Monday 8 December 2025
Leaving Certificate students have an exciting opportunity to explore the diverse realities of an engineering career and discover practical strategies for success as they fill out their upcoming CAO forms.
Ena O'Driscoll, Mechanical Engineering student at MTU Cork and Student Ambassador at PM Group, alongside Sean Ryan, Automation Engineering student at SETU and Student Engineer at Jabil, share their university experiences with host Dusty Rhodes.
They explain how early STEM encouragement through school programmes and family connections shaped career choices, why paid internships provide invaluable CV building opportunities developing real world problem solving skills, and practical advice for creating standout applications emphasising leadership roles, volunteering experience, and project work whilst balancing academic demands with society involvement through Engineers Ireland Young Engineers Society networking events and mentorship programmes.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Engineering career choice STEM encouragement
● Paid internships practical experience benefits
● CV building leadership & volunteering standout
● Time management balancing studies & activities
● CAO strategy Level 7 & Level 8 options
GUEST DETAILS
Ena O'Driscoll is a Mechanical Engineering Student at Munster Technological University (MTU) Cork. Ena is an excellent example of maximising university studies by actively engaging with industry. She gained valuable professional experience through an internship and placement with PM Group, a leading international project delivery firm. Following her successful placement, Ena has continued her association with the company and the wider engineering community by serving as a Student Ambassador at PM Group, demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting engineering and bridging the gap between academia and professional life.
Sean Ryan is an Automation Engineering Student at South East Technological University (SETU) Waterford. Sean is currently applying his technical expertise as a Student Engineer at Jabil, a global manufacturing services company. He possesses a strong academic background complemented by valuable practical experience, including previous work as a controls engineer at Integer. Sean is highly engaged within his university community, having served as a peer-to-peer mentor and senior mentor to support first-year engineering students. Hailing from a farming background, Sean brings a unique perspective to problem-solving and engineering challenges. Outside of his studies and work, Sean is an active rugby player for both his college team and a local club.
QUOTES
"My secondary school was actually really good in terms of promoting STEM. Every couple of weeks we'd have different people come in and talk about different areas" - Ena O'Driscoll
"I'm on currently working as a controls and automation engineer student for Jabil healthcare, which is ideal because it's only two minutes walk from my college and I'm able to go in there part time and the hours are flexible which is amazing" - Sean Ryan
"We were given real work to work on from day one. It started with helping other engineers, carried out a study. We were able to find that quadrant that was the problem and implement that change" - Sean Ryan
"I've always enjoyed Maths, Physics, anything problem solving wise. I've always wanted to be an engineer since probably around 14. I interviewed one of my dad's best friends who's a civil engineer. I got into the mechanical side because of my godfather" - Ena O'Driscoll
TRANSCRIPTION
For your convenience here is an AI transcription
Dusty Rhodes 0:02
Right now on AMPLIFIED.
Ena O'Driscoll 0:03
My secondary school was actually really good in terms of being encouraged to go and do STEM and go and do engineering. Out of maybe 128. I think there was around maybe 12 to 15 who went into some sort of engineering out of us all, so a high number.
Dusty Rhodes 0:21
Hi there. My name is Dusty Rhodes, and you're welcome to AMPLIFIED the Engineers Journal podcast and the second in our special mini series An Engineer Like Me today, we're talking about making an impact during your studies, looking at how current students can maximise their time in uni, how to build a compelling CV and gain valuable industry experience before you graduate. To guide us. We're joined by two exceptional student engineers, Ena O'Driscoll, a Mechanical Engineering student at MTU, Cork and Student Ambassador at PM Group, and Sean Ryan, an Automation Engineering Student at SETU and a Student Engineer at Jabil as well. Ena and Sean, you both very welcome.
Ena O'Driscoll 0:57
Thanks, Dusty.
Sean Ryan 0:58
Thanks for having us.
Dusty Rhodes 0:59
Just why did you choose engineering? Sean, do you want to give that a shot?
Sean Ryan 1:04
I think I've always been, I worked on a farm growing up around machinery and stuff. I've always been interested in machinery and stuff like that. So I think I was always going to choose engineering, even when I was in my doing, my leaving, third say. But I did when I did come to offers which was close to home, so made the commuting all easy, I done a common entry engineering course, so I was able to do flavours of all different types of engineering. So I've done electrical, electronic, civil standard, energy and automation. And then in after end of that, we split again, where I picked the major in automation engineering, which kind of attracted me, because I like the whole idea of like in where the world going. I like the idea of software and like hardware coming together and working on machines that way, because I think that's the way things are going. Automation and stuff is really the future high volume production.
Dusty Rhodes 2:01
Absolutely. How about yourself Ena?
Ena O'Driscoll 2:03
I suppose from an early age, I've always enjoyed, like, Maths, Physics, anything. I suppose problem solving wise. And I suppose I've always wanted to be an engineer since, like, probably around 14. And I did a an interview. I interviewed one of my dad's best friends, and he's a civil engineer. And I just started thinking engineering engineering. This was then I got into the mechanical side of it because of my godfather. I guess he kind of inspired me. And I discussed th at being able to go into such a diverse range of different areas and the possibilities with, I suppose mechanical engineering is just, I suppose the world is at my feet, I suppose, and know it's great as well too. I suppose, guess more females as well in engineering, and I suppose I'm glad to be one of them.
