Jennifer Lehane

During my six-week work experience placement at Ger McCarthy Architects, as part of my full-time college studies, I developed valuable skills and gained a deeper understanding of working in a professional architectural environment. I quickly integrated into the team and built strong working relationships with colleagues, demonstrating good communication and teamwork. Throughout my placement, I learned a range of skills including basic CAD drawing, preparing and organizing project documentation, assisting with model-making, and gaining insight into planning processes and client presentations. This experience helped me build confidence, improve my organizational skills, and deepen my passion for architecture and design.

From mid-May to August, I worked full-time as part of the floor and door team at Slammer nightclub, a busy seasonal venue. Working six nights a week from 11 PM to 5 AM, I gained valuable experience in high-pressure, fast-paced environments, developing strong teamwork, time management, and customer service skills. My main responsibilities included clearing and maintaining the club floor to ensure a clean and safe environment, as well as working on the door welcoming guests, managing queues, and helping to create a positive first impression. I loved meeting new people from all over the world and learned how to handle a wide range of situations with confidence and professionalism. This role strengthened my communication skills, adaptability, and energy levels, all of which I am excited to bring to new opportunities abroad.

During the summer 2023, I worked seasonally at Primark in Cork, five days a week, before returning to full-time college in September. This fast-paced retail environment gave me the opportunity to develop strong customer service skills, as well as experience in stock management, working on tills, maintaining shop floor standards, and assisting customers with queries and purchases. I learned the importance of working efficiently as part of a team, staying organised during busy periods, and maintaining a high level of attention to detail. The experience also helped strengthen my communication skills, adaptability, and ability to handle a high-volume workload, all of which I am keen to continue building in future roles.

Over the summer 2022, I worked seasonally at Dunnes Café, six days a week, before returning to school in September. This role gave me valuable experience working in a busy, high-pressure environment, especially as it was during the reopening phase after Covid-19 restrictions. Part of my duties included checking customers' Covid certificates, which taught me how to stay calm, professional, and polite when dealing with difficult or upset customers. I also learned a variety of practical skills such as making coffee, preparing sandwiches, operating the tills, clearing tables, and maintaining high hygiene standards. This experience greatly improved my customer service skills, resilience, and ability to stay composed and efficient during busy and sometimes challenging periods.

Over the Christmas period during Covid-19, I worked as a Covid Safety Assistant (Capacity Monitor) at Dunnes Stores for one month. My main responsibilities included monitoring the number of customers entering and exiting the store to ensure it stayed within the government's capacity guidelines, checking that customers wore face coverings, and promoting safe social distancing practices. This role required me to stay alert and professional at all times, often dealing with large crowds and handling situations where customers could be stressed or frustrated. I developed strong communication skills, learned how to manage potentially difficult interactions calmly and respectfully, and maintained a welcoming and reassuring presence at the store entrance. Working in this role during such a busy and sensitive period strengthened my ability to stay composed under pressure and highlighted the importance of clear communication and customer care.

My first job was working as a Painter and Apartment Maintenance Assistant during the summer while I was still in school. I worked for my father's property business, helping to paint, clean, and prepare apartments for new tenants. This seasonal role taught me the value of hard work, attention to detail, and taking pride in completing tasks to a high standard. It was a great experience to earn my own money at a young age, which helped me build a strong sense of responsibility and independence early on. I also learned how to manage my time efficiently, work both independently and as part of a small team, and maintain high levels of cleanliness and presentation in a professional environment.