Podcast Series Career Conversations
Welcome to Series 1 of Career Conversations!
DCU Careers Service brings you Career Conversations, a podcast series that unpacks and explains how to advance your career. Episodes focus on how to get hired, with panel discussions on developing your career, as well as interviews with employers and entrepreneurs.
Our guests are experts in their fields and we are delighted to invite debate, encourage rounded discussions and share opinions on selected topics.
Available now on Spotify, Apple and other podcast platforms!
Episode 16: Your Early Career as a Second Level Teacher
Sam Conroy Digital Learning Lead, DDLETB joins Siobhán Murphy, DCU Careers Consultant to unpack what to expect in your early years as a qualified second level teacher - how to manage being involved in extracurricular activities, keeping your focus on lesson planning and facilitating learning in the classroom. The impact of curriculum development and the approach you need to succeed as a teacher are also discussed.
Sam shares her own career story: How her career has progressed from being a busy (often too busy) music teacher and how her love of technology has brought her to her current role.
Episode 16 was recorded on 23rd July.
Episode 15: How to Get Hired as a Teacher
If you are seeking a Teaching position either at Primary or Second Level, this episode is made for you.
Sam Conroy, Digital Learning Lead, DDLETB and Elaine Daly, DCU Careers Consultant, join Siobhán Murphy to drill down on what you need to do to succeed at interview.
Episode 15 was recorded on 23rd July.
Episode 14: Career Choices - Joining the Family Business
The family business landscape in Ireland is significant and is at the heart of every town and village in the country. 64% of Irish firms are family businesses and when we include agriculture, this rises to over 80%, generating over 50% of GDP and more than 50% of our employment.
This week we are exploring the option of joining the family business as a career choice. Siobhán Murphy, DCU Careers Advisor is joined by Eric Clinton, Associate Professor in Entrepreneurship in DCU and Director of the National Centre for Family Business, DCU Business School to discuss this topic.
Episode 14 was recorded on 11th June. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 13: Career Choices - Train to be a Solicitor
The legal profession is one of the oldest in the world and yet remains one of the most in demand and respected professions. Listen to this episode to find out how you can become a Solicitor.
This week’s guest is Ian Ryan, Traineeship Executive with the Law Society of Ireland. Ian joins presenter Siobhán Murphy to talk about how to train to become a Solicitor - the entry routes, the FE1 entrance exams and securing a Traineeship with a Law Practice. Solicitors are professionally trained to provide clients with skilled legal advice and representation on all legal matters. Most solicitors work in private practice, but, commercial and industrial organisations also employ solicitors, as does the public sector.
Ian explains the attributes of a good solicitor and how the training in Blackhall Place (Law Society) provides students with the practical skills needed to practice law successfully.
Ian’s Bio: Ian studied Computer Science after secondary school and worked in the I.T. industry for 9 years. He then passed the FE-1s and completed a training contract in Clonmel, County Tipperary. Following this, he worked as a solicitor in New Ross, County Wexford for 9 years prior to taking up his current role in 2016. As a solicitor, Ian has worked in general practice carrying out work in conveyancing, family law, wills and probate, as well as litigation, including civil and criminal.
Episode 13 was recorded on 9th June. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 12: Career Choice - The Joys and Challenges of a Nursing Degree
Imagine completing your final year nursing internship during pandemic. Well, that is the lived reality of our final year nursing students!
Sinéad Kearns, a final year student on the BSc Nursing (General) programme here in DCU, joins presenter Siobhán Murphy, to explain her career choice and her journey over the last 4 years. She describes the experience of working as an intern during the pandemic and her own personal story of contracting the Covid 19 virus.
Episode 12 was recorded on 3rd June. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 11: Career Planning - What It Is and How to Go About It
We cannot plan for everything. There are always challenges. By being prepared and having the confidence to take opportunities, doors can open that you could never plan for. This episode emphasises the role of self awareness and how the key to unlocking your career plan is by firstly knowing yourself.
Careers can span over 40 years of our lives so it is important to consider it in terms of our wider life satisfaction. In this episode, DCU Careers Advisor, Elaine Daly joins presenter Siobhán Murphy to examine this big topic. Critically, Siobhán and Elaine discuss that we do not need to plan out 40 years of working life, but by chunking it down into 10-15 year blocks can be a more manageable approach. Career management approaches are explored to explain how you can manage career planning on a rolling basis.
Episode eleven was recorded on 14th May. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 10: Career Choices - Novartis Clinical Trials Project Management Explained
Ever wonder how Clinical Trials are managed and how you can advance your career in this area? From test tube to market can take 10 to 12 years, so Clinical Trials are complex, multi-faceted projects that require an extensive range of skills and personnel.
In this episode, Siobhán Murphy, DCU Careers Advisor is joined by Mairéad Lyons, Group Lead, Clinical Project Management and Béibhinn Ní Dhonnchadha, Graduate Associate, Clinical Operations Specialist both based in Novartis Global Services Centre, Dublin.
Mairéad and Béibhinn explain how human clinical trials work - the typical duration of a trial, what is involved with managing clinical trials and the diversity of skills involved.
Episode ten was recorded on 12th May. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 9: The How and Why of Cover Letters
An Employer wants to know three things - can you do the job, will you do the job and why do you want to work for them? The Cover Letter provides the answers. Listen to this episode to find our how to make your Cover Letter stand out from the crowd.
In this episode, Siobhán Murphy, Careers Advisor is joined by her colleague and fellow Careers Advisor, Sharon Burke, to unpack Cover Letters. They discuss the importance and relevance of Cover Letters in a competitive jobs market.
