deiseanna gairme in institiúide an AE

Employer Insights Getting the job Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications

It was a simple process, I applied through the graduate campaign, attended online information sessions, completed the interview process and received an offer soon after, it was very straight forward.

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker 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 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 was actively looking for a new job in Scotland or Ireland at the time. My current job was advertised on the HSE careers website: www.careersinhealthcare.ie. It appealed to me because as part of the job you got to complete a Masters in Clinical Pharmacy and depending on where you were placed in interview, choose which hospital you worked in (the scheme involved the major teaching hospitals in HSE West and South).

I applied online and was shortlisted for an interview which assessed the candidates suitability for the job itself and the Masters. I got a phone call a few days later to say I had been successful. Rachel BerryPharmacist At the moment I am self employed. This is always what I wanted and over the years I have built up a big enough client base to enable me to do this. Luke DreaEvent Rider

I was a science and maths teacher in my school for a number of years. I took a study leave year which allowed me to go back to university to train to be a Guidance Counsellor.

Having completed the training, a full time position came available in my school. Having already been involved in guidance in the school informally it seemed a logical progression to move into the formal role of Guidance Counsellor.

Brian HowardGuidance Counsellor Drive, determination and confidence. It was a tough application process but by using these three qualities I suceeded. Steven KilgannonGarda Trainee Applied for Principalship when the Religious Order running the school decided that lay people should be given a greater role in the management and leadership of the school. Paul MeanySchool Principal 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 applied through publicjobs.ie and was guided through the process. Mark Spain Garda Trainee The contract that I just finished was as a production dancer on a cruise ship. The ship was called the MS Silja Serenade and cruised between Sweden and Finland. I saw the audition advertised on Facebook and as I fit the criteria I decided to attend. They were auditioning in Madrid and London but I decided to audition in Madrid as the date suited me better and as I speak Spanish I knew there wouldn't be any problems.

There were approximately 60 people at my audition and I knew that they only needed 8 girls so the chances weren't great. Luckily I got through to the final round (it was a long day) and was told that after the London auditions they would watch the recordings they took of the auditions and let the successful people know.

The night of the London audition I was emailed to say that I had been chosen and to forward the necessary paperwork to them. A few weeks later they sent me my flight details and I headed to Madrid for a month of rehearsals before flying to Stockholm to board the ship. Megan McEvoyDancer

As I have previously mentioned, the year I graduated was a great one for electronic engineering students. All of my graduating class had at least two offers before we had sat our final exams. At the time I had the offer of either taking up a Process Engineering, Software, Test or Hardware Design Engineering position with four different companies.

I picked hardware because that was what I most interested after completing my Electronics degree. I chose a multi-national company, and my advice to any graduate would be to start your career with an international company. Many of these companies will have formal graduate training programs in place, with pre defined career opportunities in place. Learning in a well established, and well structured environment will be crucial to any engineer entering the workforce for the first time.

After 12 months I left this company to work as a test engineer. At the time I didn’t want to commit my career to hardware design. I left on very good terms with the promise that if it didn’t work out I should make contact again. After 12 months I decided that my initial choice was what I wanted to pursue, and I was soon working again at my first company. I was promoted to team leader for a small engineering team, and the opportunity presented itself to pursue a career in management, but I wanted to stick with an engineering role. Eventually I was promoted to a senior design engineering position where I continued to design power supplies up until 2006. This was a very exciting time for me, and professionally my career really advanced.

In 2006 an opportunity arose to join a small Irish company that was moving its headquarters from Dublin to Cork. This company was Excelsys Technologies. The role was to head up the Applications Engineering group. I met with the Managing Director, who had previously headed up European Operations for the first company I had worked for. I also knew some of the other staff, again having previously worked with them. We now have a concentrated group of very experienced engineers, designing some of the highest power density power supplies in our chosen market.

Shane CallananElectronic Engineer There are a couple of ways that singers are hired for work, one is via auditions. Typically at an audition, you are invited to sing for an opera house or casting director, you bring 5 pieces with you, and they provide a pianist (sometimes there is no time allowed to rehearse with the pianist beforehand!) and you sing 2-3 pieces from your list, and based on what they hear, if they like you and have something suitable to cast, then you're in luck!

More often than not though, singers will be cast because a director or conductor has worked with them before and knows they would be suitable, or they'll have seen them on stage or in concert and want to work with them based on that. So it's really important that when you're performing, it's to the best of your ability. You never know who's in the audience! Sharon CartyOpera Singer I got my current job when I bought my own boat; it is my own business. Liz O'TooleSkipper I finished my PhD and heard that a position was to become available at the university where I studied. I applied by filling in a very detailed application form (it took me several weeks to write my answers and be happy with them), I taught a sample lesson and made a presentation about my plans for the job if I were to be successful, I sat an interview with a selection panel, and got told by phone that evening that I got the job. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer I applied for the role having gained experience in Corporate Finance role. I completed my professional Accountancy Exams with BDO and worked in a number of areas within the practice. I applied, successfully completed my interview and secured my first job in Banking. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager The job was advertised in the paper and on the council website. I filled in the application, waited patiently for an interview, and happy days, here I am. Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer

The job was initially advertised internally as an acting position and I entered for the competition. I was then interviewed for the job along with others and was informed in writing that I had been successful.

