NCI Blog

Top Tips for Exams

Posted by Gerard McQuillan on 05 May 2016
Summertime is just around the corner, which means it's study season! The finishing line is within touching distance - but there’s still just the small matter of exams to get through first. That's why we here at National College of Ireland have put together our top tips to get you through your exams.
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Top Tips for a Stress Free Life

Posted by Gerard McQuillan on 20 January 2016
Although college can be one of the best times of your life, it can also be a very stressful period with exams, assignments, additional responsibilities and the change in your routine. Fear not however! We’ve put together our top 3 tips for a stress free life.
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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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College Life: More Than A Qualification

Posted by Emma Henderson on 07 October 2015
At this time of year we turn the NCI blog over to our Students’ Union executive and ask them for some words of advice for our new students. Here, the 2015/2016 SU President, Robert Rodrigues, shares his thoughts on college life.
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Practical Tips for Creating a Career Strategy

Posted by Emily Ferns on 09 June 2015
Getting caught up in the daily tasks of the 9-to-5 grind can be a great distraction from developing a strategic career goal. While focusing on the here and now it’s hard to take a step back and consider the bigger picture.
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Will a masters degree give you that competitive edge?

Posted by Emma Henderson on 29 May 2015
In a competitive jobs market, it’s important to give yourself that extra edge over other applicants. And one of the best ways to achieve this is so straightforward: do a masters.
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Job Magnets: A Degree in Computing

Posted by Owen Barnes on 09 March 2015
One of Ireland’s largest industries, the IT and computing market requires a constant flow of highly trained graduates with the necessary skillsets.
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House Hunting: Past, Present and Future Advice

Posted by Owen Barnes on 23 February 2015
NCI's Digital Marketing Intern, Owen Barnes, gives you five tips that will help you quickly find great accommodation while studying abroad There are many benefits of studying in Dublin, however, in the current market the constant pursuit of student accommodation can be a bore and at times an unrelenting struggle.
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Top Ten Rules of Successful Sales Negotiations

Posted by Emily Ferns on 04 December 2014
David Malone, Associate Lecturer on NCI's Diploma in National and International Selling, shares his tips Sales professionals need to be well versed in the art of negotiation skills these days as more and more people are researching online before they commit to a purchase. As an employer, you will want to know that once that crucial sales meeting has been set up, your sales team will deliver a win-win situation.
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Five Important Life Lessons That Everyone Can Learn From the Dublin Marathon

Posted by Robert Ward on 20 October 2014
You won't even need your runners to benefit from this advice, says NCI's Director of Marketing Rob Ward. People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But don't think that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. If you're going to while away the years, it's far better to live them with clear goals and fully alive then in a fog, and I believe running helps you to do that. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life — and for me, for writing as whole. I believe many runners would agree,” Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.
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