The National Career Skills Competition 2025 finished with a ceremony celebrating the 1,400 entrants from around Ireland in the Clock Tower, Department of Education on the 7th of May. The competition calls for students to enter with details of work experience and a career investigation they have undertaken in Transition Year or in their Senior Cycle years of school. Read more about it here.
One of the students celebrated was Avamay Broderick from Kilrush Community School in the Tourism & Hospitality category, supported by Fàilte Ireland. Avamay completed her work experience in JW Marriott Grosvenor House London, a prestigious 5-star hotel.
We caught up with Avamay for her reflections and hopes for the future:
Q1 Where did you first hear about the work experience portal on TourismCareers.ie?
I first heard about the work experience portal on TourismCareers.ie in school from my career guidance counsellor. She told us about the amazing National Career Skills Competition and when I saw that there was a tourism category I knew I had the perfect experience to write about.
Q2 Where did you complete your Work Experience?
I completed my work experience block in JW Marriott Grosvenor House London. Coming from the west of Ireland, when the opportunity arose to go to such a distinguished and recognised 5-star Hotel in Mayfair, I was extremely excited.
The hotel has a capacity of 496 bedrooms and is home to one of the largest function rooms in Europe, The Great Room, which can hold events for up to 2,000 people. The hotel opened its doors in 1929 and is associated with holding some of London's most prestigious events. Seeing the preparation that goes into setting up one of these events is something I will never forget.
Throughout the week I had the opportunity to work alongside and shadow associates in the finance, front office, conference and banqueting, housekeeping and culinary departments. I also got the chance to speak with leaders in each of these departments, I got to hear about their journeys in hospitality and how they have gotten to where they are in their careers today, the conversations I had with all of these people really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities that are available in this exciting industry.
Q3 Did any part-time or seasonal work opportunities arise out of your work experience in tourism?
As I have mentioned I am from the west of Ireland and completed this work experience block in London, unfortunately my mam isn’t quite ready to let me move to London for the summer just yet! At the moment, I am working the weekends in a local restaurant and plan to do so throughout the summer before beginning 5th year at the end of August. Since returning from my work experience in London, my eyes have been opened to the industry's opportunities. The knowledge I gained and the career skills I developed throughout the week will always stand by me in whatever I choose to do.
Q4 Do you have any advice for fellow students who are considering undertaking a work experience placement with a tourism business?
My Advice would be to definitely go for it! You won't know unless you try it. I am discovering that the hospitality industry can open numerous doors to many varied career paths, whether it's face to face or behind the scenes. It's an amazing way to meet and work with people from different backgrounds and career paths, it's a great way to push yourself out of your comfort zone as well as build a varied skill set before you enter college. While in Grosvenor House I was given the opportunity to talk to a number of different people, everyone I spoke to was welcoming and encouraged me to ask questions which they were more than happy to answer. Don't be shy! Throughout the week I found myself asking questions more freely than I ever had before and gained more confidence around speaking with other people.
Q5 What is next for you?
I am currently in my last few weeks of Transition Year in Kilrush Community School and after a memorable year I will start 5th year at the end of August. I'm sure like many other people my age, I find myself being asked the same question, what would I like to do in college. I have been very fortunate this year and got the opportunity to complete a number of different work experience blocks, from hospitality to childcare and even healthcare where I was lucky to get a place in Introduction to hospital Life Programme at The Mater Misericordiae University Hospital Dublin.
I have enjoyed all my work placements in transition year, and while I am still not fully sure what I would like to study in college, hospitality is on the list. One thing I know for sure is I would like to travel and pursue a career which will allow me to do this and a career in hospitality can be your passport. I am lucky to have a brother and sister in hospitality in London and Australia, and I am sure they will help lead me in the right direction and will always be happy to lend me some advice. Long story short I'm not fully sure what's next, but I definitely have some ideas!
Q6 What did you enjoy most about your time in work experience?
To tell the truth I enjoyed every second of my work experience in the Hotel. It was all so new and exciting to see. Living and working among the hustle and bustle of London was a highlight, and being able to work in such a prestigious hotel really topped it off. I loved every day I spent in the hotel and particularly enjoyed the day I spent in the Pastry Kitchen, it was amazing to work alongside such skilled and highly trained chefs who show such passion and dedication towards their job, I loved the sense of speed and urgency in the kitchen and watching how well all the chefs worked and communicated with each other. It was also amazing to see how each of the chefs have their own unique style and expertise and how meticulous they are with their work.
On this particular day I helped the chefs’ plate up 1,400 dessert plates for an event taking place that evening. It was such a great experience. I also loved seeing the opportunities that exist in hospitality upon finishing third level education. Marriott offers graduates the opportunity to join their Voyage Management development program which provides graduates with hands-on discipline specific training at a Marriott managed hotel, alongside that the program offers networking and learning opportunities. It is an exciting program if you are considering a career in hospitality.
Find Work Experience options in Tourism & Hospitality with over 180 businesses here. For everything you need on careers in tourism & hospitality, check out TourismCareers.ie.