After two years of acting in the job, it was again advertised nationally. I again applied for the job and was again interviewed along with others and was also informed in writing that I had been successful.

Ejiro O'Hare StrattonClinical Nurse Manager 2 I was in college and had signed up to do a 4 year course but at the end of the 2nd year (diploma stage) I got an offer to work in Aon on a part time basis coming up to Christmas so I jumped on the opportunity and decided that the 2 years in college had been enough for me. Karl CurranAssociate Director Main challenges Meeting deadlines for orders. Ray PowerPotter The time difference can be a challenge as we work with colleagues on the west coast of America but usually the team is very helpful and considerate when arranging meeting times. Patricia ClearySenior Systems Verification & Validation Scientist Meeting deadlines for conferences and speaking in front of large groups of senior scientists about new work can be daunting at times, but it gets easier with practice!

Also, by its very nature, scientific research is always pioneering and new, so I have to come up with original ideas, and new approaches to old problems.

There is not necessarily a "right answer" that you can check your calculations against, so you do sometimes have to stick your neck out and come up with a theory. Someone else can then come along and say that they think you're wrong and you have to defend yourself, hopefully based on sound scientific principles! Caitriona JackmanPlanetary Scientist The main challenges are:

-Taking in a lot of information and techniques to perform your job to a high standard.

- Coming towards the end of the job , there are deadlines which may require you to work late hours and weekends. Mark MaguireApprentice Electrician Some days, we would have a challenge for sales, some days we've technical problems, or staffing issues, or weather; we're down in Midleton so when you've bad storms the river floods and breaks its banks or you get power cuts. It very much varies depending on the time of year and what's going on. Rory Fitzpatrick CEO of the National Space Centre Cost / Time constraints. Sourcing correctly skilled and knowledgeable labour. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super.

Device design & the application of new materials: As the majority of products we work with have to be delivered to the body non-invasively the main challenge is to find materials & components that are small enough to provide the necessary requirements.

For example, the application of Nitinol (NiTi), a shape memory metal, to stents in the 1990’s. NiTi is commercially used in spectacles & can withstand very high stresses & stains. Stents are small metal structures used to open vessels in the body which may have become blocked. The stent can be reduced in outer diameter & is attached to a delivery device. Once in the body it is enlarged, sometimes by the inflation of a balloon which pushes the stent against the wall of the vessel it needs to dilate.

Other challenges include the management of projects & ensuring timelines are hit on schedule.

Sinead KennyDesign Engineer Funnily enough I don’t like doing paperwork, in fact I rather despise it! Oz IlbrahmiManufacturing Specialist Amy O’DwyerAssociate Sustainability Advisor Oisín:
Managing various projects and meeting deadlines.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter The main challenges are:

Getting the curriculum covered in a short day.
Meeting the high expectations of parents.
The constant changing of textbooks/methods of teaching. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Staying in control of my to-do list is the main challenge… You need to be very organised in this job. You need to plan ahead, know what meetings are coming up, make sure those who work with you on a particular client are aware of the upcoming meeting and what’s required for it.

Keeping up-to-speed can be challenging – what’s moving markets, any developments with investment managers or funds. Sustainability continues to gather momentum and it can be challenging to stay up-to-date with regulatory developments in that area.

The job can be tiring. I find it takes a lot of energy and proactivity to keep on top of all the tasks that are ongoing with all my clients…to keep projects moving. At times, it can feel like you’re being pulled in different directions and it’s really important not to drop a ball.

Having said that, I’m very lucky to work in a team of highly-motivated, hard-working and conscientious people. We work well together as a team, helping each other out as and when necessary. There’s always someone ready and willing to help if you have a problem or if you simply need to bounce an idea off someone. Orla AherneInvestment Consultant 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 Balancing all departments’ priorities. Sara Hickey Assistant Trading Manager The main challenges are: - the ever tightening quotas - the increasing costs of running vessels. - finding crew - Departmental constraints Alan O'NeillFisherman As you can imagine, there is a lot of administrative work that goes with project management and this is particularly true when you are dealing with flight hardware and safety to crew. Neil MurreyAerothermodynamics and Propulsion Design Engineer Keeping abreast of all the changes is a major challenge. There are so many bright people all working away on their topics and changing the game so often that it is essential to keep abreast of your peers work. Go on holidays for two weeks and it could take another week just to catch up with everything. The technical challenges I experience here are often involved with the intricacies of minor details in operating systems, networking protocols or programming. Staying on top of the game involves continually keeping track of what are the trends and technologies outside the corporation too. e.g. subscribing to blogs to stay informed of trends in the processor industry. Jason RuaneComputer Programmer