Dusty Rhodes 2:49
Listen. Can I ask you about that? Because this comes up all the time on the podcast. Like, you know, in the engineering business, around 11% of the workforce in engineering is females, and they're kind of going, Yeah, we need more in there. Now, you met people in your life who were engineers, and I suppose that would have an influence on you, kind of like the sound of that was there anything in school that kind of, the you know, kind of equally sparked your brain to kind of go, Yeah, this looks interesting.
Ena O'Driscoll 3:15
During my, I suppose, like Leaving Cert cycle, my secondary school was actually really good in terms of promoting stem like, I went to an all girls school and secondary, and we had this kind of group called female lead. And every couple of weeks, whatever, there was a team of us. We were with our vice principals, we'd have these different people come in and talk about, like, just different areas. And I remember my aunt, who's also an engineer, and I got, I swear to my engineers. Anyway, I asked her to give a talk to us, and just being encouraged to, you know, do the STEM subjects. And unfortunately, there's no engineering subject, but definitely being, I suppose, encouraged to go and do STEM and go and do kind of engineering as your career was definitely, definitely encouraged. And I'd say, out of maybe 128 I think there was around maybe 12 to 15 who went into some sort of engineering.
Dusty Rhodes 4:13
So when you're talking to other females, just to look at on a gender basis, I mean, what do you say to them when you're kind of saying, Well, have you thought about engineering?
Ena O'Driscoll 4:32
I will definitely 100% say that. And I remember going in my first day, there was only four of us starting off as straight mechanical engineers out of 45 and definitely the ratio was like, Oh, wow. And I knew it, to be fair, you know, I knew I knew that going in. And I suppose where I really found the encouragement was through the different lectures that I had, and I definitely speaking to many girls. I went into my secondary school during the year, and I gave a talk on engineering, and I just said that there is the support within the colleges, whether that's through societies, getting mentorship, I suppose, through like all the people you know do.
Like in the years ahead of you, there'll always be someone that you can go to to kind of get that reassurance, get that guidance. Even within my own college, they're really supportive in terms of, um, getting females and progressing, I suppose, as an engineering student and that potentially or after then I suppose your career as an engineer, like I went during the year, I had the opportunity of going to the Society of Women Engineers over in Prague. So it was a big opportunity, myself and one of my classmates, we were asked to, I suppose, apply to it, and we to it was based on a huge like group project. And we did a design of a poster, and we ended up getting it. We were delighted about. And then just to be in a room, just everyone was female, and there was, you know, not a good few 100. There would have been, like, four or 500 at this and, um, just to have that encouragement. And, you know, there's kind of, like a, I guess there's a lot of dopamine coming out from it, you know, you're like, wow, I can, I'm actually surrounded by heaps needs of females, and I'm, yeah, you know, it's really encouraging, I suppose.
Dusty Rhodes 6:00
And that's human nature, isn't it?
Ena O'Driscoll 6:01
Like, yeah, definitely. So, yeah, no, it's really good.
Dusty Rhodes 6:05
So bring me up to speed where you guys are today. So you've decided to do engineering. You're you're now coming to the end of your respective courses. Sean, tell me what you're doing and what's next for you.
Sean Ryan 6:19
So I'm in my final year of automation engineeing, so hopefully I'll be graduating by next May, and I'll be able to continue on. At the moment, I'm currently working as a controls and automation engineer student for um Jabil healthcare, which is ideal, because it's, it's only really two minutes walk from my college, and I'm able to go in there part time, and the hours are flexible, which is amazing. So I think hopefully, I would like to get into a more of a controls and programmer sort of a role, rather than a more the manufacturing side of automation, where you're kind of working and all continuously improving the line. I'd rather be at the starting point of a machine builder, type of a role, design, build, a programmer, and give it to other companies, like the big pharma and medical device companies around here in Waterford and because I am a farmer as well. I'll be trying to stay local to the South East as I can. And once I graduate a level eight, I'll be able to do my green search, which I will require as a farmer for one only one year online, where if I chose it straight away, I'd have to do over two years. So that's helped me that way. So it sounds like kind of you went into engineering and there's like, a huge range of opportunities in engineering, like almost unlimited, but you have gotten you've whittled it down to automation, yeah. But even within automation, you still got a whole load of choices. There are still loads of choice. And even before I even started in Jabil healthcare. I done two years in integer, another medical device company, right? But near me and my local town in New Ross, where they make guide wires for stints and stuff. So even there, I was able to, I worked closely with the machine building department in there, and that really brought me my interest. And when I came to my college placement for the nine months last semester in territory. I was thinking, Oh, maybe I'll go back there. But I made a decision that I want to broaden my horizon and go to a different company and experience other things as well. And that really led to great opportunities. I was able to go on training courses for robotics and stuff, one specific dominico robotic ABB training, which is amazing. And I was able to even travel to Switzerland and stuff to a machine builders from my company on placement. So I really it was a great decision I made lots of got great benefits from it, and I'm still there part time my final year.
Dusty Rhodes 8:54
Ena. Where are you now and what's next for you?
