I have always been interested in travel and other cultures. I have always had jobs in hospitality growing up be it bar work to restaurants, hotels etc. When I left school all I knew was that I wanted to work with people and combine this with travelling. It was actually my dad who works in the industry that told me to try this and I haven't looked back since. I went to Sligo studied Business and Tourism with Event Management which also provided me with placement which I did abroad in France and loved it. The college had a guest speaker in from Failte Ireland who really inspired me to get my tour guiding badge which I did. This year I plan to further my career by getting a bus licence.

My parents definitely had a big influence on my choice of work. I took a year out after my leaving cert and went to originally study Environmental science, I thought this would be a good route to travel through conservation programmes but the science proved to difficult so I was back to square one. It was my parents that suggested the course in Sligo and I really enjoyed it. I mentioned above a guest speaker that came to our college from Failte Ireland, I really enjoyed his career path and how there is always opportunity to grow in this industry.

I received my tour guiding badge in March of 2024. I had my first season last year. I found it hard to get a position in Tour Guiding as I had no previous experience. That was difficult for me and it hurt my confidence. All I needed was someone to give me a chance and so I continued to hand my CV's for any tour operators in the country. I was determined to get a job and I went to any interview I got offered. I find you can learn so much from interviews even if it's truly not the position you intended to have. Thankfully a company gave me a chance and the rest is history. I have set up an Instagram account "nicolemcguiretourguide" this is a place where companies can see the kind of person I am the people I have met, there reviews etc. I find it's all about putting yourself out there the first year is the hardest just like any job day one will always be the hardest.  

A typical day for me it really depends on what type of tour you are doing. For example I could be doing bus tours which is bringing a group of people from A to B safely all while enjoying themselves. This would involve telling them about the area we are traveling through the history, folklore and key points targeting the points of interests all while making it light hearted. My goal really is to treat everyone like a friend not a history lesson they are the holidays and want to enjoy themselves and by the end I have a bus load of friends. I tell them good places to eat, answer any questions they have, make sure they know a return time to the bus and where to get it and everything in between.

Some days I could be doing food tours, describing the local cusine, other days I could be doing walking tours. Every tour you do , you have to take into consideration the type of group you have are they elderly , any mobility issues, are they students, is there first time in Ireland, where are they from,  everything you can think off and all of this will allow for a more enjoyable day for everyone.

Pressures can present themselves in different ways. Time management definitely is one of the most important things for me you want them to have the best possible day and hit there itinerary with what they have planned to do. It's so important to stick to this or adjust it in ways that guests enjoy themselves and they are getting the full experience. Some things can go wrong that's out of your control, diversions on the road, bus break downs, guests falling etc Your dealing with the public anything can happen.

My main tasks and responsibilities are the treatment of the guests. They are the most important part of my job. A huge part of my job is making sure all key points were hit in the itinerary I have been tasked with. If it mentions wanting to know about a particular church you make sure to tell them about that church. If they have a booking in a particular restaurant you get them to that restaurant. It is extremely important to complete the itinerary I have been presented with and agreed to fulfil.

The main challenges I find and that keep alert is customer satisfaction. I want people to feel comfortable in my presence, that they can come to me with any questions and problems. It can be draining sometimes dealing with different types of people some can be harder to break there barrow then others if that makes sense. That definitely keeps me motivated. Also everyday is a learning day. There is always something new around the corner or a new discovery or a story a local has told me in a place that you don't find typically online or in a book. Keeping up-to-date with what's going on in the world allows you to connect better to people.

I love my job and I feel so privileged that I'm in a position where I get to tell people all about my country. The feeling of pride you feel everyday. The genuine interest people have in what you have to say. I love the questions guest can come out with as simple as what is a baby guinness to what type of tree that is etc.

I think it's cool that I get to travel around Ireland for a living. I think it's cool all the amazing types of people I meet a lot of days it doesn't even feel like I'm working!

There is nothing that I don't necessarily dislike. There are days where everything under the sun is being thrown at you and some days can be very long and mentally draining. By the end of the season you are mentally and physically exhausted. You have to put on a happy face, high energy everyday of the season. Some people or places are more difficult then others and getting through those days is tough. But there is so much more good then bad with this job. Keeping a positive mindset and not letting others negative energy get to you cause you are dealing with the public and sometimes no matter how hard you try you will come across somebody that you just can't win over.

I have the skills needed on paper for example a Tour Guiding badge, a transport management licence and a degree in Tourism with Event Management but you also need a lot more then paperwork.