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 Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications Each child is different and has his or her own difficulties. In a class of nine their may be as many as nine dramatically different levels of reading/ writing/ spelling ability. Knowing at what level to pitch a lesson can be challenging. This is why we practice a lot of group work/ games and learning activities in this school to meet the needs of the children, and ensure they are working within their own abilities while still being challenged and motivated Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Typical day A typical day in fund accounting is very busy, with preparation tasks split into four pods, each prep assuming one role. Our work is driven by deadlines so you can see on the allocation what time each task has to be completed by. It's important for us to be able to meet deadlines as delays can affect others down the line. As well as daily workloads, we also complete monthly tasks and reporting that's due at various points throughout the month based on deadlines. Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice

I work in Unit 1 of the hospital. On a typical day working in the unit we have a Clinical Nurse Manager 1, four staff nurses and either three or four Care Assistants, one Household Assistant and one Catering Assistant and we have thirty six clients.

Work starts at 7.45am with the morning report, at 7.55am we assist clients who need help to sit up for breakfast and then we assist them to eat their breakfast. At about 8.45am we collect the dirty dishes and leave them on a table for the catering staff to collect. We then proceed to assist clients with their their toileting, washing and dressing needs, making beds and ensuring that clients are warm and comfortable for the day. Some clients go for physio and some are brought up to the hairdressers to get their hair done and some go up to the Activities Nurse to do activities.

Following a 15 minute break, we ensure we have all the clients settled for the day. Then  we fill in their care plans and then bring the dirty laundry to the laundry and dispose of any waste. We then clean the client's bed tables and their lockers.

At 11.30am the clients get their soup, milk or tea whichever they prefer, we assist any client who needs help with their soup. At 12pm the clients get their dinner, again we assist anyone who needs help. At about 12.30pm we collect the dirty dishes onto a table for the catering staff and clean the bed tables and the table in the day room, then we assist clients with their toileting needs and assist clients who wish to go back to bed.

In the afternoon we continue to assist clients back to bed, or give care to clients who are in bed. During the day we make sure to give drinks to clients who are in bed or who are not able to take drinks themselves. If time permits we might bring clients for a walk around the hospital or if it was a good day out into the hospital grounds or garden.

We try and take time to read or write letters for clients who wish us to do this or to sit and talk to clients who are upset or just feeing lonely. At 4.15pm we start getting clients ready for their tea at 4.30pm, again we assist anyone who needs help to eat their tea. We collect the dishes after the tea and clean the tables. Some of the staff go home at 5pm and that leaves two staff nurses and two health care assistants on duty until 8pm.

During the evening we assist clients back to bed, give care assistance to clients who are in bed, put on televisions for clients in their wards, bring soiled laundry to the laundry and dispose of any waste. At 7.30pm we give extra supplements to clients who need extra nourishment and who can't take them themselves. At 8pm the night staff come on duty and we go home.

Lydia PeppardCare Assistant The best thing about the job is there is no typical day. This was probably the biggest draw for me to the job. I love the unpredictable nature of it and that we can get called to any incident at any time.

Some days when it is extremely busy I find we are very reactive due to the high volume of calls. Other days when it is a bit quieter we can be more proactive and we can get out and prevent incidents from happening before they unfold. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda One of my favourite things about this job is that there isn't really a typical day! The work of the coordinator goes through different phases throughout the year, so at the beginning of the year there will be a lot of planning and organising of documents and events. There will then be the promotional phase when I travel around the country promoting the JET Programme at universities and careers fairs. Next the applications come in and the coordinator processes them and arranges for the screening and interviews for applicants.

Then there is the selection and orientation of all the new JETs, and finally sending them off to Japan on their own new adventure! Throughout all of this I make sure all of the databases are kept up to date, answer any enquiries to the JET Desk and help out with other Embassy events. There's always something new to learn and enjoy which has kept this job exciting! Edel CarletonJET Coordinator - Japanese Embassy No day is ever the same. Tasks vary (preparing policy documents, speeches, giving input to meetings). Deadlines can be very short. One has to learn to cut corners, be resourceful and smile. Fergal DonnellyEuropean Commission

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 Written interview unavailable... Mary McCaugheyHead of Communications It varies from project to project. In the last two months, I’ve worked on projects researching cloud coverage and its impact on future optical satellite communication systems. I’ve been involved in designing an Internet of Things hardware solution for improving wildlife collaring for zoology research. I’ve been researching and developing a product that uses advances in Deep Learning, a nascent form of artificial intelligence. This is a truly exciting technology that we’ll all hear a lot more on soon. Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist

Everyday is completely different in the world of a Process Engineer in Intel. As part of the worlds largest Computer Chip manufacturer it is my responsibility that the machines that I take care of as part of making a computer chip, are able to maintain this status of excellence on a 24 hour 7 day a week basis.