Ena O'Driscoll 8:57
I suppose this year is just mainly, I suppose that normal study, but I am on the side, I suppose, a brand ambassador with the PM Group. PM Group as a project delivery specialist, so they have loads of major clients, and I suppose I did a sort of internship with them when I was in second year, and I finished my eight month placement with them at the end of August. So I always say I liked it too much. How you said I'd be a brand ambassador and promote Kim group. So it's a great company again, really, I suppose, really supportive in developing ones. I suppose career has a great female to male ratio. I think there's around 45% are females that are employed, which is great considering there's only 11 or 12, I think you had said percent working who are females? No, it's it's great now, to be fair, and I really, really enjoy the kind of work I'd be doing. I set up different small events and kind of bring PM Group into whatever. Kind of events we're doing within our mechanical Biomedical Engineering Society. So, for instance, we had a master's talk there about two or three weeks ago just to talk about, I suppose, the benefits and the, maybe the reasons why you wouldn't choose to do masters. I guess I brought in, like, two representatives from pm group, a hiring manager, and then someone in early talent acquisition. So just to talk about the different benefits, and I suppose it's a way of getting pm groups name out there again as well, so I'd delight to be able to do that for them. So listen, tell me, both of you have mentioned that you're working with actual firms as interns. You're getting kind of real life experience. Tell me more about that. Ina, about your experience with pm group? Well, in my first stint, I suppose, of being on internship, I was mainly on the off in the office and working, I suppose, remotely, and trying to gain up experience, I suppose in more of a mechanical engineering role. My previous jobs were in different engineering firms, but I was more so kind of doing, you know, bits here and there. And it wasn't necessarily in my field of expertise or like field of like learning, I suppose, but I was kind of working on, like equipment packages and get it talking to the vendors, discussing what types of, I suppose, equipment they prefer, and what vendors they'd like to look at. And then I suppose, during placement, I was based on on a site, and I got way a load more experience. I suppose they always say, or they always would have said, like, you know, you gain your experience on site. And during my, like, summer placement, I I wasn't on site at all. I visited one site one day, and, you know, it's like, oh, that's grand, whatever. But, um, I always kind of took it like, great. You learn more. But I'm, I'm in the office, so, you know, then when I was on site, then I was like, Whoa, I can really see, like, you know, you talk about valves, let's say, or pipes, and you can actually see it out in the open. And you're like, Whoa, okay, this is different. And, you know, you're taking and things like that. So I suppose it's been great. And I suppose as well. I really enjoy the, I suppose, the culture, the different, diverse projects you get to go on. And I worked with around three or four different clients. And, no, it was a great, great experience.
Dusty Rhodes 12:11
Sean, tell me, how did you get involved with your engineering firm? And what practical experience are you getting there?
Sean Ryan 12:16
Well, I think just on college, workplace, someday, we just had to go place. And we in the South East, near our college, there's just so much companies around us that there was more choice than there was students of us to go on place. And so we all, some of us got called for interviews. And Jay was one of the first called for an interview and interviewed, and like got fairly soon after went to and then I would have started work there in January. So it was great to actually something that was really beneficial to me was that when I joined I was an automation controlled engineering type of student, and I was also another student that came on placing from my college was a mechanical engineering and manufacturing student. So together, the two of us kind of worked as a kind of a team, where in our place, there's every line, there's kind of two engineers to a production line. So the two of us worked as team together, and Natalia and two of us, being from different backgrounds, we were able to attack problems together with both of our skill sets knowledge, which was really great, and we were able to achieve great things together.
Dusty Rhodes 13:25
Can I ask you, with the internship, are you given, like, real world, real life, things to work on, or is it kind of, you know, bit of theoretical work in the background?
Sean Ryan 13:36
Oh, no, for us, we were definitely given some work to work on, like we're working from day one. So initially it would have started off with some dunes, helping other engineers on the in the facility, and helping them. So one first things we done was a carried out a study. There was parts that weren't welding together properly. There was specific sections that were the biggest, I think, made up, like 80% of the problem. And we were through our study of that process, we were able to find that quadrant that was the problem and implement that change. And then after that, we got various projects to work on. And I myself, from my background, I worked on various robots on site in there, probably more so than even some of the more qualified engineers there, like, I'd be quite young, but I'm heads in programming. I'm working on troubleshooting robots and stuff. Also, just to my background, I've written some like programming scripts to automate some of the processes and work on the database side. So it's great to almost have digital twins over production lines, through like Power BI and stuff, so you can analyse how the days go and find those problem areas. So allowing even the technicians to troubleshoot and do prevent maintenance before it becomes an issue.
Dusty Rhodes 14:55
It's fantastic having that real world skill, and you're actually given a real problem to work on.
Ena, have you had that experience with PM Group?
Ena O'Driscoll 15:03
Oh, definitely, yeah. Especially, I suppose when I was on site with the company, with a client, I suppose they wanted to, they noticed one of the days that pipe header was rotting, and they wanted to replace it. And no, they had different calculations and different specs that they wanted to change, and the seeing that like you're actually making a difference to something that's so close, you know, to the eye that you can see, right? This is where this, I suppose, there's only a difference, and be able to fix the pipeline is great and, and that's definitely a real, a real world kind of problem solving.
Dusty Rhodes 15:37
That looks amazing when you're putting your CV together, because you're saying, I've done all of this in college, but then I have all of this real world experience, which is hugely beneficial to anybody who's going to employ you after college.
