Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Training and Teaching Others Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Getting Information Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• Coaching and Developing Others Identifying the developmental needs of others and coaching, mentoring, or otherwise helping others to improve their knowledge or skills.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.

The Work

A facilitator is responsible for planning, organising and conducting processes that bring people together for the purpose of achieving a common goal, such as workshops, meetings, planning sessions, training sessions, seminars, retreats and individual coaching sessions.

These can be for youths or adults, or take place in a range of environments from business to community settings.

Facilitators may also develop, design and implement training programmes and resource materials for these activities.

The facilitator acts as a guide. Their role is to help people to progress through a process together. It is not to give opinions, or to act as the knowledge source.

The facilitator's role is to help draw opinions and knowledge out of others and to help people to participate in the process of learning or planning.

The facilitator must remain neutral and should never take sides, where there are opposing viewpoints.

Facilitators are focused on the process, rather than the outcomes of that process.

Tasks and Activities

Duties may vary depending on the type of session being facilitating, as well as the type of employer or client:

• Identifying key aims and outcomes of programme / meeting /event
• Agreeing with client / management appropriate approach
• Establishing ground rules
• Ensuring that group members feel comfortable participating
• Developing a structure that allows for all ideas to be heard
• Keeping the group on topic and moving forward
• Resolving group conflict that may occur
• Use of appropriate evaluation methods to prepare summary reports and evaluate outcomes of the process
• Ensuring that participants feel ownership of ideas and decisions
• Supporting participants in the process

Facilitators may be employed on a part-time, full-time or contractual basis as in-house employees or outside contractors.

Organisations employing facilitation skills include:

• Community and not-for profit organisations
• Public sector and government departments
• Private sector business
• School boards
• Local authorities
• Colleges and universities
• Cultural groups and associations

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Provide feedback to students, using positive reinforcement techniques to encourage, motivate, or build confidence in students.
• Teach students study skills, note-taking skills, and test-taking strategies.
• Review class material with students by discussing text, working solutions to problems, or reviewing worksheets or other assignments.
• Provide private instruction to individual or small groups of students to improve academic performance, improve occupational skills, or prepare for academic or occupational tests.
• Assess students' progress throughout tutoring sessions.
• Schedule tutoring appointments with students or their parents.
• Monitor student performance or assist students in academic environments, such as classrooms, laboratories, or computing centers.
• Organise tutoring environment to promote productivity and learning.
• Participate in training and development sessions to improve tutoring practices or learn new tutoring techniques.
• Develop teaching or training materials, such as handouts, study materials, or quisses.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Enterprising

Enterprising people like situations that involve using resources for personal or corporate economic gain. Such people may have an opportunistic frame of mind, and are drawn to commerce, trade and making deals. Some pursue sales and marketing occupations. Many will eventually end up owning their own business, or in management roles in larger organisations. They tend to be very goal-oriented and work best when focused on a target. Some have an entrepreneurial inclination.

Social

The Social person's interests focus on interacting with the people in their environment. In all cases, the Social person enjoys the personal contact with other people in preference to the impersonal dealings with things, data and ideas found in other groups.

Many will seek out positions where there is direct contact with the public in some advisory role, whether a receptionist or a counsellor. Social people are motivated by an interest in different types of people and like diversity in their work environments. Many are drawn towards careers in the caring professions and social welfare area, whilst others prefer teaching and other 'informing' roles.

Administrative

Administrative people are interested in work that offers security and a sense of being part of a larger process. They may be at their most productive under supervisors who give clear guidelines and while performing routine tasks in a methodical and reliable way.

They tend to enjoy clerical and most forms of office work, where they perform essential administrative duties. They often form the backbone of large and small organisations alike. They may enjoy being in charge of office filing systems, and using computers and other office equipment to keep things running smoothly. They usually like routine work hours and prefer comfortable indoor workplaces.

There are many pathways into a career in Teaching, Grouwork, and Workshop facilitation. 

Training & Development Pathways

FET Centre Traineeship: Training & Development 'Train the Trainer', Youth Work, Equestrian International Instructor, Sports Recreation and Exercise, Outdoor Activity Instructor in centres around Ireland at NFQ Level 5-6 Search FET Courses

FET PLC Courses: Youth & Community work, Applied Social Studies, Youth Activities Worker, Foundation Teaching, Pre-Teaching and Education Studies, Teaching - Pre-University, Outdoor Adventure Management , Advanced Outdoor Activity Instructor at NFQ Levels 5-6 Search FET PLC Courses

Apprenticeship: There are no Apprenticeships currently in the area of facilitation/ Teaching, some may have elemnts of developing allied presentation and promotion skills, qualifying may offer you the occupational skill to progress with future facilitation, teaching, and grouwork in your career development NFQ level 5-10 Search Apprenticeships

Higher Education CAO Entry: Community and Youth Development, Social Science - Youth & Community Work, Community Development, Outdoor Education, Education - Primary/ secondary Teaching courses at NFQ Level 8 Search CAO courses

Professional Development

Postgraduate Study Options Adult Learning & Teaching, Education - Teaching in Further Education, Education - Teaching & Learning in Higher Education - Third Level Education NFQ level 9

Teaching council of Ireland 

Last Updated: April, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €45k

Salaries vary based on employer, location, experience, sessional rate, duties, and role.

Data Source(s):
Payscale/ ETBI/ Gov.ie/ PAS/ IUA/ Wheel

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment growth was below average over the five-year period, with little growth since 2020. It should be noted that career guidance professionals working in the second level system are most likely captured in the secondary teaching occupations. Employment permits issued in 2022 were all intra-company transfers and related to roles outside of the education sector.

• The Teaching Council

  • Block A, Maynooth Business Campus, Maynooth Co. Kildare
  • (01) 651 7900
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Foróige -The National Youth Development Organisation

  • Block 12D, Joyce Way, Park West, Dublin 12
  • (01) 630 1560
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here

• Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI)

  • Piper's Hill, Kilcullen Road, Naas, Co Kildare, Ireland
  • +353 (0)45-901070
  • [email protected]
  • Click Here