Work Experience Diary
Student Name: Colin Downey
Name and address of employer: John Lynch, Mayour, Eyrecourt, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Job Title: Agriculture
Why I selected this work placement: I wanted to get an experience in farming.
Letter of Application
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Mr. John Lynch
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Dear John,
I am writing to you to ask if you are interested in taking myself on for work experience which is a part of my transition year program. Work experience in Portumna Community School takes place on 23/10/17 and ends on 27/10/17.
I would be extremely grateful if you were to grant me this opportunity to work on your farm. I’m a hardworking person and am egger to get my hands dirty and try out the occupation which is farming. I’m good with working with other people and I also like to work with the animals. I have a particular interest in cows and dairy farms as they supply the country with milk etc and I feel it is important to know where these resources come from. I’m willing to get up extra early in the mornings to help with the milking of the cows if you will have me.
I thank you for your time and I hope you really consider my offer. There is a copy of my CV below.
I await your reply,
Yours sincerely,
Colin Downey
Day: Monday
Date: 23/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I moved 3 bales of hay that had fallen apart into another shed using a 3 grain fork. This will be later used as bedding for calves. I helped dose calves for black leg and worms. We also injected penisilum into the calves’ eyes to treat for sore eyes. I also help cut much of the calves’ tails because if it was to ring the whole way around the tail it would cut off circulation. I gave meal to the calves. I foddered John’s cows and weanlings and helped with a neighbours. We also moved the weanlings for a neighbour.
Interactions with others: I had interact and work with neighbour to successfully move the weanlings. We encountered no problems.
Problems/Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: As I was entering the field to feed the calves they broke out of the field. I had to use quick thinking and tactics into how to get them back in. I got help ASAP to stand at the gate to stop other calves escaping and I turned the rest back into the field.
Skills that I improved: I Improved in milking cows and how to handle situations that go wrong like when calves break out. I improved my communication skills and my quick thinking skills.
New skills I developed: I learned how to drive a tractor and quad and how to put a trailer on a tractor. How to use a loader on the tractor
How others viewed my performance: nothing was said to me so I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I enjoyed today. I learned many things such as calves gone off their mothers milk and are nearly cows are called weanlings. I learned all about tractors. I’m tired after today but I feel I’ve really benefitted from it. I learned that farm safety is no joke.
Day: Two
Date: 24/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I foddered. I helped dose calves for black leg and worms. We also injected penisilum into the calves’ eyes to treat for sore eyes. I also help cut muck of the calves’ tails because if it was to ring the whole way around the tail it would cut off circulation. I gave meal to the calves. We moved calves from different fields. We also foddered for a neighbour
Interactions with others: I had to be very attentive to John when we were moving the calves because if I messed up we could be in serious trouble because they could break out and do damage. This showed that my listening skills were good.
Problems/challenges encountered and how I overcame them: The calves broke out of the field into another and I had to get them back by leading them into a pen, closing certain gates and opening certain gates to allow them back into the right field.
Skills that I improved: My communication skills and my quick thinking skills.
New skills that I developed: I learned how to drive a tractor and quad and how to put a trailer on a tractor. How to use a loader on the tractor
How others viewed my performance: Nothing was said to me I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I was happy with the day as I was always kept on my feet. Quick thinking was needed to get the wailings back into the appropriate field and I successfully did it on my own which showed leadership qualities to take control of the situation and deal with the dilemma.
Day: Three
Date: 25/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I foddered. I gave nuts to the calves. Fixed the roof of the shed. It was basically a repeat of other jobs because John had to leave early as he was going on holidays
Interactions with others: I was on my own most of the day so I did not interact with other people.
Problems/challenges encountered and how I overcame them: A problem I encountered was fixing the roof. I had to use a careful eye to make sure it was level. Other than that there was no problems. Everything that day went smoothly.