You need good management skills e.g time, group management. You need to be punctual, organised and prepared. You need to be confident, you need to be outgoing and approachable. You need to be light hearted and friendly, knowledgeable etc. It's also very important that you can work with others and sometimes compromise when dealing with hotels, bus drivers etc. We are all a team at the end of the day.

In secondary school when it came to choosing subjects, I was fully convinced I'd be a nutritionist or a herbalist. I picked Chemistry, Biology, Home Economics and French. I loved all the subjects but I was very studious. When I look back I wish I didn't put so much pressure on myself and at the end of the day I've realised I should have picked subjects that I enjoyed thay would allow me to get the most points for e.g I was very good at art. The college system in Ireland is point based. I picked a science course originally (dropped out) and I realised the first year of college is getting everyone up to scratch so we all do chemistry, physics and biology so we are on the same page for 2nd year. Therefore there was no need to do all that heavy material for my leaving cert I could have afforded to pick a more light hearted topic.

I took a year out and I found that important to get some money under my belt for college to be comfortable also it allowed me to mature that bit more. I picked a college that would have had lectures max like 60 people I knew I wasn't a person that would be able to attend lectures with 100's of people.

Also there is so many back roads to where you want to go. When I got to first year there were people there who did PLC's to get into it. I just wish I didn't put so much stress on myself and enjoyed those years a little more.

Secondary School graduated 2018 Leaving certificate. Bachelors in Business and Tourism with Event Management 2023.I did a level 7 I decided that the 4th year there was no need for me I was ready to progress onto the next step for my career. National Tour Guiding badge 2024 (part time course).I did this course as it is recognised by Failte Ireland and I found it very important for the career I would like. Transport Management Licence 2024 (online course). This is to allow me in the future to run my own business or to act as a transport manager for tour operators.

Modules in college that I found important was the business side of things as in the future I may want to run my own company and also learning about different Tour organisations. College definitely gave me a foundation and the starting point to further my career.

National Tour Guiding badge has been the most beneficial for me. What helped me get excepted into this course was having a college degree in Tourism. This taught me about people skills and history of Ireland.

It is early days yet and I have so much more to give! Currently what I have found most rewarding is knowing I have giving people an enjoyable experience. The energy you get from people who are having a good time is so rewarding and makes what I do amazing. I had an opportunity this season to guide a group of people from the Chime community in Ireland. They are deaf so I did the talking and they had an interpretor and that was so fulfilling and rewarding. I love the inclusion of communities this career has. I had the privilege of guiding a group of Dutch military coming to Ireland to play a friendly rugby game against the Irish military. That was also very rewarding meeting those people.

I have always been told I am good with people. I felt in school I was very inclusive of everyone I never really understood how people can be otherwise. I am a very outgoing person as much as I think I am not. I really try to connect with people get to know little things about them even if it's as simple as there favourite food just incase when we are traveling around I can point one out to them. I think I am good at making people feel comfortable. I talk to people like friends, not one person is higher then the other we are all the same and I think that's important.

I am very organised it is drilled into me I have always been this way I think it stems from my overthinking but organisation is key! I am also a very motivated person once I put my mind to something I will get there no matter what.

Oh my dream job, I have a few ideas for the future. I would love to set up my own tour company in the future with specialised niche tours as well as other tours. I won't give away my ideas just yet! I would then love to a part of Tourism Development programmes on Failte Ireland getting in with the communities helping there businesses grow and work together. I love to develop software that would be helpful for solo travelers on a budget too in the future. I possibly as I get older would like to teach future tour guides.

These are goals I have in life that I hope to achieve someday. Time goes so quickly it's exciting and nerve wracking but that's life and there is so much to look forward to.

 Yes, my job definitely allows me to have a lifestyle I'm happy with and love.

I think confidence is a big thing. You can't look like your doubting yourself or others around you will. Management skills are a huge part of this job in every way. Being open you are working with people and working with different companies be respectful. Also try putting yourself in other people's shoes if they come to you for help this is there holiday and you don't know if it's going to be there last make it the most for people. Be friendly, approachable, be happy and inclusive especially if you have a group where everyone doesn't know eachother.  

Confident
Organised
Respectful

A pet hate of mine is when I am talking and people are talking over me especially if it's a mixed group everyone has paid to experience this have respect for me and other people.

I plan on getting my licence as this is very beneficial to guides in Ireland. Most companies are looking for driver guides so it can be difficult to get employment your options are more limited. So to prevent any limitation this is something I would like to do to upskill my career.

If you get the chance to do work placement for example working for a tour company take that opportunity that will definitely give you a taster. Any job that involves punctuality which is probably every job!

Freelance Tour Guide