Sean Ryan 15:47
Yeah, I even found out when I was interviewing for my actual placement, because I had the previous work done in integer as a controls engineer, that like, you're kind of talking away and Tom bear subject from college, and then you're talking about some project on college, but then they mentioned some projects that I done for the other company. They're like, Oh, okay, that's very interesting. You know, things are actually went live on the line that were and still in existence today.
Dusty Rhodes 16:13
So are you saying, Sean, that you find there's a big difference between what you learn in theory and then what is in practice on the on site?
Sean Ryan 16:18
Well, I think it's almost more so that, like in big in companies like that, you have the facility to put things into action, like in college. Just use cost and availability and stuff like some of the things we do are more simulations, and we'll work in real world examples, but it's great to actually be able to implement it in real life. Use the actual PLCs, and see the parts move, and see it actually in production. Like
Dusty Rhodes 16:46
Another great thing to get ahead with real world experience is to show off skills as a leader. And Ena, you're doing this in PM Group, where your student ambassador, can you tell me about that role and what you do?
Ena O'Driscoll 16:57
Yeah, I suppose, definitely, by promoting, I suppose pm group, it is showing, I suppose leadership in the sense of, there's other more, let's say, I suppose they'd be younger, in younger years, one of the other fellow brand ambassadors, so I suppose I'd be taking on a bit of a lead and being more of the point of contact for per pm group I know, With the women in STEM, let's say society. They reached out to me as I suppose the, I suppose the core person. I was able to kind of set up a pm group. Why stem information day? And it only had it last Thursday, and it was a great opportunity, was to get pm group, pm groups name out there, and we were able to discuss the grad programme, and I suppose my experience as well as a mechanical engineering intern and placement student. So I guess it was great opportunity to do that, and as well, in terms of leadership, I've gained experience over the years with leading other projects. With all of that knowledge and skills built up. It definitely helped with pm group and being a brand ambassador.
Dusty Rhodes 18:02
I had a boss of mine who gave me some really good advice. Once upon a time, he says, If you want to move up somewhere, you've got to tell the people upstairs that you want to move up, because if they don't know, they're going, Ah, they're happy where they are. Can I ask you though about I want to ask you about this Sean, but ina first time managing your time, because, I mean, you've got a whole load of time that you have to devote to studies, but now you've got kind of you doing the internship like Sean, and then you've got the whole student ambassador thing on top of it. What's your secret from managing your time?
Ena O'Driscoll 18:36
I will say first thing it is, it can be so hard being brutally honest here can be so hard to deal with. Really, what I find is, if I have, like, a list of things, either mentally or physically down on a piece of paper, of the things I actually need to get done, I find that just easy and then literally, I don't personally have to physically highlight things off to say, right, this is done. I can forget about it. Really starting some of the work early, whether that's like exam prep or, you know, sending emails off a bit earlier than what, let's say is necessary, or scheduling emails. All those kinds of things they do add up in the long term. And definitely with some of the assessments we've doing in college, it's some of a lot of it is, like project based. So we'd have a group project, and it's, I suppose, a matter of, like, relying on your teammates, and saying, Look, I know, let's say last week I was exceptionally busy. I was just flat out with multiple different things, assignments and projects and other external activities going on. And I just said, Look, I can't do as much here this week, or I can't do as much this like today. I will be doing my own work in the background. I just need a little bit basically, of a support. You know, they were very much so more than willing to help them, you know, saying, like, right? You know, get this off your blade. And, you know, so you under a little bit less pressure. And it's important to have people who are understanding, because it does make a difference in helping how to be able to time manage and being able to have that support and and, you know, if there's some time that they need more support then, and I find a little bit have a little bit less. Do I can take on there? If so, it's just a matter of, kind of finding that balance, I suppose, between the members. Yeah,
Dusty Rhodes 20:06
Sean, how about yourself? How do you manage your time? What are your tips and tricks?
Sean Ryan 20:10
Yeah. So I think I'm lucky with my internship placements, kind of that I got to stay on there part time, and they're very flexible with my hours and stuff. So I can come and go kind of as I please, and do as minimum of eight hours, but I can do more if I if I feel I have the time. And it's actually in my final year, our Friday is dedicated fully to our final year project. So we've no lectures on Friday. So that's kind of a day where I can need commit to my project, or I could go to work and do that. So I kind of go to work on the Friday and then commit my Saturday and Sunday to do my project work, which is great, and that flexibility. And also, I'm a student ambassador for Engineers Ireland for the second time this year, so I'm trying to organise events of that. And there was an article that went out in the Irish independent this year, and one of the other people that was featured in the article reached out to me about the South East Young Engineering Society, and I actually become the chairperson for that society this year. So I took on more than I this year again, and we're organising events and stuff. But in that it's great to have there's a committee of us with that we can all lean on. So if I kind of take a week off, I've other members there. They're organising. We've organised poke quiz and stuff. More organising a few site visits. And it's a great community to even be in, to have the various types of engineering as well.
Dusty Rhodes 21:41
Can I ask you about that? Because it's kind of, you have a huge amount on your plate, and it sounds like you're outgoing, like, seven days a week,
Sean Ryan 21:50
Even Saturday, I was up at the rugby match, and when the rugby match, 10,000 vaccines, the car going home, I whipping out my phone, typing up some bullet points of what I was going to put in my literature. Because, like, Oh, I'm taking Saturday off now. I was like, okay, commit on Sunday. Now, lots of work to be done.