The machines which I am responsible for are located in what we call ' A Cleanroom'. We are clothed from head to toe in white suits that we call 'Bunny Suits' as the environment is 10000 times cleaner than a hospital theatre. First thing each morning we analyse the previous 24 hours performance from a productivity, performance and maintenance point of view.

All machines status and plans for any maintenance or experiments are planned for the next 24hrs. All plans need to be carefully communicated to all those involved. There are weekly/monthly goals and challenges that are set for each machine and when we achieve these targets there is usually a recognition or reward received which is always a great motivator.

Within this area it is my job to sustain and improve equipment performance for the manufacturing process on my machines. It is important to ensure that my machine operates in a safe manner, and to ensure that operationally the machine is available for production and has the capability to produce great computer chips with minimal defects. Equipment issues continuously arise that need disposition and this aspect of problem solving is part of my job which motivates me and I really enjoy. Cost analysis as well as training are also an integral part of my daily job.

Kerrie HoranEngineer - Process A typical day would involve preparing any variations that are due on a project. Most construction projects are fast moving and clients require costs turned around in a quick manner so this is always our focus.

I would then work on any weekly reports due such as labour spends reports or project cost projections. This would involve working with Project Managers and Contracts Mangers to get the various elements of information required to produce the report.

As with all construction professionals a lot of time is spent answering emails on various cost queries from clients, PQS and our Accounts and Purchasing. If a project is coming to an end a large amount of time will be spent preparing the Final Account and agreeing it with the relevant parties. It is always good to close off a project and get the final account signed, particularly on a large or lengthy project. Eileen FahertyElectrician / Quantity Surveyor After being paraded by my supervisor at 7 am I would usually head out on the mountain bike patrolling around the district. I would inspect shops, post offices, off licences, and public houses and interact with the public and local community dealing with any issues they may have.

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

During my meal break sometimes I would go to the gym in my station to keep fit. After the meal break I would patrol the district again. At the end of the tour I would record the incidents which I responded to on our computer system. I would do a report in relation to any issues highlighted by the community. Nan Hu Garda 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 could involve many different processes, including production of hardware, some programming, inspection of finished parts and paperwork. Owen HughesManufacturing Technician

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

A typical day can be challenging although very varied.

I can be anywhere doing anything literally.

From a HR perspective, seeking new candidates, responding to applicants, sending out offers or employment, arranging and conducting induction training, sending out contracts, contacting staff to return said contracts, dealing with issues in-house if there are any, conducting appraisals and performance reviews, updating staff data base, any grievance /disciplinary issues, Letters of reference, updating employee handbook, attending HOD meetings

I also respond to trip advisor and some of the social media outlets, and deal with any letters of complaints

H&S - keeping safety statement up to date, conducting risk assessments and implementing control measures, carry out fire training, conduct fire drills, weekly testing of fire alarm, inspection of extinguishers, lighting etc. manual handling training, keeping all food hygiene courses up to date, ensure new staff receive relevant training, organising refresher training, testing of AED, Refill of first aid boxes, general observations of front /back of house areas to identify /eliminate potential risks, Writing and communicating of new policy and ensuring new policies being implemented. COVID-19 and everything that goes with that.

Liaising with insurance company. fire officer, EHO and ensuring we are compliant with all requirements, dealing with any claims that may arise i.e. personal injury, updating incident report and ensuring all relevant information is sent to insurance companies, download & Maintaining CCTV footage relevant to incidents,

I can do this in any of the 4 hotels. Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel

On a typical day I would meet with some or all of the Learning and Development team and we would discuss our schedule of upcoming projects and learning deliveries. We would be discussing the design of training, who it should be delivered to, the technology or systems we use to deliver it, the organisation and logistics of how to actually make it happen and finally how we will communicate and promote it to fellow employees at the organisation. Often, I will also run a workshop on a topic such as Time Management, Resilience or Collaboration. This would usually be a 90-minute session using Zoom with about 15 people dialling in from different locations across the organisation. I would be presenting slides that explain concepts relating to the topics, as well as hosting group discussions and small 'break out' sessions to help people understand the topic and practice learning new skills.

There's usually an element of marketing to my day, this might be writing an email to colleagues to advertise a new course and get them to sign up or it could be writing a blog on our company networking page to get people thinking about a particular topic or creating content for a website to promote learning to help people perform their roles better. Normally, I have a few meetings, these could be one on one meetings with people who are looking to design and deliver training for their teams or large part of the organisation. This would involve trying to understand what it is they want to achieve, I ask things like: "what will people do differently as a result of attending this training?" Often people don't know!

Other times there will be project meetings, these will be for bigger items such as the implementation of new system that supports learning or putting in place a new approach to train salespeople. In these sorts of meetings, I am usually working with a project plan in excel, making sure we are on track with tasks, chasing up people or putting together documents to support the project such as guidelines or briefing documents.

Kathryn ReevesLearning and Development Lead A day of a CEO in a start-up company is anything but typical. I could be talking to customers, making financial models, discussing stock options with my legal team, hiring new engineers or brainstorming on our algorithms with the technical team. All of which are fascinating and I am learning a lot, every single day. Sinead O'Sullivan CEO of Fusion Space Technologies

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

Every day in the Defences Forces is different. There is never a mundane day in the Defences Forces. Generally they consist of lectures based on different situations and tactics employed by a soilder, and also training on different weapons and equipment.

The majority of the day is focused towards physical and mental fitness and strength. Each training sessions is geared towards a different aspect of this fitness ranging from: a simple run in training gear to a fully uniformed "battlerun" with equipment which is always both challenging and rewarding.

Keith LynchPrivate (Line) Further training... The training I have undertaken includes a very basic computers course before my first computer purchase, a Monaghan County Enterprise Board business skills course, training with Fáilte Ireland and a Leader funded website and internet skills course/2.0 skills course. 

I am also embarking on stage two of the Leader funded Web2.0 skills course with a view to attaining digital media skills to market and develop online aspect of business.  Liz ChristyTextile Design/Handweaver I have undertaken courses in Professional Development every summer since I began teaching and I have recently applied for a Masters in Visual Arts Practices in Dun Laoighaire - which is a two year part time course. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs I qualified as a Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA). It really appealed to me that it is such a well-recognised qualification and I thought that it would give me a really good base from which to build by skills and ultimately my career. Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager Management training is a constant over the past twenty years This is necessary both for good practice and for keeping abreast of developments in the management skills area and in the area of legislation.

Most recently I attended a four days course on Leadership in Catholic Schools. Paul MeanySchool Principal On the Northern Trust partner portal there are ample courses added to your own personal plan which I complete whenever I have free time enabling me to be the best at my job as I can be. It gives me a better understanding as to what my role entails as well as a better understanding of the role of Northern Trust and other partners. Jack BarryAnalyst, Transfer Agency Yes I am currently undertaking further training as I am studying a masters degree in Automation Engineering at UCC. Donal Og CusackAutomation/Energy Engineer I am currently studying for a BA in Social Studies (Disability). My organisation offers on the job training to the staff on an ongoing basis. This enables staff to update and expand their skills. Deirdre LavelleCare Assistant

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 Yes I plan to go back this year and finish off my engineering exams for the class one engineer. Brendan CavanaghShips Engineer 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 I have partaken in a number of training programmes since taking on my current job including Performance Management, Conflict resolution, Lead Auditing, Internal auditing among others.

I am currently studying a Masters in Pharmaceutical Technology in Trinity College Dublin. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer Several H+S and construction management courses and welding courses. I plan on doing a project management course and CAD course in the near future. Donal KanePlumber / Construction Super. I always look to do some level of new training every year and this year I will do training through Barclays to keep me moving forward. Brian DelahuntyHead of Corporate Banking 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

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

Would like to go further and gain certification in employment legislation. Laura DevlinHR Manager - Hotel Yes, I am undertaking level 8 Business Studies with Dublin Business School. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia For now, I'm planning on finishing the course with NCI and hopefully progressing my career with NT Abbie RiceAssociate Accountant/IFS Apprentice Oisín:
I plan to progress on to train as a foreman and beyond.
Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter I would like to learn sign language so I can impart my enthusiastic talks and workshops to the hearing impaired. Deirdre KelleghanAmateur Astronomer

Further training as part of my job as a Civil Engineer, nothing specific planned at the moment.

Further Education..... as much as I enjoy my job as an Engineer, I still have not ruled out Teaching. I am still considering doing Secondary School Teaching. As a qualified Civil Engineer, if I do a one year course in Teacher Training (H.Dip.ED), I will then be able to teach Maths and Applied Maths in School. Its worth remembering that!  

After four years in a course, its good to know you're not tied to the career, but you will always have the profession!  Engineering is a degree in problem solving. Getting a job in Engineering, Research, Teaching, Accounting, Management - its all possible.

Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Advice if considering this job 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 Take every opportunity that comes your way, don’t be afraid of a challenge. Don’t be afraid to throw yourself into things, you’ll learn on the job. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst

Possibly useful qualities/interests:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Jason RuaneComputer Programmer Research the exams and the career progression through accountancy and see if this is something you can see yourself in long term.  Ross McKeoghMusgrave Retail Graduate Programme

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

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

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

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

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

Mary Ita HeffernanSocial Worker Think long and hard, listen to advise, plan well and be ready to make sacrifices for job satisfaction… Liz ChristyTextile Design/Handweaver 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 You need to be prepared to work hard, work long hours & work unsociable hours. Starting out, be prepared to take the jobs that nobody wants to do - make your contacts through that and progress to follow your dream Barry McEnteeChartered Physiotherapist I thought the job would solely be to compute an individual’s / company’s tax liability but it extends to so much more beyond that. You are not just solely a person or organisation’s tax advisor; you are a general business adviser helping them to make key business/commercial decisions. Sinead LewSenior Tax Manager 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 I’d start watching every video and reading every book on space that you can find, that will help you figure out what area of space you are most interested in. Having a solid education can’t hurt but don’t worry if you’re not a straight A student, I’ve managed to work myself into the career somehow! Jonathan FaullSpace Social Media and Communications 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 Earth Observation is quite technical and has a number of research opportunities. I’d advise trying to achieve a PhD in Remote Sensing and get comfortable with a variety of computer skills, from coding to databases and cloud computing infrastructure. Also, do not overlook the value of learning to work in teams. Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist 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 I would advise them to ensure they enjoy working with young people. If possible try to get some teaching experience; I started out as a substitute teacher before applying for my H Dip in Education. Paul GalvanResource Teacher 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 advise that I would give to someone considering this job is to do their Leaving Cert and do the Transition year as this would give an opportunity to get some job experience or do some voluntary work within the community.

Do a Level 5 FETAC health related course. The skills and qualities that are needed to do this type of work are a real sense of caring for other people, communication skills, listening skills, be able to take and give constructive criticism without causing or taking offence, patience a willing to give your best effort to your work. Lydia PeppardCare Assistant

Think about your strengths – what is engaging and exciting for you and how can you pivot and continue learning throughout your career. Don’t try to fit a particular mould. I fell into HR – it was never my plan but over 20 years later I still learn something new every day.

Education wise, I would say do something you love starting out – I loved French, wanted to live in France and so picked a degree that gave me maximum exposure to that! I only speak French on holidays now but I loved every second of my degree. Oonagh KellyHead of HR Teaching as they say is a vocation, it is a job that requires patience and enthusiasm. If you are considering teaching you need to look beyond the holidays and think of the 9-4 Monday to Friday spent dealing with children or teenagers and the challenges which they might pose.

I would advise anyone thinking of teaching as a career to speak with Teachers and learn of their experiences, both positive and negative. I personally would encourage people to consider teaching as it is an extremely rewarding profession in terms of the interaction you get daily with young people and the colleagues you meet in the job. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher 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 The lifestyle Yes, because of the fact that I am into sport, teaching allows me the time to ensure I can attend training sessions and games all the time. In relation to progression there is always plenty of areas that you can explore from a background in education. It is a very secure job. However, It would be impossible for me at the moment to buy a house in Dublin on my salary. Brian CadiganPrimary School Teacher Yes. My job is varied, interesting and can present different challanges every day. It offers me security and I am continually learning new administration skills in my current appointment. I still have plenty of leisure time to spend with my friends and my family. The Army offers me the chance for promotion and overseas service. Louise Mc DonaldPrivate (Line) As a trainee we don't really fully understand the lifestyle yet but hopefully in 16 weeks I will find out what type of lifestyle we will have and I've no doubt I will adjust. Aishling ButlerGarda Trainee The hours are good, you still have enough time in the evening to follow pursuits which interest you. In the last number of years, I got married abroad, in fact, in Cyprus and my wife and I bought our new home in 2005.

The house has a study/ writing room, to which I go in the evening time. I'm not big on excessive luxuries but we do have a car and like to go on family holidays, usually somewhere hot like Spain. I also have my series of dvd collections, for example 007 movies and cult t.v. shows like 'The Prisoner', which I regularly add to. We also have a lovely garden where the children can play and I can relax, if only!. Jonathan SmythLibrary Assistant Thankfully in my current job, I am able to balance my work life commitments. When I trained with KPMG, they gave me more than adequate study leave when I was pursuing the Chartered Tax Adviser (CTA) qualification which was great. It can be difficult to go to lectures some evenings after work and at the weekends but if you can’t make it they’re also available online to catch up on in your own time. Lorcan KellyTax Consultant I have found that it is so important to balance my job, my study and my personal life. Deloitte encourage a healthy work life balance and I have realised this is important to me doing a good job at work. I find that by taking part in events and activities I am much more productive in work, efficient and attentive in my study and happier in general. Anna Holohan Tax Manager Unfortunately being a solicitor in a commercial firm can mean long hours and at least 9-530 each day but as I've progressed I've been able to manage my time better. I work from home on a Tuesday which makes a big difference to my week. With advances in technology wording remotely has become easier as I can log onto my pc from home and transfer my extension to my mobile phone. Hopefully more flexible working arrangements are to come for most professions. Niamh CacciatoSolicitor Yes absolutely, I enjoy my work and this has a positive knock on effect on my personal life. I believe if you are happy in your professional environment that has a positive knock on effect on your personal life.