Skills that I improved: My driving skills are the main ones I improved on. I drove a tractor foddering and scrapping the yard and I drove a quad giving nuts to the wailings. I have come to find confidence is a huge factor in driving and I am currently building my confidence for both driving on a farm and driving in everyday normal life.
New skills that I developed: I learned no new skills. I just improved my skills I had already began developing such as driving and communicating.
How others viewed my performance: Nothing was said to me I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I enjoyed the day as it wasn’t the most tiring. I’ve learned that farmers don’t have it easy and the work is exhausting.
Did anything unusual or unexpected occur? Were things different to what you expected?
Not many things unusual occurred. Weanlings broke out of a field and I had to get them back in by using my brain. Things were not different to what I expected.
Can you make any observations in relation to your work experience? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
I learned that I am hardworking. When I put my mind to things I can do them. I like to try complete my tasks to best of my ability.
Has your work experience influenced you in terms of a personal career direction?
My work experience influenced me in the way that I would not mind having a part time career in agriculture. I would like to do more than farm if I was to ever become a farmer.
What employability skills have you advanced or developed as a result of your work experience?
The employability skills which I have improved on are my communication skills, my ability to work with others, my time keeping skills and my driving skills.
Yes/No – Is it the right career for you?
Work experience 2
Student name: Colin Downey
Name of employer: Michael Hogan, Hogan Tractors.
Job Title: Agriculture/ Business/ mechanic
Why I selected this work placement? I wanted to get experience in a huge business such as hogan tractors.
Letter of Application
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway.
Michael Hogan,
Hogan Tractors,
Main Street Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Dear Michael,
I am writing to you to ask if you are interested in taking myself on for work experience which is a part of my transition year program. Work experience in Portumna Community School takes place on 26/02/17 and ends on 0203/18.
I would be extremely grateful if you were to grant me this opportunity to work in your business. I’m a hardworking person and am egger to get my hands dirty and try out the occupation which is mechanic and running a business. I’m good with working with other people and I also like to work with the tractors. I have a particular interest in your business because every farmer in the county and other surrounding areas buys tractors off you. I'd think it is important to know and experience the work you and your employers put into keeping the farmers tractors going. I’m willing to get up extra early in the mornings to help with opening the business if you will have me.
I thank you for your time and I hope you really consider my offer. There is a copy of my CV below.
I await your reply,
Yours sincerely,
Colin Downey
Day: one
Date: 26/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work Undertaken: I helped David McDonagh prepare a tractor that was sold. Installed a radio into the tractor. I had to replace all the little switches that fuses had blown. I had to fill a few 5 gallons cans of antifreeze and bring them into the shop. I got a short tour of all the different sections of business that have different parts of different makes of tractors.
Interactions with others: I had to answer a phone because Michael was dealing with a customer.
Problems/ Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: I encountered none.
Skills I improved on: Communication and my engineering skills because I had to fix a hitch on the back of the tractor.
New Skills I developed: none, I just improved on skills I already had.
How others viewed my performance: good
My personal evaluation of the day: I enjoyed the day. I learned a lot about tractors and how they work. I'm tired after the day as it was very long, but enjoyable.
Day: Two
Date: 27/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work undertaken: We continued to work on this tractor. Today we freed up the liftarms. We ran the tractor on the dynometer. This shows us exactly with hp the tractor reaches. And speed etc. This piece of equipment alone cost €20,000. I had to use the grease gun to pump grease into every grease nipple on the tractor. There is a lot of them.
Interactions with other: I interacted with David by asking him how the dynometer work.
Problems/ Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: I encountered no problems.
Skills I improved on: I improved on my skills of using a grease gun.
New skills I developed: I now know how to use a dynometer.
How others viewed my proformace.: good
My personal evaluation of the day: once again I enjoyed the day. I got my hands dirty and I got to experience using a dynometer.
Day: Three
Date: 28/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work undertaken: Today I was in the store room. Michael Hogan use to be a landrover dealer so I was gathering up all the landrover parts and putting them into boxes. I then had to haul them down stairs. I also had to restock the shop shelves with air/fuel filters for the TS range and oil filters for landini. After dinner I did not return to work as the weather took a turn for the worst.
