DowlingHorticulturist It can be dirty sometimes. Fergal FeehelyApprentice Painter Decorator 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) 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 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 Definitely drafting meeting minutes. I don’t think anyone enjoys that. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant