deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job I responded to an advertisement which appeared in the Irish Independent newspaper. I attended an interview in the school and the school principal rang me the following day to say I was successful in my application. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher I have previously worked for my employer so it was promotion. Being due to displaying leadership attributes as well as a flare for the retail area and the drive to increase turnover there.  Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia

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 We started planning our business venture of opening Glen Keen Farm as a tourism facility back in 2004, this took 10 years. We had to go through a lot of different challenges, obstacles and of course raising the funds to build a purpose built tourism facility was a major challenge. Eventually after our planning application, Environmental impact study, Archaeological impact study and a complex process of applying for grant aid we finally opened the doors of Glen Keen Farm in July 2014! Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms I 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 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 made the most of my time on the Graduate Programme and utilised all the networks I made throughout no matter what department or level of seniority they may have been. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst I set up on my own / Self Employed Barry McEnteeChartered Physiotherapist A Customer Service Manager role is a hybrid between a contact centre manager and an insurance service manager. In order to show I was capable of such a diverse and dynamic position, I began looking at ways to build the required skills and knowledge.

In June 2014, I Began a QQI certificate in contact centre management, this helped me develop new skills such as scheduling, forecasting and Workforce management needed in a busy contact centre like ours.

I’m also studying towards my MDI qualification with the III to give me a competitive edge and improved technical competency in insurance and insurance products. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager I got my first job with St Michael's House through answering an advert in a local newspaper. I attended an interview with a panel of three people and was informed by letter that I had been successful. I was then covering a maternity leave vacancy, when a full time post became available in the unit.  I applies for the position, attended an interview and was successful. Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant

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 While in college both myself and a friend discussed joining the army after viewing it at a careers day. On completion of our degrees we both applied to join the army and were called for interviews. On passing the interview we were selected to attend a medical and then on completion of that a fitness test had to be passed. On passing all three sections I was contacted by ManPower (now Fas) who then confirmed my acceptance. Keith LynchPrivate (Line) I have a background in Agriculture. I grew up working on various farm machinery. I had a part time job in Combilift while I was studying at University. Combilift are great for accommodating summer work opportunities across various departments. I gained hands-on experience on assembly lines where I seen the process come together. I got to see a truck go from a bare chassis right through to a truck ready for delivery. It helped me to gain knowledge on building a truck through Combilift standards. Kevin O'HaganDesign Engineer I wasn't all too sure what area of business I wanted to go into, but I knew I wanted to use my language. SAP would have always been at the careers fairs, but I never took any interest as I didn't have any background in IT. However, after uploading my CV to Monster.ie and a couple of phone calls with the recruiter from the company, I figured out that there were many different options for those without IT experience. I went for the interview and was won over by the place. Interviews were never a strong point for me, so I was over the moon to get the call for the second round. I put a lot of work into preparing and it paid off in the end. Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP I applied for my current job through a recruitment agency. I had two interviews as well as a psychometric test. The interviews focused on my skills background, as well as some technical knowledge. The psychometric test was focused on numeric and analytical skills and was conducted by a third party. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant

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

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

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

During my time in AIB, I’ve been promoted every two years to a new role. This progression has kept me motivated over the years and I enjoy reaching for that next goal. Shaping a career path can at times prove difficult, but understanding the various opportunities presented by an organisation like AIB can bring a new slant to the job. Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB I applied for my job when I saw it advertised on the HSE careers in healthcare website and in a Sunday newspaper. I attended an interview where I was interviewed by two speech and language therapy managers and a representative form the HSE Human Resources department. The interview lasted approximately 30 minutes. I received a letter shortly afterwards to let me know that I had been successful in the interview. Lisa KellySpeech and Language A friend working within the company. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. My current job was a leap of faith as I switched to the sell side after 18 years on the buy side. It is a challenge to set up a new business line from scratch, but also a learning opportunity. But of course, the first challenge was to convince my new boss and my new company to hire me and provide me with resources to set up inflation trading. Luckily our visions were similar, and I convinced them. I'm happy that we beat our targets three years in a row now. Semin Soher PowerSenior Inflation Trader

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

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

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

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process Main challenges So far in my training the main challenges would be getting used to the change of lifestyle inside the college. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee 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 The main challenge in the job is successfully balancing the wide range of responsibilities associated with the role. This can lead to some tension between the desire to perfect lectures and a wish to move my publication plan forward.

Managing this tension requires self-discipline and clear boundaries on the amount of time allocated to each component of the role. As an early career lecturer I spend a lot of time trying to ensure appropriate and engaging content and teaching delivery methods. This can be challenging as there are a variety of different audiences to consider - undergraduates, postgraduates and executive students with significant work experience.

However, I have a really supportive group of colleagues who I can chat to and the culture here is very supportive of innovative teaching methods. I'm still very much learning what works effectively through trial and error. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer As in any chemistry lab we have to deal with atypical or out of specification results. When these happen, at first you are unsure whether the batch of material in question is of the quality standard expected. We conduct investigations which at times can be very laborious. Besides this, other main challenges would be, to keep the group content with the work they are doing. It is important that we are all constantly challenging each other to help us learn more about science and develop into more all-rounded scientists. Brian O'ConnorAnalytical Chemist Cost / Time constraints. Sourcing correctly skilled and knowledgeable labour. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. While working on a new product idea could be very exciting, it may take years to implement and prove out the final product as the medical device industry is so heavily regulated. However, this is necessary and important in order to deliver the highest quality and safest products to our patients. Xiaona HouProduct Engineer I think for most singers the worry of illness is the most challenging one. Unlike in many other jobs, a headcold or a bit of a sore throat might not prevent you from doing your job adequately, but for us, usually it means taking time off (both to recover and to prevent passing bugs on to colleagues!) as depending on what the ailment is, it can affect your singing, or worse, damage your instrument permanently in more extreme cases. Sharon CartyOpera Singer Some of the main challenges in managing a call centre in Insurance are:

- The Variety of customer service queries and requests based on several different policy types and schemes, this requires us a team to be dynamic and adaptable to the customers needs at all times. I need to ensure that my team are fully trained and kept up to date on any changes in the industry.
- The call centre is a bustling and demanding environment, it requires a degree of resilience, a lot of focus and an ability to organise to keep on top of things.
- Keeping the team motivated and buoyant in difficult times for example high call volumes or complaints.
- Agent development is also a challenge as we do our best to encourage agents to strive for improvement however to progress up the ranks, they must achieve academically also. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Tax law is always changing, so it’s really important that I keep up to speed on these changes! Lorcan KellyTax Consultant Energy projects including wind farms take years to develop. It can be many years before you see the fruits of your labour. Also, you may work a lot on a specific project, but it may not go ahead for various reasons. Des LalorWind 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 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 One of the biggest challenges is lack of awareness of our location and region by the International market, we rely heavily on our International Coach Tour Customers and this has been a challenge in attracting new customers to schedule this area. The lack of accommodation in the area also poses as a challenge. Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms There can be challenges for example where a client asks for something immediately and the manager/partner on the client is not in the office. However, I have found that working as part of a large corporate tax group there is always someone willing and available to assist with any problems I have. Anna Holohan Tax Manager

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

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy We have a lot of projects at once, so juggling all them at the same time can be a challenge. Megan WalshMechanical Engineer

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

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

All of the above means for a busy day – probably the biggest challenge of all. Time management is testing, and the importance of good prioritisation is something which our team has to put at the fore of our working day. Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB Working at a start-up, there are challenges in terms of limited resources and time. You have to be able to do multiple jobs and tasks, as the business demands. This is not a negative, it just means that you need to be willing and prepared to become an expert at something you’re not trained in. Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist My main challenge is juggling many tasks to making sure that we meet deadlines. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator 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 Typical day 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 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

I got an opportunity to move to a workforce organisational design role in our chief technology office which is leading the development of a strategy for new and existing workforce. In the CTO, we provide the wider AIB Group with thetechnology and data solutions that enables the AIB Group to back our customers so it’s a really great area to work in.

It might sound cliché but no two days are the same.

Sabrina StauntonDesign & Strategy Development Manager AIB

• 6am - 7am - Emails and Admin
• 7am - First Appointment
• 2pm - End of Clinic
  
  
• 4pm - May start second Clinic
• 9pm - Finish of Clinic
  
  

 

Barry McEnteeChartered Physiotherapist

I work on all aspects of human rights for children and families. Some days we are preparing to go to Court and other days we could be working on giving legal guidance on important decisions for families and informing policies for Tusla workers.

Diego GallagherSenior Solicitor

I’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 A typical day for me can be very diverse which is why I love my role, usually there is a number of meetings in the diary with property managers to discuss any arrears and how we plan to deal with this, we also have a number of team meetings to discuss any issues with the properties. We are hands on with communicating with our tenants, so this is daily also. Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager Arriving on site early, planning what trades are required and where. I would be ordering materials and tracking work progression across the site to see if deadlines will be met. Colin ButterlySite Manager - Trade Entry

A typical day varies depending on the client groups that the therapist is working with. Speech and language therapists work with children and adults with speech difficulties and with language difficulties including understanding and using language. Possible client groups include clients with learning disability, physical difficulties such as cerebral palsy, genetic syndromes including down syndrome, delayed language development, stammering, stroke, head injury, autism, attention deficit disorder, cleft lip and palate, dyslexia, hearing impairment, voice difficulties, swallowing difficulties.

My typical day involves: I spend four mornings a week in a local primary school where there are two language units. These are small classes for children with specific language impairment. This means that they have average intellectual abilities but have severe speech or language difficulties. They receive their speech and language therapy during school hours several times every week.

In the afternoons and on Fridays I see children in two centres; the local health centre and an outpatient centre for children with physical and sensory difficulties. These children come to the clinic with their parents for assessment and therapy. The therapy I provide varies greatly depending on the client's individual needs. It may include: speech work, oro-motor exercises (these target the muscles involved in speech production), listening skills, play skills, following instructions, grammar, sentence production, conversational skills, and understanding of concepts.

This timetable can change as I sometimes visit schools to liaise with teachers regarding a child's speech and language programme. I also attend meetings to discuss and develop our service and I sometimes attend courses to learn new assessment and therapy skills. Working from a variety of locations every week requires organisation and forward planning. I have to plan ahead what I will need in each location and the children I will be working with.

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

1 hour for lunch time and 1 hour for dinner time. The spa closes at 7pm and I can let my hair down, enjoy time in the crew pool or crew areas or even go watch a show in the theatre, On my days off, I have the opportunity to get off the ship and explore whatever place we are in. Kate WalshBeauty Therapist 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 It’s split half and half between the ‘people’ side and the technical side. Yesterday for example, I spent the morning working with a team on their yearly goals and I spent the afternoon getting up to speed on some of ESB’ plans regarding Solar energy. Des LalorWind Engineer 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 A typical day would start with planning the day’s work ahead for all labour and sub-contractors on site and ensuring that they have the required material and tools to carry out their work.

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

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

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

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

Each day you would have to allocate time to plan ahead where you would look 2 weeks ahead and beyond. Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry 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 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 A typical day consists of a high paced professional environment. From the minute you log on until the minute you log off it's a high paced professional environment which is challenging and therefore extremely rewarding. Everyone pulls together working as a team helping each other out and learning from each other to achieve a shared goal. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency I am on site at the moment working as an Assistant Resident Engineer. I am supervising construction work of a Water supply scheme for the council.

Every day presents it's own problems. I get to work for 7.30am.  A few times during the day I walk around the site and make sure I know who is working. I answer questions for the contractor about the design, sometimes there are mistakes in drawings, or they have suggestions of different ways of building and I have to check if we are happy they are as good as the original design. I check levels to make sure its being built at the right height. I carry out concrete testing so we are sure we are getting the right concrete. I measure what they have built so we know what to pay them. I suppose no day is typical! Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Start @ 6:30 milking, feeding calves, checking cattle & complete all feeding & routine tasks by 11.

Non routine work varies with the seasons & is completed each day between 11am & 4pm.

The current spring tasks include calving cows, ploughing, slurry & fertiliser application, fencing & straw bedding cattle.

Updating the paperwork end of the business also takes quiet a while.

The evening routine replicates the morning routine & is completed between 4-6pm. Denis ReidyFarmer - Dairy 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 Further training... I'm planning to undertake a coaching qualification Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead I have done courses on Special Education, Learning Difficulties inc. Autism, Asbergers. Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher Not at present but may look into doing a Masters.  Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead 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

In the Air Corps, training is on going. We are involved in courses on a regular basis. These courses vary from flying courses to computer courses to activity/adventure training courses.

As we have a range of aircraft in the Air Corps, pilots will be trained on a number of different aircraft throughout their careers. As a result further training within the Air Corps is inevitable!

Oisin McGrathLieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp 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 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 I am currently studying for a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy. It is possible to undertake further training in specific ares e.g. psychiatry, respiratory and I may consider this if I find I develop a particular interest during my Masters. If I return to the NHS at some point I will probably do an independent prescribing course as this would open more doors for me in the future. Rachel BerryPharmacist 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 You never stop learning. Training and coursework are vital aspects of my job. Technology changes quickly, so you always have to be prepared to learn something new. Owen HughesManufacturing Technician I intend to sit my Sergeant Exams this year. Niamh BriggsGarda Yes, I would like to get an Anaesthetic Fellowship, Pain Diploma, MBA Health Care Management and maybe a diploma in computer networking & database control. Dr Jan SteinerAnaesthetist I am continually learning from master turners and learning excellence in teaching and instruction from practitioners. Glenn LucasWoodturner I don't plan any further formal training, but I have a singing teacher (a bit like a coach for an athlete) with whom I regularly study, it's important to touch base with a pair of trusted ears. As a singer (differently to instrumentalists) we depend a lot on outside feedback, because often we can't discern ourselves how well something is carrying in a concert hall, or what sound is best for a particular phrase, so having an expert you trust is really important! Sharon CartyOpera Singer I had no teaching experience before going on the JET Programme so I took an online TEFL course while I was over there. I also continued to study Japanese and took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test while I was there. Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy I am 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

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

AIB have supported all my post graduate education to date – definitely another perk to the job!  Lara MulveySenior Product Manager AIB 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 We can't apply for courses while in training but I would be interested in family liaison training as it is so important to families stricken by crime. Mark Spain Garda Trainee Engineering Course - 3 week basic course. This gives you the essentials. Alan O'NeillFisherman Advice if considering this job 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 It is important to be a hard-worker, confident, have a "thick skin" and to be ready to push yourself and learn as much as you can as a trainee solicitor. The process of obtaining a traineeship is very competitive and results and your "CV" matters in this respect to be selected but often in the early years as a trainee the most important thing is to show ambition and drive and an ability to get the job done despite obstacles and pressures.

It is also important, as in every walk of life, to show compassion and form personal bonds with colleagues and clients. I believe that people work their best and reach their potential when encouraged in a friendly and positive environment. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor 3 words JUST DO IT. You have nothing to lose so why not give it a go? It has made me the person I am today and no one said it would be easy but it was worth it in the long run. Kate WalshBeauty Therapist 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 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 Read a lot – it’s a great way to find new ways to express ideas. Write a lot, even if just for yourself, so that you get used to communicating your ideas on paper. Develop your time management skills – that is crucial when working in an area that has very tight deadlines. Learn more languages – it’s very helpful to have an insight into how people express themselves in different languages. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator

If you are seriously considering applying for the Air Corps you should check the pre-required Leaving Certificate subjects as outlined in the cadetship booklet. This is very important!!

Also, if applying you should get the details of the fitness test from the cadetship booklet and make sure you can do each of the disciplines well before the fitness test...a lot of people fail this part of the application process, and it can be passed easily!

If possible, you should organise a visit to Baldonnel through somebody that you know or maybe even your school...just to get familiar with the aircraft and to see the daily operation of the Air Corps.

Oisin McGrathLieutenant - Pilot - Air Corp

If you like working with others, and like problem solving then its definitely worth considering. Do you ever look at a bridge/skyscraper etc. and wonder how they did that? Or better still, are you looking at the way the road at home is laid out and thinking if they had of done something differently it would have been better.

Engineering is not a career people think about and say its helping people, but in many ways it is rewarding and just as much about helping people. Engineers design things used everyday that help people get to work, provide clean water, provide sewerage systems, care for the environment....

Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Talk to people currently in the job. Get a few days work experience. Check out the courses (through BIM) Liz O'TooleSkipper 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 If you are unsure I would recommend coming to an open day in the college and if possible also doing the Garda Reserve. It gives the best insight imaginable into the work of Gardaí. Mark Spain Garda Trainee A broad science background is very important. An ability to recognise small inconsistencies is equally important. For example do you recognise small discrepancies between different camera shots of the same scene in films and TV series?

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

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

One must always be open to being convinced of an alternative argument. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Be prepared for hard work.
Be a team player.
Have a good sense of humour.
Learn from your mistakes. Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager It is essential to be a very patient and organised person. Also you must have a sense of humour, be easy going and not take yourself too seriously. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Go for it!  But realise that its not going to be easy and things take time and there are LOTS of sacrifices to make. Also make sure you learn from your mistakes - because you will make them. It is really only a mistake if you don't learn from it. Brian KellyScience Entrepreneur

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 Learn about the Naval Service – look at the website, visit a ship alongside a port when they are open to the public, talk to any friends/family in the Naval Service, ring the Recruiting Office. David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy When I filled in my CAO form, I had no idea that "Computational Material Scientist" was a job. I chose my course based only on the fact that physics and maths were my favourite subjects. If you know you love science, but aren't sure exactly what jobs exist, rest assured that people with scientific training will always be in demand by employers. Nuala CaffreyResearch Fellow in Computational Physics I would highly recommend this job but I’d say to start taking insurance exams as soon as possible and get them done while you’re young.

I’d also recommend talking to as many people in the industry to see what area of insurance you want to go into i.e. Insurer, Broker, Loss Adjuster etc. – they’re very different! Karl CurranAssociate Director The Tourism industry is extremely rewarding, you will meet people from all corners of the earth who are interested in our beautiful country and see you as the link to their perfect travel experience. There are so many opportunities in the industry and it will take you any where you want to go! Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms The lifestyle This is not a typical nine to five job and as a result my work life balance wouldn’t be exactly where I want it to be. It’s perhaps more skewed on the work side but I don’t regret any of the choices I’ve made. Catherine DaySecretary General My job allows for great flexibility so that I have a degree of control over my time. I am able to manage my work-life balance effectively as a result. My role has increased in responsibility since joining in 2016, which is very rewarding. Michael McDermottAssociate Director, International Corporate Banking With hard work always comes rewards and I feel my current role allows me to have a good lifestyle. Although my days at work can be quite long and demanding, I have every weekend free to spend with my family and friends. I have sociable working hours and my commute to the office is less than ten minutes. In my current role, I have also had the opportunity to travel to countries such as Switzerland, Germany & the UK. Working for a large multi-national like Zurich gives me great job security along with an excellent benefits package. Sarah TenantyFinance Operations Yes I can vary my hours to suit my lifestyle when required. I make a large amount of decisions independantly each day. Aidan MaherSite Manager - Grad Entry Working with Intel does allow me to maintain a good work/life balance. My boss is quite understanding of my life priorities and allows me to maintain a healthy balance between work and home. Deborah CaffreyElectronic Engineer I always knew I’d prefer a “Monday to Friday” type job with regular hours where you can plan ahead more easily and have two consecutive days off each week. Since I’ve had kids, it works well to be off at weekends. I feel I’ve got job security in my current role and I like that there’s a clear progression path, with ample opportunities to progress for those who wish to avail of them. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant Being self-employed comes with its advantages as well as disadvantages. As my own boss I can choose the type of work I want to do as well as deciding which days I need free for holidays which is a privilege not many have. Not one of my days is exactly the same so I'm constantly on my feet and adapting. The instability can sometimes be stressful as at certain times during the year there might not be much work and you're never quite sure when your next contract will be.

For this reason it's always necessary to plan ahead and if I know that I'm heading into a quiet spell I need to reign in my spending for a while. Being self-employed as a dancer means that I often travel for work which provides amazing opportunities to see the world while getting paid. This can cause some problems with renting apartments however as there's no point paying rent for somewhere while living and working in a different country.

On the upside some contracts come with accommodation provided (e.g. cruise jobs) which means it's not something you need to think about or pay for. To summarise, being self-employed is a lot of responsibility but the lifestyle is very rewarding. Megan McEvoyDancer

While ashore, yes there are very little restrictions on my lifestyle. I am married and play both hurling and football for my local GAA Club Barryroe so therefore I enjoy a good work life balance.

However, while on my Sea Rotation (which ended just over two weeks ago) this obviously becomes more difficult. Being at Sea and away from home for four week periods makes any lifestyle difficult for myself and of course my family. But that’s the career I chose.

David FlemingSub Lieutenant - Navy To be perfectly honest, not exactly. On one hand, I love what I do and that motivates me to work relentlessly and fight hard for my hopes and dreams. On the other hand, this means that quite often I work long hours and have to sacrifice a lot of my personal time. I have found a way of living with it and I am fairly happy most of the time. I don't think I could ever be happy with a 9-5 normal office job, which is another reason why I enjoy what I do so much. It gives me freedom to be creative, propose my own projects, travel the world. Nevertheless, I do wish I had more time for my hobbies, friends and family. Michaela MusilovaMission Control Space Services 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 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 Yes, absolutely. I think that one of the most important things to have is a work/life balance. We're on flexi-time, which means I can work an extra hour during the week to leave an hour or two early on a Friday. It's a very social place to work, with many internal and external events happening throughout the year. Laura GlendonMultilingual Software Support SAP Yes it does, I am lucky that my career choice heavily overlaps with my personal interests so I guess I am lucky in that sense, there is also a lot of opportunities to travel. Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications Work expands to fill all time available. You decide your lifestyle, depending upon your time management capabilities. I make time to play a team sport, go out with friends and even take regular holidays to go home. Yet you still need to work hard. The project is like your baby: you live through it for a couple of years, yet you need to make time for yourself. Cecilia FenechEnvironmental Scientist Getting the work life balance is difficult, made even more so by the current economic climate. However the crossover between work and home is something I am comfortable with. Liz ChristyTextile Design/Handweaver 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 Yes Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician Yes it does. ESA is a family friendly organization. There are many perks such as home leave, generous paternity and child benefits. Also the wages are very good so we can have a comfortable life. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer Yes, it is part-time with relatively flexible hours so it gives me the opportunity to do other jobs and study as well as spend quality time with my family. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Chill Is a large Insurance Broker that operates as a call centre. It is an extremely busy and challenging environment to work in. I love that I am constantly learning in my job, each day that comes presents new challenges and opportunities for me to grow, learn and develop in my career.

The insurance industry has a very diverse mix of people, working for an MAI has allowed me to meet new people and build new relationships which have contributed to my progress to date. I believe in working hard however I feel it’s important to have a good balance between work and home life. Nicole FeigheryCustomer Care Manager Whats cool Being able to see how a few of the different areas of the business function, as there are significant differences between the retail and wholesale businesses. Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme Working with a team whom you know and get on well with makes the tasks so much easier. We also socialise together, so that it is not all work and no play. Ejiro O'Hare StrattonClinical Nurse Manager 2 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 There is a great team feeling in the Defense Forces and this is seen best in the sports activities that we engage in regularly including Gaelic, Soccer Orienteering and Golf. The fact that we regularly get to spend time in the open air doing physical activities as opposed to being stuck in an office block or call centre is one of the main reasons that I love my job. Time off is also very important and can be taken at your own desired time once requested. This is an aspect of my job that I find cool. Keith LynchPrivate (Line)

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

Being a brand ambassador for the bank.

Ross O'BrienGraduate Recruitment Team Lead My job gives me new things to learn: new techniques to master, new knowledge to know, new challenges to face, and a new horizon of research to explore. Often, I feel a sense of accomplishment when I managed to troubleshoot and solve scientific questions. Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI 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 The rewards of helping students to learn, and developing a positive relationship with them is definitely cool. The feeling that you are making a difference to their education and experience of school is also rewarding. Another cool part of the job is the long holidays! Paul GalvanResource Teacher I love the variety my job presents. I love to meet different customers and hear how they started in business and what their future ambitions are and how I can help them get there. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager The thing I like most about this job is the travel aspect of it. Johnson & Johnson are a multinational company so I get to see a lot of different places around the world. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer A good catch, especially when you catch more than a boat thats bigger than yours! When you’re able to fix a possibly life threatening problem out at sea, and continue fishing and you always have plenty of opportunities to do so. Fishing is continuously a test of one’s abilities, so when you are tested and come out successful, it’s good/cool. Liz O'TooleSkipper I love getting to sing beautiful music! That makes me so happy. And it's an amazing perk of the job to get to dress up as other people and see the world through their eyes. I also love the achievement of working really hard at something that is technically difficult, and then coming together with other people to make something really beautiful that lots of people can enjoy, as well as the storytelling element that we singers get to use very directly, because of having text to communicate to an audience. Sharon CartyOpera Singer Space. For me, this is absolutely so much fun. When you look at where we are right now, there are a couple of majors points in human history: we came from the jungle and stepped out onto the plains was one, we crossed the ocean (number two), and number three is we move into space and become an interplanetary species, and we're right there at the start of that. This is, for me, the most exciting thing of the whole lot, everything we're doing now; and you can see that the general public are buying into this, with all of the movies at the moment. In the sixties you had a bit of this, when people saw what was possible.

And then, we went to the moon, and it was massive, and everyone was cheering, and ticker tape and all the rest of it. And then, it settled down, because we realised what we couldn't do; we got to the moon, but in the process we realised all of the things that we couldn't do, so science backed off and focused on what we need to do to move to the next step, now that we understood what it was like being in space. Since then, we've been gently gently probing, but now we're on the edge of a move to Mars, and I reckon in my lifetime, I'll see a Martian born, which is really exciting. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre There are not many people who can say that they make a living out of their passion but luckily I am one of those people. I can do my favourite thing in the world and get paid for it and I will never take that for granted. Nothing will ever quite beat the adrenaline rush when you finally finish the show and hear the audience applause. For me that feeling will never get old. Megan McEvoyDancer The HSE is a good place to work. As an organisation, it tends to "get hammered" by the press but these are usually very isolated incidents. It rarely gets credit for the majority of good things its' staff achieves.

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

However it never forces people in this direction. It supports staff through out their employment from a variety of different angles, i.e. in house training, support for further education, regular updates, staff development, appraisal if required, Occupational Health etc. Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager I love the variety in my job, the people- staff and customers, when its busy and the day fly’s. There are days on my feet when I see on the App I have done over 9000 steps and 30 flights of stairs, just doing my duties and I have days when I’m at a desk all day with a list of tasks to complete and crossing each one off before heading home feels great. I like working in not-for-profit, I work for our visitors and not for shareholders pockets! Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Delivering for the Irish public is a key personal driver of mine. When a new depot, tram Luas line is launched, my colleagues and I do feel (justifiably, I believe) very proud. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland I love the fact that we have created something on our farm to ensure its preservation and continuity for future generations. I have been chosen as the only female Shepherd in Ireland to participate in a year long arts project following the life of four female Shepherds in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.

The project was launched at the Tate Museum Liverpool in Nov. 2019 and is being managed by Dr. Patricia McKinnon Day, St. John Moore’s University and Artscape Management, London. I am especially proud that our business supports the local community and is fast becoming an internationally recognised visitor attraction on the Wild Atlantic Way! Catherine O'Grady PowersOwner Gleenkeen Farms Filling the boat with fish in one go. Alan O'NeillFisherman

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

The ability to help /fix things is very fulfilling. I don’t know though if I could be perceived as cool! Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel Not so cool The hours are quite long and you’re also not close to your family. Kevin KearyParliamentary Assistant At present nothing, outside the college it's the level of respect towards the organisation in recent times. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee I enjoy all the aspects of the job even the more stressful ones like meeting particular targets. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer Unfortunately not everyone understands the role of an Occupational Therapist and this can be frustrating at times. As OTs work in many different areas and with a diverse range of service users the role of an OT can be very different from one setting to another. This can lead to confusion for staff and service users as to when to contact the OT Dept. Tomas FlanaganOccupational Therapist Dealing with various regulatory bodies can be tedious and time consuming, but a necessary evil in this industry!! Shane CallananElectronic Engineer The things that are not cool but are necessary aspects of the job are dealing with bed pans, commodes, cleaning up after clients have had a toiletry accident or have vomited, smells can be bad sometimes. Dealing with the death of clients, most of our clients are long stay residents and you get to know them and their relatives very well, so this is not one of the nicest parts of the job. Lydia PeppardCare Assistant Having to tie the vessel up because of no quotas! Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer I'm not a fan of having to memorise music! Sharon CartyOpera Singer 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 It can be difficult working on legacy applications. It is important to upskill and to learn new technologies. Lynda O'LearySystems 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 When you don’t perform well it’s not a nice feeling. Ian McKinleyRugby Player I'm sure there are, but nothing springs to mind. Richard KinsellaManaging Director Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications Administration tasks!!! Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker Being part of a big company means there is lots of processes, but you get used to them quickly! Jenny DonnellyAsset Manager I don’t have any major complaints, but sometimes there can be a lot of demands on my time that mean I must juggle what is the most important task at hand. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant Sometimes people can be seasick, which they don't boast about and thats not cool. The anti-social aspect of the job is not cool; having to work weekends and during holidays. Sometimes cramped living/working conditions on board a boat are not great. Government rules and regulations which are making the job very hard and are forcing a lot of fishermen to go to sea in very bad weather. Liz O'TooleSkipper I really can't think of anything off the top of my head! Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs 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