Emma Henderson
Recent Posts
Futureproof Your Career In 7 Steps
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 29 February 2016
Futureproofing your career sounds complicated...but it really isn’t. It’s about recognising that the world of work is constantly evolving, and making sure you’re ahead of the curve. It’s about paying attention to what’s happening in your industry, and making smart choices so that your skill set, and your network of contacts, is up to date and relevant.
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Learning with Friends: A Case Study
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 26 February 2016
There are lots of benefits to studying with friends - as this Stellar Magazine interview with three NCI students shows: Niamh O’Neill, 31, did a course with friends Niamh and Jess. “I did a professional certificate in human resource management in National College of Ireland (NCI), with two of my friends,” says Niamh O’Neill.
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Early Childhood Learning: Tummy Time Tips for Your Baby
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 15 February 2016
Tummy time is essential for your baby’s development. But why, and what exactly is it? Our 0-2 Years Programme Coordinator Marion Byrne, from NCI’s Early Learning Initiative, has some tips for parents for getting your little one comfy on his or her tum! What is tummy time? Quite simply, this is when you place your baby on their stomach on a firm flat surface, such as a blanket or mat on the floor.
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Have your say in the Irish Survey of Student Engagement 2016!
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 10 February 2016
1,000 Financial Services Apprenticeships Announced!
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 27 January 2016
Financial Services Ireland (FSI), the Ibec group that represents the financial services sector, has announced the creation of 1,000 new apprenticeships as part of the International Financial Services Apprenticeship Initiative. 220 apprenticeships will be offered this September and FSI expects to deliver 1,000 placements by 2020.
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NCI's Early Years Educational Programme Set to Expand in Dublin's Docklands
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 10 December 2015
An Irish education programme that has been proven to help close the educational divide between richer and poorer families - the only one of its kind outside of the USA – is set to expand, thanks to support from Ireland’s investment fund industry.
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Future of HR Industry Event hosted by NCI and CIPD
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 25 November 2015
This week, CIPD Ireland and National College of Ireland jointly hosted a HR Leadership event to address the future of HR in Ireland, after dramatic changes in recent years.
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How To Prepare For An Interview: Pre-Interview Tips and Techniques
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 16 November 2015
It can be a source of great frustration for interview panels that many candidates fail to do even the most basic advance preparation for an interview. Give yourself an advantage by doing your homework and your research: the better prepared you are, the more in control you will feel and the less likely you are to succumb to your nerves. We caught up with Caroline Kennedy, Careers Officer at National College of Ireland (above), to find out how to prep for an interview like a pro. 1) Dissect the job spec and anticipate likely questions: Take the job and person specification apart - know how your qualifications, skills and experience can benefit the employer, and match them to the job description. Caroline says: “Use online resources like Glassdoor and gradireland’s Inside buzz - they give interviewees a great insight into the likely questions and style of questions from others who have been through the process.” 2) Use LinkedIn to help you with your research: Find out who is going to be interviewing you and research them on LinkedIn; you can view their professional history, their education, background and skills. You can also use LinkedIn to discover who else is working in this role and area: this will give you an insight into the career trajectories within the organisation, and highlight any missing qualifications or skills gaps you may have, so you are prepared to address these at interview. Caroline's top tip? “Use the LinkedIn alumni tool to see if there are other graduates from NCI working there. They could be very happy to assist with any a questions you might have.” 3) Know your product (that’s you!): Know why they should pick you. Analyse your strengths, weaknesses, academic performance, career interests, career plans, work experiences, skills and competencies. Own your story and be confident about why you should be picked over and above the other candidates interviewing. 4) Research the Company: You'd be amazed at how many people fall at this hurdle. Don’t just give a standard answer about how they are a big company with a good reputation and a strong training and development package… Use your networks - family, friends, lecturers, careers staff - together with their company website, news articles and social media channels to prepare strong, genuine and engaging reasons for why you want to work for them: a. What is unique about the employer, what is their positioning in market in relation to key competitors b. Company growth/success c. Awards won d. Particular products or services you admire e. Particular company initiatives you admire - marketing campaign, community involvement, training programs f. Reputation of key leaders in the business g. Is there something about their values that attracts you? h. Something specific about the training and development or career prospects i. Attend careers fairs or presentations on campus, speak to the representatives and get an insight into the company, culture, quality of work, progression opportunities and use this information in the interview. Caroline’s advice? “Follow them on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter and see what they have been posting about recently; this gives you an insight into what the company views as current or important.” 5) Have some small talk prepared for the walk to the interview: first impressions are so important and having been collected at reception the trip to the interview room can last for 3 or 4 minutes. Be ready to engage in small talk during this time – it is very awkward to be in a lift or walking somewhere with your interviewer with absolutely no idea what to say, and it is very hard to recreate this first impression once the official interview starts. Caroline stresses: “Everything you say should make you look friendly, intelligent and employable – and that goes for the small talk, too! Prepare a few comments about the building, the weather, a sporting event or the news of the day.”
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Congratulations to the Class of 2015! #NCIgrad2015
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 12 November 2015
The 2015 graduation was the biggest and busiest in the 60+ year history of National College of Ireland! The event, held in college’s neighbouring Convention Centre in Dublin, saw a record number of 2400 people attend in total, with students graduating from 48 courses.
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Web Summit Careers Night: Overview and Insights!
Posted by
Emma Henderson on 06 November 2015
The Web Summit’s Careers Night promised a free evening of inspiration to help people plan and progress their careers. NCI’s Orla O'Sullivan from the Careers & Employability team was there and taking notes!
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