Dusty Rhodes 22:06
Can I ask you both then? Because you both are, like, highly involved in this on a seven day a week basis. And when you're coming from secondary school and kind of going into university, and it's a whole new world, and it's gonna like, what seven days are you bananas? Do you find that it's just a whole load of work, but it's a means to an end to get a good job? Or is this something that you're just passionate about, and it's not work, it's just something that you enjoy so much you do it every day.
Sean Ryan 22:33
I think like enjoying is, is a real big part. Like the assignments we get is are interesting. And even in my college, I think all my modules this semester are 50% project, work, CA, and then an exam. So even that's great, you can break the camels back and get your assignments, and then your two hour exam was kind of almost your bulking build up your grade, but you're trying to almost go in knowing you've passed your module at least, and you can bulk it up then. So that's kind of helpful, like, so just kind of constantly working on the assignments that you're actually interested in, interacting with stuff. It's great see that stuff.
Dusty Rhodes 23:13
Brilliant, brilliant. So that's working well for you. And you've mentioned the social side of it. Sean, how's the social side of it for you?
Ena O'Driscoll 23:19
Similar to Sean. I'm involved in Engineers Ireland. I'm a student ambassador for the third year in a row with Engineers Ireland. So for my college, I was, I actually joined our equivalent of yes cork. So the young engineers society in in the Cork region. I was an MTM rep, I suppose. And this year, I've actually taken on the role of a pro, so public relations officer. So I've also taken off that job within our own Mechanical Biomedical Engineering Society. It's a great opportunity to be able to get my social media skills up to up to date and that and, and that's always fun. I suppose it's good. Like, I do, I do enjoy the, I suppose the scope of work and getting involved in the social aspects, I think they're really important. Like, personally, I think it's an important aspect to college. And I suppose, as you were saying, like having the different jumps, I suppose, going from secondary school to college, it's not college isn't all about work, work, work. The heads down, you know, it's, it's about, obviously, obviously, the academic aspect is so important. But ultimately, I think, have it finding that balance between getting a chance to obviously, do your academics, but also having a chance to socialise with your peers, because ultimately, in five years, five, six years down the line, you're going to be working with people. And you know, having being able to communicate and being able to socialise is just so important.
Dusty Rhodes 24:39
Do you find that it's easier to make friends with like minded people.
Ena O'Driscoll 24:45
Definitely.
Sean Ryan 24:47
Yeah, definitely.
Dusty Rhodes 24:48
Those of you mentioned as well Engineers Ireland and being part of the Young Engineers Society now, a lot of people kind of listening, especially who are thinking of engineering as a career, we kind of think, What the hell are you doing in a society you're. Still in college. How does this work? And what are the benefits of it?
Sean Ryan 25:03
Well, I think it's a kind of a social kind of group where with like minded people, and it's true, like we are the southeast society of the young engineers, like we're trying to organise site visits and stuff, and it great to give people the opportunity to actually see things in action, and get out of college and see what what they're doing in college, and what jobs they can get. And like we've we're planning to go to a stainless steel production place and a power plant, so even, like a wider range, like I'm doing automation engineering, but I've interest in various industries and stuff, and we're even planning on going to a an agricultural machinery building place. So that's really, like, my like, I see loads of stuff I'm interested in there. Like, but it's just grand to have the social side of it as well. I think even it's kind of lucky that with last semester in territory, we had our college work placement, so you're kind of able to build up money, and you don't have to work as much on the weekend because of that. So like in the, say, my previous four years, or three years, I would have been working on the weekends to make money to fund myself in college, where I had the nine months place, and that allowed for me to build up that money. So I don't need to do it the weekends now, and that's right at the time to commit to the college project work and stuff. It's kind of nearly a swap out that way.
Dusty Rhodes 26:27
Just so I'm clear then the placement that you have, is it a paid placement?
Sean Ryan 26:31
Yes, paid placement too.
Ena O'Driscoll 26:35
Yes, yeah, it is.
Dusty Rhodes 26:37
That changes everything, doesn't it good stuff.
Sean Ryan 26:40
Our college, I think were very encouraging some people you could interview for and they might want to pay and our college wouldn't like it to go there, even then they encourage us
Dusty Rhodes 26:51
Ena on the social side of things and sticking with the Engineers Ireland, the Young Engineer Society in your part of the country. Are there events local to you? And how do you find them useful?
Ena O'Driscoll 27:01
Definitely, there's loads of events every few weeks. So about two weeks, two, three weeks ago, we would have had a pub quiz. So I'm pretty sure,
Sean Ryan 27:09
Yeah, the Waterford team won the Water Town. Yeah. So it was Dublin, Waterford Cork and the Thomond region, which is like Limerick.
Ena O'Driscoll 27:23
So I suppose we all got together, and we were in my life, personally, I suppose Cork, we're in in a it's called Cafe de Peche. So it was a kind of Cafe Bar, kind of a, it's a bit of both. But anyway, it was great turnout. Anyway, that was great. And I suppose, unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it in the city hall nearby, they had a stall. And I suppose just it was a chance for, I suppose, young, young children, young children, students and their parents to kind of wander around and have a look and ask questions about engineering. And you know, what is it like to be involved in engineering, in whether college or engineers Ireland. So it was great opportunity to suppose socialise and being able to promote Engineers Ireland. In that regard, I even found that I was at the BT scientists awards last year. I stand at the steps and which is kind of engineers Ireland's sub committee, I suppose, aiming at primary school children and Ty and I was, I found that there was two other people with us that were working in engineers are full time jobs, but me and another guy were the ones can ask more questions, because I suppose we're younger and we're closer to age to those people, so we're nearly more approachable, and we had experience and stuff as well. So like, they're great to listen to you that way as well.
Dusty Rhodes 28:42
We seem to be talking a lot about internships and being part of Engineers Ireland, Young Engineers Society and everything, which is fantastic. The internships I didn't realise could be paid positions which kind of puts an almost completely different slant on it. But obviously, if you're going for that, then it kicks up the level of getting the internship in the first place. And I presume you have to go through an application process and then the interview process then as well. So I mean, do either of you have any tips for creating a standout CV? Yeah, as well.
Ena O'Driscoll 29:21
Actually, yesterday, I was only helping my sister update our own CV. So I've all the tips and tricks.
Definitely, what I found was from, let's say, from pm group side. I can suppose I can kind of talk about what they definitely look for in a ZV. I suppose anything that's like different, and I know it's very generic, but anything that will make you stand out, like any whether that's awards, volunteering experience, anything like, I suppose, anything that sets you apart from the average person. I don't know an average person, but like, I suppose something different, like, Yes, I never look out of it and getting involved in your, let's say, even within your own college, like being involved in different committees and being a student class rep, anything like that. I suppose it shows, even with the student class rep, it shows a bit of leadership volunteering. It shows you're able to go out there. You have to help, you are wanting to help for the benefit of the person, obviously being able to achieve, like scholarships or, I suppose any awards. It shows that, you know you're highly thought of, and I suppose it does set you apart from the average person, and you kind of give a bit of a wow factor. Then I suppose to to the company you're trying to get hired into.
Dusty Rhodes 30:31
So don't just go with the the usual facts. Try and get in something different in there. Sean with yourself?
Sean Ryan 30:37
Yeah, I kind of be the same approach, like I generally kind of, you know, look up what company you're interviewing for and try, I wouldn't never have the same CV. Even I'd depend on what job I'm playing for. I'd shape it slightly and try highlight the things in my CV that would be like that. So if it's more of a controls engineering role, I'd highlight more projects that I've done programming wise and building or designing per se, and also, like I found in my interview for Jabil for placement, that something that stood out to them was that as part of my college rugby team and rugby team for the club as well, like but even that itself shows like that you have teamwork and you can build together and even go to your training and stuff like your bit time management shows you're not just, you know, you could get great grades in college, but being able to even show that you can apply what you're learning is a big section. So I have, like, probably quarter my CV was a project section. Really,
Dusty Rhodes 31:37
I'm learning from both of you. So for example, if during my secondary school, I was working in McDonald's, there's no point in putting that onto the CV, because it's just like, it's not relevant, which is what Sean says. But if I was a team leader, or ended up being the youngest manager ever in a McDonald's thing, that's worth including, because then, as Ena says, that shows that you're a team leader and that you're excelling at something. So is that kind of a difference to think of?
Ena O'Driscoll 32:02
No, definitely.
Sean Ryan 32:03
Well, I think putting down your workplace and is important, like, I suppose I was kind of lucky that I was able to get into integer over summers and stuff and have the engineering experience. That was definitely a leg up. And I kind of it was close by like, but some people wouldn't have that like, so it's you got to be able to sell what you're gaining from whatever experience you have. So in most workplaces, you're going to be working in a team where it's Tesco or McDonald's or an engineering firm. So even emphasise that kind of stuff they are gaining that can apply in general to companies.
Ena O'Driscoll 32:37
Definitely,
Dusty Rhodes 32:38
Rather than just to say I was there for these three years that kind of a way. Yeah, exactly. Let me ask you about selling yourself, because what comes after a CV and an application is hopefully an interview. Everybody loves interviews, don't they?
What would you say Ena when you were doing interviews? What was your experience of it, and what was what question came up that you went, Oh, God,
Sean Ryan 34:34
I think my interview that I've had so far, and say, engineering terms have been quite relaxed, like for in terms of Integer, like, I was only really done one year of college, and I'm kind of just thinking about a friend of ours is like, oh, there's a big, massive medical device company close by, you should try sending your CV. So I sent in my CV, and I got called for an interview very soon, and we It wasn't, I wouldn't even call it an interview. It was more just a very informal chat. We walked around the facility, and we discussed things, and I I even asked questions. And the person I was working for was kind of over the projects team, so he would have had design engineers and automation engineers and stuff under him. And some of the questions I asked him, his kind of response was, oh, sure, that's kind of more Gary, you know more about that me. So it's kind of it felt very comfortable and early, and was very informal conversations, and we kind of discuss things. He can't even took it. Uh, you're in second year. You had, you're doing automation engineering. No one you've, you've had the balls I supposed to ask and for a job. And you're not even on placing or got to a certain stage in college, but you want to learn. So, like, I was offered, offered a job on the spot, like there and then in Java, it was kind of the same thing. Was very just more of a conversation than into they did ask, obviously, the general questions and but some of the things that even less technical questions, more generalised one like um project management and just good manufacturing practices, stuff, some things that are the basics and even your soft skills have just made to talk and communicate in a team and write emails in a certain formal way, like that's nearly as important as your technical skills. So it's nearly more the person than their skills that they're looking at, from my perspective,
Dusty Rhodes 34:34
Absolutely. So the top tip from both you then is just be yourself. And I think that makes sense, because if they like you as a person, well, then you don't have to pretend as much when you get the gig, and you can just be yourself and you get in you enjoy the job. For people who are listening and kind of looking at the CAO process, which is going to be coming up, just two quick questions for you on your experience when you got the course, and you went, Yes, I'm in. What were the first things that you needed to sort out?