Interactions with others: I was on my own for the most, but I did interact with Michael when he was showing me what to do in the store room.
Problems/ challenges encountered: the only problem/ challenge I encountered was trying to cycle home in blizzard like conditions.
How others viewed my preformace: Good
My personal evaluation of the day: I enjoyed today again but I'd prefer to be working on tractors rathe then in a store room.
Did anything unusual or unexpected occur? Were things different from what you expected?
Nothing unusual occurred. Hoagn tractors was exactly what I expected.
Can you make any observations in relation to your work experience? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
I learned that I do have an interest in tractors and agriculture.
Has your work experience influenced you in terms of a personal career direction?
No, it doesn’t. I have no way of inheriting a farm of any sort so theres no point of my taking a route down agriculture.
What employability skills have you advanced or developed as a result of your work experience?
Im now better at working with my hands if I was ever to do peruse a career down machanics or anything like that.
Yes/No – Is it the right career for you?
Student Name: Colin Downey
Name and address of employer: John Lynch, Mayour, Eyrecourt, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway.
Job Title: Agriculture
Why I selected this work placement: I wanted to get an experience in farming.
Letter of Application
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Mr. John Lynch
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Dear John,
I am writing to you to ask if you are interested in taking myself on for work experience which is a part of my transition year program. Work experience in Portumna Community School takes place on 23/10/17 and ends on 27/10/17.
I would be extremely grateful if you were to grant me this opportunity to work on your farm. I’m a hardworking person and am egger to get my hands dirty and try out the occupation which is farming. I’m good with working with other people and I also like to work with the animals. I have a particular interest in cows and dairy farms as they supply the country with milk etc and I feel it is important to know where these resources come from. I’m willing to get up extra early in the mornings to help with the milking of the cows if you will have me.
I thank you for your time and I hope you really consider my offer. There is a copy of my CV below.
I await your reply,
Yours sincerely,
Colin Downey
Day: Monday
Date: 23/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I moved 3 bales of hay that had fallen apart into another shed using a 3 grain fork. This will be later used as bedding for calves. I helped dose calves for black leg and worms. We also injected penisilum into the calves’ eyes to treat for sore eyes. I also help cut much of the calves’ tails because if it was to ring the whole way around the tail it would cut off circulation. I gave meal to the calves. I foddered John’s cows and weanlings and helped with a neighbours. We also moved the weanlings for a neighbour.
Interactions with others: I had interact and work with neighbour to successfully move the weanlings. We encountered no problems.
Problems/Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: As I was entering the field to feed the calves they broke out of the field. I had to use quick thinking and tactics into how to get them back in. I got help ASAP to stand at the gate to stop other calves escaping and I turned the rest back into the field.
Skills that I improved: I Improved in milking cows and how to handle situations that go wrong like when calves break out. I improved my communication skills and my quick thinking skills.
New skills I developed: I learned how to drive a tractor and quad and how to put a trailer on a tractor. How to use a loader on the tractor
How others viewed my performance: nothing was said to me so I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I enjoyed today. I learned many things such as calves gone off their mothers milk and are nearly cows are called weanlings. I learned all about tractors. I’m tired after today but I feel I’ve really benefitted from it. I learned that farm safety is no joke.
Day: Two
Date: 24/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I foddered. I helped dose calves for black leg and worms. We also injected penisilum into the calves’ eyes to treat for sore eyes. I also help cut muck of the calves’ tails because if it was to ring the whole way around the tail it would cut off circulation. I gave meal to the calves. We moved calves from different fields. We also foddered for a neighbour
Interactions with others: I had to be very attentive to John when we were moving the calves because if I messed up we could be in serious trouble because they could break out and do damage. This showed that my listening skills were good.
Problems/challenges encountered and how I overcame them: The calves broke out of the field into another and I had to get them back by leading them into a pen, closing certain gates and opening certain gates to allow them back into the right field.