My job is such that it does not impede on my personal life and I have time to do the things I enjoy. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator Yes, absolutely. As a Third Secretary I can expect to spend large parts of my career working at Irish embassies abroad which is a prospect I find very exciting. At the same time I will spend time based at Headquarters in Ireland which means I will always retain that strong connection with home. I am currently based at Ireland's Permanent Representation to the EU which is Ireland's largest diplomatic mission abroad. Shane SargeantDepartment of Foreign Affairs My job currently offers me a lifestyle that I am happy with for now. I'm sure that as the years go by my needs will change.

Upskilling and progressing would be the way I would envisage making drastic changes to my job role and my earnings. I work in a company which doesn't have steady state production, i.e. there are busier times than others. However, on the whole, my work hours would follow that of any typical job.

In relation to affording the luxuries in life, it could always be better, though compared to some other professions you get started on an "average" wage a lot earlier.

Progression opportunities is a strong focus in my current job. This is why I value education so highly. It offers you the means to upskill and progress your career. Lynsey GarganManufacturing Engineer My job is very demanding whilst I'm present but generally I only need to be there for the standard 9 to 5, Monday to Friday. There is also flexibility when required due to a good relationship with my manager and his recognition of my commitment generally. Ciaran MacSamhrainEngineer - Transport Infrastructure Ireland Yes, it is my dream job. It is secure, has lots of flexibility, allows me to travel, and gives me a lot of control over my future. Dr. Patrick CadwellLecturer Under normal circumstances the job does allow a reasonable work-life balance. But science communication, and especially working in news, is not a 9-to-5 job. There are times when personal plans have to take second place to work. Karen O'FlahertyScience Communicator 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 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 Yes, definitely! Contrary to popular belief, I have great work-life balance at RCSI, mainly because their PhD structural programme allows students to be more independent and flexible with their time. They do organize various exciting activities that you can attend while waiting for your experiment to finish. All in all, good time management is important to keep a balanced lifestyle no matter what job/ career you have in life Kelvin E Lau HowPHD Student RCSI Yes. It is reasonably paid. I'm lucky to have a secure job, although increasingly people can spend relatively significant periods of time doing contract work. It is quite a family-friendly role, in that the working hours have some flexibility and there is scope to vary the time spent on non-teaching related activities, if required.

There are clear criteria for progression - related to teaching, research contribution and personal contribution to the running of the business school. Working in a university provides access to all of the associated leisure facilities - there is a superb sports center here, though I don't make as much use of it as I should. Aoife Mc DermottLecturer 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 When I was younger, one of the most important factors for me was to earn a really good salary as I wanted to be comfortable (my parents struggled financially so I didn't want to have the same struggles). However, I realised in my late twenties that although I wanted a good salary to be financially comfortable it was equally important for me to be as happy in my professional life as I was in my personal life.

I was working as a tax consultant and my job was well paid with great benefits. I was getting bored and frustrated with the lack of excitement. Overtime, I transitioned to work for myself in the food industry using all the knowledge and key skills I gained in all my previous jobs e.g. I've financial and tax awareness from my previous job. Fiona UyemaChef I enjoy my work and I’m very happy with my decision to join An Garda Síochána.  Emilia GilroyGarda Whats cool I think the coolest thing about the job I do is seeing the results when patients take our drugs. The drugs produced at Grange Castle dramatically improve patients lives. For me personally my brother takes Enbrel which is produced here at Grange Castle. It is made for people who suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis which is a very painful and limiting disease. It has improved his wellbeing drastically over the past few years. It is very cool knowing that I play a role in the production of this drug to market. Brian O'ConnorAnalytical Chemist Responding to Emergency calls is pretty ‘cool’, all the action and the excitement. This can get your adrenaline going, having to think on your feet and getting to use your skills, medications and equipment.

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

It’s a great feeling when you learn new skills or administer new drugs and you can see the patient improving immediately. Keith HayesAmbulance / Paramedic I get to work with people from the full Musgrave network. Denise HarringtonSupply Chain Analyst You will get to know all the latest book releases and may have opportunities to meet a visiting author. Librarians will have an input in creating and organising library events.

The Library is a place where you are working within a team, and we are people who enjoy working among the public. I think you also need to have a liking for knowledge and learning, a good general knowledge is an asset.