Ena O'Driscoll 34:34
It was a matter of actually taking a moment and being able to be like, Wow, I actually accomplished this. And honestly that, like, when you read that piece of paper, you're almost in shock, and your hands are kind of shaking, and you know, to be able to say like and feel, take a moment and say to yourself, I did this. I actually did this. Like, and, you know, have a moment to be like, well done. Me Pat in the back. Because, I mean, the hard work you need to put in for leaving cert, the pressure constantly. You know, you're only as good as your last exam. The pressure is constant. And I suppose being able to actually appreciate yourself and go, you know, well done, you it's really important. And then I suppose really, it's a matter of, I thought, getting things ready, like, I mean, do you have, you know, do you have your supplies? And, you know, kind of seeing, figuring what, I suppose, what you kind of need to get, get you going, and, and I suppose it's nice as well. Then to, obviously take time to celebrate a bit as well, and, and that. So, definitely, yeah.
Dusty Rhodes 34:34
How about yourself and the interview thing? Any any weird questions come up,
Ena O'Driscoll 33:02
I suppose firstly, and I suppose it can be overlooked a little bit. And I remember getting advice from mentor, I suppose, is it your appearance and how you dress, like, being, you know, not wearing something very casual, you know, wearing something like, like a blazer or a shirt, or like, be smart, yeah, I don't know, some sort be smart and like, you know, you're here for a job for an engineering firm, in this case, and looking presentable and saying, right, I want to make a statement here. I suppose, then, when you're in the interview, I don't know, I always find that you need to, I suppose, shake the person's hand to say, look like i She I'm not going to stand off. Ish, I'm like, I'm here to, you know, I want to be here. Then talking. I always find that, you know, trying to connect with the person in some sort of way is really important, I suppose. Then you're it, you're kind of making it more of making it more per in a way personal. I'm going to say, I remember with one of my managers, when I first, let's say, interviewed. I did a phone I was a phone call interview because at the time that I was applying, but I remember talking to him, and he read my CV, and I had my background. I suppose, as a child, I would have loved drama, and doing my they're called lambda exams, so I would have done up to grade seven, and he actually picked up on it. He was like, Oh, you did like drama and like the lambda exams. And I was like, Yeah, I did. I was like, Yeah, though I loved drama, getting off on the stage, like, you know, whatever, acting out. And he was like, yeah, actually, I love singing, and I love, like, acting as well. I was in the play, and it was just, it was like, you know, we had a bit of a laugh, and it was a bit of a connection, like, it took away, then any kind of fear that I would have had, um, I suppose, you know, when you're trying to get everything out, and you're making sure you're making sure you're trying to get all I suppose the right thing said having that kind of personal connection, having a bit of a laugh, if possible. Now, obviously, with it being within reason, you don't want to be a comedian, but I suppose having that connection, as I said, definitely takes away from the nerves. Because I remember for my first few interviews, I used to always get so scared five minutes beforehand. Like I said, I always try and make some sort of connection or something that would be easy to talk about and that they'd have interest in. So I suppose definitely doing that in an interview would be really important. And I suppose that's what I found. I helped me be successful in a interview that I've done.
Sean Ryan 34:48
I was actually the year of the kind of COVID, leaving grades. I made the decision then. So I got my course and in Warford, and I chose that because it was close to home and all. And I was actually initially looking at Limerick, and I decided to, when I got my grades, that I done good my leaving grades. And I decided I'm not doing college online. I want to it's engineering. I want to see things hands on and do in person. So I deferred the year, and I worked on known transfers, warehouse operator. And then I came into the year after and started my college degree. So i That's why I made in it. My thing was a bit different of a situation. I had a whole year to think about and organise a good laptop. And early, I think I SPECT a laptop that was looked at some of the things as interesting, and something that I think is kind of amazing, or makes me always think about, is that I applied for the common entry engineer because we want to do engineering, but wasn't sure what I want to do, and mechanical engineering was actually honest, dear, I applied, and then it got taken off it in the span of me deferring it, and automation went on it, and automation is now what I'm doing. And I acting mechanical would have been the one I wouldn't want here, because I'm I'm not that great at drawing. Yeah, I'm more of a programmer than a drawer.
Dusty Rhodes 40:02
So the universe is talking, Sean, the universe is talking it's making things happen for you. I have one last question for each of you. Okay, if you're kind of going back just a few years and you were to give yourself advice your younger self advice when you were making that decision of filling out the CAO form, what would you say about choosing your current engineering discipline?