Skills that I improved: My communication skills and my quick thinking skills.
New skills that I developed: I learned how to drive a tractor and quad and how to put a trailer on a tractor. How to use a loader on the tractor
How others viewed my performance: Nothing was said to me I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I was happy with the day as I was always kept on my feet. Quick thinking was needed to get the wailings back into the appropriate field and I successfully did it on my own which showed leadership qualities to take control of the situation and deal with the dilemma.
Day: Three
Date: 25/10/17
Start Time: 8:30
Finish Time: 6:30
Work Undertaken: I milked the cows, swept out the milking parlour, I scrapped the mats in the shed. I scrapped the yard. I foddered. I gave nuts to the calves. Fixed the roof of the shed. It was basically a repeat of other jobs because John had to leave early as he was going on holidays
Interactions with others: I was on my own most of the day so I did not interact with other people.
Problems/challenges encountered and how I overcame them: A problem I encountered was fixing the roof. I had to use a careful eye to make sure it was level. Other than that there was no problems. Everything that day went smoothly.
Skills that I improved: My driving skills are the main ones I improved on. I drove a tractor foddering and scrapping the yard and I drove a quad giving nuts to the wailings. I have come to find confidence is a huge factor in driving and I am currently building my confidence for both driving on a farm and driving in everyday normal life.
New skills that I developed: I learned no new skills. I just improved my skills I had already began developing such as driving and communicating.
How others viewed my performance: Nothing was said to me I presume good
My personal evaluation of today: I enjoyed the day as it wasn’t the most tiring. I’ve learned that farmers don’t have it easy and the work is exhausting.
Did anything unusual or unexpected occur? Were things different to what you expected?
Not many things unusual occurred. Weanlings broke out of a field and I had to get them back in by using my brain. Things were not different to what I expected.
Can you make any observations in relation to your work experience? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
I learned that I am hardworking. When I put my mind to things I can do them. I like to try complete my tasks to best of my ability.
Has your work experience influenced you in terms of a personal career direction?
My work experience influenced me in the way that I would not mind having a part time career in agriculture. I would like to do more than farm if I was to ever become a farmer.
What employability skills have you advanced or developed as a result of your work experience?
The employability skills which I have improved on are my communication skills, my ability to work with others, my time keeping skills and my driving skills.
Yes/No – Is it the right career for you?
- Ability to perform tasks- My ability to perform tasks on the farm was good. I can clearly tell you I am not the best farmer to ever farm but I most definitely are mot the worst.
- Deal with unexpected errant- I dealt with the unexpected errants to the best of my capability. Such as when the wailings broke out. It may not have been clean but I dealt with errant.
- What did you learn about yourself and career? - I learned that agriculture is no joke, that animals and machinery need to be watched closely as they are dangerous. I learned that that I am willing to get my hands dirty if need be. But I learned that sometimes my work ethic can be poor, meaning that sometimes I get lazy.
- What are the relevant school subjects for entering this career? - The relevant school subjects for entering this career are Agricultural Science and maybe business. As running a farm now days is the same as running a business.
- Plan for next work experience and why? - I have no plan for my next work experience. I would not mind taking another look at agriculture though
Work experience 2
Student name: Colin Downey
Name of employer: Michael Hogan, Hogan Tractors.
Job Title: Agriculture/ Business/ mechanic
Why I selected this work placement? I wanted to get experience in a huge business such as hogan tractors.
Letter of Application
Mayour,
Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway.
Michael Hogan,
Hogan Tractors,
Main Street Eyrecourt,
Ballinasloe,
Co. Galway
Dear Michael,
I am writing to you to ask if you are interested in taking myself on for work experience which is a part of my transition year program. Work experience in Portumna Community School takes place on 26/02/17 and ends on 0203/18.