Episode nine was recorded on 12th May. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
Episode 8: The Future of Work is Now!
AI, Automation and Machine Learning: Find out what you need to know and what steps you can take now to build your abilities to make yourself continually ready and relevant in the workplace.
In this episode of Careers Conversations, Career Advisor Siobhan Murphy is joined on the line by David Collings, Professor of HRM and Associate Dean for Research at DCU Business School, along with Brian Harney, Associate Professor of Strategy and HRM at DCU Business School.
Listen to this fast moving conversation to discover the likely impact of AI, Automation and Machine Learning on the world of work, and the importance of career management as a core skill to navigate the Future of Work. The Gig Economy is also explained, along with the usefulness of Microcredentials.
Explore Your Interest in the Future of Work: Download Enabling the Workforce of the Future – The Role of Learning and Development. This research was carried out by Professor David Collings & Assistant Professor John McMackin from DCU Business School.
Episode eight was recorded remotely on 29th April. Shownotes and Guest bios for this episode are available here.
Episode 7: How to Become a Company Secretary (Governance)
Are you thinking of a Career where your interests in Law and Business intersect? Working as a Company Secretary could just be the career for you!
In this episode of Careers Conversations, Career Advisor Siobhan Murphy is joined by John Burns (ICSA), Dara Shine (pursuing qualifications) and Claire O’Brien (Senior Company Secretary) to unpack what this profession is all about. The panel discusses how best to approach this career, the qualifications that are necessary and the attributes that will help you to succeed.
Episode seven was recorded on 4th March. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
This episode was produced with the assistance of Kate Dowling (Final Year Communication Studies Student).
Episode 6: Career Transition
Working your way up the career ladder to realise you’re on the wrong one? Listen to this episode to prepare for a change in career. Career Conversations is presented by Siobhan Murphy, DCU Careers Advisor.
In this episode of Career Conversations, our guest is Sheila Barr, a Careers Advisor specialising in the Springboard Programme. Siobhan and Sheila discuss the topic of career transitioning - how best to approach a change in career and the struggles to overcome. They provide useful tips on how to tailor your CV and LinkedIn to give you the best shot at moving into your desired field.
Episode six was recorded on 30th January. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
This episode was produced with the assistance of Maeve Fortune (Second Year Communication Studies Student).
Episode 5: Your Degree: Your CV
This episode features a roundtable discussion, with DCU Careers Advisors - Siobhan Murphy, Elaine Daly and Venita Murphy. The panel examine how the knowledge and skills from your degree can sharpen the focus of your CV, to more fully illustrate your talents and abilities and make it more attractive to prospective employers. The merits of different CV formats is also discussed. The episode is rounded off with a discussion on portfolio sites and in particular, what you should consider when developing your Linkedin profile.
This episode builds on episode one “CVs” which explains how to draft your CV, so we recommend that you listen to Episode 1 first.
Episode 5 was recorded on 20th February. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
This episode was produced with the assistance of Conor Doyle (Final Year Communications Student).
Episode 4: Deiseanna Fostaíochta san Aontas Eorpach
Labhraíonn Eimear Ní Bhroin, an tOifigeach Gnóthaí Teanga in Oifigí an Choimisiúin Eorpaigh i mBaile Átha Cliath le Catríona Dowd, DCU, mar gheall ar dheiseanna fostaíochta in institiúidí an Aontais Eorpaigh. Tugann sí léargas ar a bhfuil ar fáil, agus tugann sí treoir le cuidiú leis an phróiseas eacaíochta.
Episode 4 was recorded on March 10th 2020. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
It was produced with the assistance of Kate Dowling (Final Year Communications Student).
Episode 3: EU Careers - Why and How?
Why should you consider a career in the EU Institutions and most importantly how do you go about it?
In this episode, Careers Advisor Siobhan Murphy sits down with Eimear Ní Bhroin, Language Affairs Officer European Commission Office, and Eoin Lavelle, Third Secretary Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to discuss the many opportunities available to work in the EU. Language skills and standards are explained, as well as the many new and emerging opportunities for those with Irish language skills.
Eimear and Eoin share their insights as to the benefits of working in the EU and the local supports available here in Ireland to help you explore a career as well as guidance on recruitment and selection.
Critical listening for anyone with a passion for the EU and Ireland’s membership.
Episode 3 was recorded on March 10th 2020. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
It was produced with the assistance of Kate Dowling (Final Year Communications Student).
Episode 2: Building Career Resilience
The only certainty is uncertainty. We have a full house in the DCU Careers Podcast for this episode! Siobhán Murphy, DCU Careers Advisor, is joined by:
- Aisling Fagan, DCU Student Union Vice-President for Welfare and Equality
- Sheila Barr, DCU Careers Advisor, specialising in the Springboard+ Programme
- Paul King, Assistant Professor in the Institute of Education and member of the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland
More relevant than ever in such uncertain times, the panel provides advice on how to keep perspective so you don’t feel overwhelmed by circumstances. They give their best tips on how to build up your career resilience, as well as discussing useful techniques such as mindfulness.
Episode 2 was recorded on February 13th 2020 before the Covid-19 Crisis gained momentum in Ireland. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
It was produced with the assistance of Maeve Fortune (Second Year Communication Studies Student).
Episode 1: CVs
Listen to Siobhan Murphy, Careers Advisor, talking to you about the fundamentals of creating a strong and engaging CV so you can be competitive when applying for jobs.
Episode one was recorded on 20th February 2020. Shownotes for this episode are available here.
This episode was produced with the assistance of Conor Doyle (Final Year Communications Student).
We hope you find this series useful and if you have any ideas on topics you would like us to cover, please get in touch at careers@dcu.ie.