Sáoirse Gormley

Testimonial for Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Business

Sligo

Sáoirse Gormley

Graduate of the online part-time Master of Science in Strategic People Management

Can you tell us your name, job title, where you are from and the course you studied at ATU?

Sáoirse Gormley, Human Resource Advisor. I’m from Sligo and I studied a Master of Science in Strategic People Management in ATU.

Can you share your career path to date?

My career path has taken a few interesting turns. From a young age, I once dreamed of becoming a dolphin trainer, but that ambition didn’t come to fruition as I wasn’t able to swim for many years.

My professional journey began in retail, where I worked as a Customer Service Representative before progressing to Assistant Manager. It was during this time that I first gained exposure to the role of Human Resources within a business, which sparked my interest in the field.

After several years in retail, I returned to college to study Human Resources while continuing to work part-time as a Customer Service Representative. Upon completing my studies, I moved into my first HR role as a Human Resources Administrator and have since progressed into my current position as a Human Resources Advisor.

What does your current role involve?

In my current role as a Human Resources Advisor, I support both employees and managers across a wide range of HR activities. This includes providing advice on HR policies and procedures, employee relations matters, absence management, and performance processes.

I am also involved in HR administration activities such as supporting hiring and onboarding processes, preparing HR documentation, and maintaining accurate employee records. In addition, I work closely with managers to ensure consistent and fair people practices across the business, while also contributing to employee engagement initiatives and internal communications.

What motivated you to start studying?

When I first considered returning to education, my motivation wasn’t very clear — it was more a case of wondering what I would do if I didn’t take that step, particularly when I was younger. However, after gaining valuable life and work experience, going back to education became an obvious and positive decision.

Working in HR gave me the confidence to pursue further studies, while also allowing me to network with others within the industry. This has been one of the biggest supports in my career, as it opened up a network of professionals I could learn from, share ideas with, and gain insight into different HR practices being introduced across organisations.

Why did you choose this course at ATU?

I chose this course at ATU as I previously completed a Bachelor of Business (Honours) in Human Resource Management there and thoroughly enjoyed both the lectures and the overall experience. The supportive learning environment and quality of teaching left a very positive impression on me.

When I became aware that ATU was offering a Master’s programme in Human Resources, I reached out to one of my former lecturers to discuss what the course would offer and how it could support my career development. The variety of modules, the flexibility of online and evening lectures, and the confidence I had in the standard of education ATU provides all reinforced my decision. I was confident that this programme would equip me with strong practical and academic knowledge to support my continued progression within HR.

How did you find the process of studying in a flexible manner? What elements did you find helpful? Were there elements you found challenging?

Studying in a flexible manner while working full time can be challenging, particularly after a long day at work when motivation can be low. It required a strong level of discipline and commitment to ensure I stayed engaged and kept up with coursework.

One approach that worked well for me was logging into lectures immediately after finishing work. This helped me stay in the right mindset and avoided the temptation to skip sessions. While the option to watch recorded lectures was very helpful from a flexibility point of view, I made a conscious effort to attend live lectures wherever possible. I found this especially beneficial as it allowed me to ask questions in real time and gain a better understanding of the material.

How did you balance work and study?

Balancing work and study required some planning and flexibility. Fortunately, I was able to adjust my working days and make slight changes to my hours, which allowed me to log into my online lectures on time. Having that flexibility made a significant difference in managing both commitments.

There were certainly days when I came home from work feeling tired and unmotivated, and the last thing I wanted to do was join a three‑hour lecture. However, I remained conscious of the fact that lectures were recorded, which helped ease some of the pressure. Knowing that I could revisit the content if needed allowed me to stay on track, while still making every effort to attend live sessions wherever possible.

In terms of your employer, were they supportive of your decision to study? Were there elements of the course that were particularly relevant to your current employer?

I cannot give enough credit to my employer and the wider HR team for the support they provided throughout my studies. They were incredibly supportive, particularly when it came to discussing assignment ideas and offering guidance on my overall thesis. Being able to bounce ideas off experienced colleagues was invaluable and really helped me apply my learning in a practical way.

The course also allowed me to bring new ideas back into the workplace, particularly around areas such as employee wellness, engagement initiatives, and HR policies. Learning about practices being implemented in other organisations gave me valuable insight and helped shape my thinking.

What advice would you have for anyone considering studying a flexible learning programme?

My main advice would be to carefully evaluate whether you can genuinely dedicate the time required for learning. While it can be easy to sign up, maintaining motivation after a long day at work can be challenging.

I would strongly encourage attending lectures live wherever possible and actively asking questions, as this really helps with understanding the material and staying engaged. Making study a routine rather than something optional is key to getting the most out of a flexible learning programme.

In what way has studying with ATU benefitted your career?

Studying with ATU has significantly benefitted my career by building my confidence. The knowledge and skills I gained through the programme have helped me feel more assured in my role, particularly when contributing to discussions and making decisions.

Did this course provide any unexpected benefits to your career?

One unexpected benefit of the course was how much it expanded my professional confidence and perspective. Beyond the academic learning, it reinforced my ability to discuss HR topics with confidence and gave me greater credibility when contributing ideas in the workplace. The exposure to different approaches and experiences from classmates and lecturers also broadened my understanding of how HR operates across different organisations, which I hadn’t anticipated at the outset.

Did you find that the elements you were studying had practical relevance in your day-to-day role?

Yes, the course content had strong practical relevance to my day‑to‑day role. Many of the topics covered, such as employee engagement, wellbeing initiatives, HR policies and people management practices, could be directly applied in my work. I was able to bring ideas from the course back into the workplace and use real scenarios from my role within assignments, which made the learning both relevant and valuable