I would be extremely grateful if you were to grant me this opportunity to work in your business. I’m a hardworking person and am egger to get my hands dirty and try out the occupation which is mechanic and running a business. I’m good with working with other people and I also like to work with the tractors. I have a particular interest in your business because every farmer in the county and other surrounding areas buys tractors off you. I'd think it is important to know and experience the work you and your employers put into keeping the farmers tractors going. I’m willing to get up extra early in the mornings to help with opening the business if you will have me.
I thank you for your time and I hope you really consider my offer. There is a copy of my CV below.
I await your reply,
Yours sincerely,
Colin Downey
Day: one
Date: 26/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work Undertaken: I helped David McDonagh prepare a tractor that was sold. Installed a radio into the tractor. I had to replace all the little switches that fuses had blown. I had to fill a few 5 gallons cans of antifreeze and bring them into the shop. I got a short tour of all the different sections of business that have different parts of different makes of tractors.
Interactions with others: I had to answer a phone because Michael was dealing with a customer.
Problems/ Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: I encountered none.
Skills I improved on: Communication and my engineering skills because I had to fix a hitch on the back of the tractor.
New Skills I developed: none, I just improved on skills I already had.
How others viewed my performance: good
My personal evaluation of the day: I enjoyed the day. I learned a lot about tractors and how they work. I'm tired after the day as it was very long, but enjoyable.
Day: Two
Date: 27/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work undertaken: We continued to work on this tractor. Today we freed up the liftarms. We ran the tractor on the dynometer. This shows us exactly with hp the tractor reaches. And speed etc. This piece of equipment alone cost €20,000. I had to use the grease gun to pump grease into every grease nipple on the tractor. There is a lot of them.
Interactions with other: I interacted with David by asking him how the dynometer work.
Problems/ Challenges encountered and how I overcame them: I encountered no problems.
Skills I improved on: I improved on my skills of using a grease gun.
New skills I developed: I now know how to use a dynometer.
How others viewed my proformace.: good
My personal evaluation of the day: once again I enjoyed the day. I got my hands dirty and I got to experience using a dynometer.
Day: Three
Date: 28/02/18
Start time: 9:00am
Finish time: 6:00pm
Work undertaken: Today I was in the store room. Michael Hogan use to be a landrover dealer so I was gathering up all the landrover parts and putting them into boxes. I then had to haul them down stairs. I also had to restock the shop shelves with air/fuel filters for the TS range and oil filters for landini. After dinner I did not return to work as the weather took a turn for the worst.
Interactions with others: I was on my own for the most, but I did interact with Michael when he was showing me what to do in the store room.
Problems/ challenges encountered: the only problem/ challenge I encountered was trying to cycle home in blizzard like conditions.
How others viewed my preformace: Good
My personal evaluation of the day: I enjoyed today again but I'd prefer to be working on tractors rathe then in a store room.
Did anything unusual or unexpected occur? Were things different from what you expected?
Nothing unusual occurred. Hoagn tractors was exactly what I expected.
Can you make any observations in relation to your work experience? Did you learn anything new about yourself?
I learned that I do have an interest in tractors and agriculture.
Has your work experience influenced you in terms of a personal career direction?
No, it doesn’t. I have no way of inheriting a farm of any sort so theres no point of my taking a route down agriculture.
What employability skills have you advanced or developed as a result of your work experience?
Im now better at working with my hands if I was ever to do peruse a career down machanics or anything like that.
Yes/No – Is it the right career for you?
- Ability to perform tasks- My ability to perform tasks in Hogans was good. I can clearly tell you I am not the best mechanic to ever work but I most definitely am mot the worst.
- Deal with unexpected errant- There wasn’t any unexpected errant.
- What did you learn about yourself and career? - I learned that being a mechanic isn't easy. You have long days and tiring work. This career is enjoyable if you like it but would be painful to endure if you didn’t like it. I learned that I liked it, but there isn't any point of me pursuing it.
- What are the relevant school subjects for entering this career? Engineering and business. Depending on what part of the place your going in too.