It can be very satisfying to successfully assist people find what they want, whether this may be on, (for example), building a garden shed or screen writing. Each morning I look forward to my days work, that to me is cool. Jonathan SmythLibrary Assistant The holidays!! My colleague says “the education of our future generations”!!, that too, of course. Mary JoyceSecondary School Teacher Job satisfaction is the best thing for me. It is very rewarding to see a client progress and do well based on your work with them. Also the working hours and annual leave allows me to enjoy other aspects of life including hobbies and traveling.

There is also a great deal of variety in this career. Every client we meet is different and a day's work is rarely dull. I also get the opportunity to liaise with and meet a variety of other professionals such as occupational therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, teachers. I'm also lucky in that my work colleagues have also become friends. Lisa KellySpeech and Language 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) What I really like about my job is the whole essence of being able to serve my community and gaining their trust. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve The opportunity to make a difference in the lives of over 400 teenagers each year. Paul MeanySchool Principal Completing design analysis and testing. Seeing a product that you have brought through the design phase, through the manufacturing phase, and then successfully completing the test phase is awesome! Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer

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

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

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

Elva BannonMechatronic Engineer I like the fact that my job gets me involved with all aspects of the business - planning, purchasing, finance, engineering, human resources etc. It is this diversity of contacts which ensures that each day is different and interesting. I also like the pressure in my job. I'm never short of something to do. Fergus O'ConnellQuality Officer The comradery with my classmates. We all bonded very quickly and there is a good atmosphere in class all the time. Mark Spain Garda Trainee 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’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 Teamwork, I’ve always liked working as part of a team. I’ve found that working with others has always been far more beneficial. Listening to other people’s perspectives helps us see things in another light and thus helps broaden our approach and for me this improves our attitudes to work. Kevin MoranInsurance Administrator Team comradery. Ian McKinleyRugby Player It’s quite cool to be working on the most advanced manufacturing process in the world. The first time you walk into the fab is like going to a different world. Darryl DayIQ Engineer Oisín:
Finished job satisfaction, seeing yourself and your skills develop using different tools and methods to get the job done.

Oisin MurphyApprentice Carpenter 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 Not so cool Currently, working from home every day is not too enjoyable, I enjoy some variety in terms of office/home/on site work. Shane O'SheaSuperValu Regional Support Manager It is always a challenge to manage ever-changing requirements within the business. It ultimately means you have to always compromise a bit in terms of the scope of what you are doing with the time available. However, you get used to it! Sam FranklinEarth Observation Specialist

It can be stressful at times, in particular I struggle with the thresholds, sometimes it feels like we know that the children are not living in the best environment, but we have to wait until the incident happens before we have enough evidence to apply for a Care Order.

Fiona O'SullivanChild Protection and Welfare Social Worker 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) 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 Special Needs teaching can be enjoyable and rewarding. However there is a lot of paperwork. Padraig ParleTeacher - Special Needs Repetition, so that would be opening and locking the building, completing daily cash sheets, it can become boring. Mary Jo SheridanTourism Manager - Dublinia Some days can go past the 5.15pm finish time. The demands for answers to questions which usually take about 2 hours to process but you get 15mins to get the result! Frank MorrisonRecruitment Manager Similar to many industries, different types of technology are constantly being introduced in the field of engineering. This means that it is necessary to attend training and spend time getting used to the various types of software.Only recently, I attended a training course on the essentials of seismic engineering. Earthquake design is not applicable to buildings in Ireland; however, it is a necessary requirement in other parts of the world. As Arup works on global projects, it is brilliant that I get the chance to attend this type of training, as I can apply what I have learned when I work on international projects. Shauna HurleyStructural Engineer I really don’t like going to a scene that involves casualties or serious injuries. I don’t like bringing bad news to a family. It can be very upsetting for a number of days. Nan Hu Garda Being outside in the rain! On site there isn't really the same social aspect as there is in the office. You are only working with a couple of people on site. The work -, there isn't much I don't mind doing really. Maria O'NeillCivil Engineer Nothing so far. Liam McCaulR&D Engineer IT problems. Des LalorWind Engineer There is a lot of very menial physical work that I don't enjoy but can' t be gotten away from  i.e. mucking out, sweeping, care of pasture and riding surfaces etc. Luke DreaEvent Rider I definitely don’t like getting up at 5.30 on cold winter mornings and commuting to work. Peter CliffordProbationer Garda 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 Documentation. Filling out the large number of necessary project documents can be very repetitive. Elaine KellyMechanical Design Engineer Nothing really as every job comes with its own hazard. Rasaq FaladeGarda Reserve Sometimes the paperwork can be time consuming, but necessary to do the job. Madonna DalyBusiness Manager The downside of the school year is that there is no flexibility in holidays, this is not so cool when you have to holiday at peak times and pay top rates.

Dealing with disruptive children, or aggressive parents is not so cool!

One of the other aspects that can be testing is yard duty on cold winter days, cleaning up sick and dealing with "accidents" that small children can have. Deirdre SayersPrimary School Teacher