Sean Ryan 40:26
Well, I think even just a little bit further in, back into that where choosing your subjects for your leaving cert,
I chose all my subjects based on if they had a project or not. So I chose history, which is a massive project. Technology was something I was doing because it was, obviously, it was closed things engineering, and it was great. Got to build design things and build circuits. And then I also chose, even I was two ways of choosing a science subject of physics or ag science. And because there was a farmer. I did choose the Accenture because there was a bigger project element to it, but physics was probably going to be another great option that I was going to choose as well. So I didn't even dot prepared me for the level of the CA of er projectism, plumber, college and project work you do is important as that two hour exam you do 10 semester. So I think, if you like, if you're interested in working with your hands and problem solving, and not just, I suppose, learn as you do, more than rattling things off in your brain trying to write big, long essays. A lot of our exams are more short term.
Dusty Rhodes 41:37
And Ena it for yourself, what advice would you give your younger self as you were filling out that CAO form?
Ena O'Driscoll 41:44
Yeah, I suppose, like Sean was kind of saying this, all these are really, really important. And I definitely feel that doing engineering, and I suppose, and to use such a like hands on University in their way of like, I suppose, in how you do the different coursework. I did all sciences, I did biology, chemistry, physics, and I did apply maths. Definitely having the math side. I was, I was, you know, I was happy with and I loved the math side. But definitely, when it came to the project work, I was kind of like, I'm well over my depth, especially with drawings, like I again, being in an all girls school at the time, they didn't have anything like that, I suppose, facilitated towards people who want to do engineering. And I definitely did struggle. So I mean, if, especially if you're in the mixed school and you're, let's say, a woman in some if you'd like to get into engineering, I do recommend doing some of the more engineering practical based subjects. I definitely know a lot of my classmates would have said the same, and some of the girls would have had opportunities to do this, those kind of subjects that and which definitely benefited them. So I suppose, if I was doing my leaving cert a couple years down the line, I suppose my secondary school actually are implementing more of the engineering subjects next year my head and I definitely, would have definitely gone for those kind of subjects, which is great. I suppose, in there, I think, I believe they're the first female secondary school doing this. So like to take pride there in having attended it. But no definitely doing choosing subjects is really, really important. And also in terms of filling out the Cao, I know there's like, a level seven option, level eight option. And I think being able to put in courses from both those levels like for me personally, I had my level seven mechanical, my level eight mechanical, my level seven biomedical, and then my level eight biomedical, which was my second choice. And it was just it always gave me comfort during my leading search that I said, if I didn't get the points level eight. There's always a level seven I can fall back on within the college and work my way up. I have a friend who is who did his level seven in biomed engineering. He's gone. He did his level he's doing his level eight. So basically, you do three years for level seven, and then you join in with the third years who are doing level eight, and then finish off in your level eight, but he's going his step again and as doing his masters. So he's in like he'd been my year. Now, you know, for seeing him like he's an extra year on the rest of us, I say, or whomever does level seven, and when joining the level eight, they just have that extra year. And even knowing different more hands on knowledge again, which I think really benefits them. So I wouldn't discourage level seven, it's I'd actually really endorse it. I mean, if I had my time again, like I actually wouldn't mind have done minding, have done the level seven, I think it's a great opportunity. And again, the points are lower. It's easier to it's easier to get the points, which is also it takes a lot of stress off and myself knowing that I had that option, worst case scenario, if everything went belly up on the day of the exams, I had that fallback that I knew and that I could do that. So I definitely recommend to everyone to literally, to sign up for your level sevens and your level eight. It's just equally as important.
Sean Ryan 44:56
Yeah, most places you can work up, which is great. And just actually, you nod to that point, a friend of mine took the approach of the level seven, then to level eight. And in our college you could do a mechanical, no, not all, course, but mechanic in particular, you could do your level seven, then just one year add on to get your level eight and mechanical manufacturing. But he even found that although it was only four years, they didn't get to do the workplace, and they got to have two college final year projects for level seven and level eight, so that even in an interview like he two projects that they were taken ownership of, and that was their work and kind of no one else's. And that's a great thing when it comes to even a CV. And even in choosing subjects, like I'd always choose the higher level maths, because even a pass, you get the extra points, and it prepares you more so far the engineering, like there is maths and engineering, no one can deny it. So your might as well do the higher level, because you get the extra points, and it's you know, to get you in a pass, you get the x points. Why not? In my school, we even found that there was a girl school in the same town as us, and they, some people in our class would have, well, dare to do music and Home Ec, and their students would count down to us and on technology and DCG and stuff. So like, even if you have the opportunity, look for it because and even like science, people can then done as well because it didn't do in that skill. So if you come down and even look at what options are available to you when you're doing your CEO and your final, your fifth, sixth year, because opportunities like that, of you could go to different school or do something your own time, your own subject is great, and it might benefit in future.
Dusty Rhodes 46:39
Listen, let's leave it at that for now. To learn more about Ena and Sean's experiences, you can find links to their profiles and the Engineers Ireland, Young Engineers Society in the description area of this podcast. But for now, Ena O' Driscoll and Sean Ryan, thank you both so much for sharing your experience.
Ena O'Driscoll 46:56
Thanks Dusty,
Sean Ryan 46:57
Thanks for having us.
Dusty Rhodes 46:58
If you know a student who would appreciate these insights. Please do share this podcast with them. They can find it simply by searching for Engineers Ireland, wherever they listen to podcast. However, episode was produced by dustpod.io for Engineers Ireland, for more information on engineering or career development advice, you can find a wealth of resources on the website at engineersireland.ie. Until next time for myself Dusty Rhodes. Thank you for listening.