Welcome to SHSS Alumnae Link!

This is where we connect with past pupils and find out what they’re up to now.

This week we linked with Nadine Boland who graduated in 2012.

Name & Position:

Nadine Boland – HR & Office Administrator

Lives:

Dublin

Best memory of my schooldays:

My best memory was when I joined in 4th year and we went to Cappanalea. It was a experience I will never forget. The hiking, the rain, roasting marshmallows on the fire! It was definitely a challenge but it was the best way to fit in and meet everyone in the year.

Favourite classes:

My favourite class was Irish because I was exempt so I got to do all my homework. I also liked Business because I was interested in it and learned something.

Tell us about your career progression to date:

I did my Leaving Cert in 2012. I did well enough, but I wasn’t sure if college was for me as I didn’t like school, but felt there was this huge pressure to go. I moved back to Dublin and decided to do a 2 year PLC course in Business & Marketing to decide if it was for me.

After two years I went straight into my first office job. I loved it and it just seemed to work. I was comfortable It just seemed to suit me: I could go in, do my job and go home. I was always a quiet person so it was perfect.

In February 2020 I started in The Hyatt Hotel in Dublin as a HR Administrator. I had no idea or clue about HR or anything about it, but it seemed to be the absolute perfect fit. I learned so much about employment law, different contracts and working in a hotel was very different. Covid hit then and I was on leave for 4 months and brought back in July which I was so happy to go back to work. The hotel was only for essential workers, so we all learned and worked in different areas of the hotel. For example, I learned how to make coffees, change beds, clean rooms, inspect rooms, some reception work. So, I got to experience every department, what they do and how hard it is. I also started working some weekends as a hostess or waitress to help.

I then left and started In SOS group in 2022 again, this position just seemed to fall into place. One of my friends had left the Hyatt and joined here, and the position just happened. It’s very different to a hotel as there are four departments: Industrial, Concierge, Cleaning and Property Services. We currently have about 300 employees and I issue all employment contracts, handbooks, policies, and interviews. I have had to come out of shell as I deal with all sorts of issues and problems and being quiet doesn’t fix them! You need a good strong back bone and put all feelings aside.

In the future maybe this year or next I will do my HR qualification and get my CIPD where I can learn and grow and understand more about the employment law, maybe work towards being a HR manager.

If you weren’t in the career you have, what would you be doing?

I would probably do make-up I absolutely love doing any sort of makeup. I would have studied it more and perused it.

Favourite quote or motto:

Don’t stress, don’t worry, and live in the moment.

Advice I would give my teenage self:

Everything happens for a reason.

Have you any hidden talents?

I bake the best gluten free cakes!

Huge thanks to Nadine for taking the time to answer our questions!

See you soon for the next instalment of SHSS Alumnae Link.