Irish Careers Insight

Books to Spark Career Curiosity

Wed, 19 Nov 2025 12:59:25 GMT

Helping students explore more career possibilities through books, stories and more

When I work with students and introduce them to careers they don’t know much about, one of the steps that I recommend is:

Start learning more about the world you are curious about.

A great way to do this is through stories, insights, and experiences from people who’ve lived those careers. Books, podcasts or Ted Talks are a great way to start.

Below is a list of just some of the books I’ve bought, read, or dipped in and out of over the years (I’ll admit, physics wasn’t really my cup of tea, but I love hearing how others are fascinated by it!). These reads include fiction, non-fiction, and autobiographies—ranging from classic favourites to more modern titles.

The goal isn’t just to inspire students but to help them see the good, the bad, and the surprising realities behind the careers they’re considering. I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve pulled out books in psychology or economics, and the student is either fascinated or deflated by the subject within two minutes.

While a physical book is still a wonderful gift (especially with Christmas on the horizon), it’s important to remember how teens learn today. Many absorb information through podcasts, TED Talks, YouTube interviews, and audiobook platforms like Audible. So, if reading isn’t their favourite way to learn, encourage them to listen to these authors or explore YouTube.

Whether read or listened to, the aim is the same: to let teenagers explore careers in a low-pressure way so they can feel what excites them, notice what bores them, and start making clearer decisions earlier rather than later.

Fewer wrong turns, more confident choices.

�� Do you have a recommendation to add? ��

I’d love to hear from you. If you’ve come across a book, audiobook, podcast, TED Talk, or any resource that helped inspire a teenager (or adult) to explore a career path, please drop me a message about it. I’m always looking to grow this list! And your suggestions could help other families open doors to new possibilities.

Some great bookshops for browsing a wide range of careers related books include: Dubray , Easons , Charlie Byrnes and Kennys in Galway.

BUSINESS, ENTREPRENEUR:

Diary of a CEO, by Steven Bartlett

Covers the strategy of successes and failures and is sprinkled with psychology, philosophy, and self-development. Well structured, so it’s a book I found teens dip in and out of easily.

Shoe Dog, by Phil Knight

It tells how the founder of Nike built and transformed the company and includes insights to travel, culture, sponsorship deals, and so much more. Great for a budding entrepreneur or business student.

PSYCHOLOGY, HEALTH, NUTRITION:

The Psychology Book by DK

Delves into the history of psychology from its initial roots in philosophy right up to modern studies of cognitive psychology. It’s visually appealing to many with diagrams, graphics, and text, so it’s an accessible and essential read for students with a strong desire to study psychology.

The 36-Hour Day by Nancy Mace and Peter Rabins

A family guide, which is now in its 7 ^th edition, covers caring for people with dementia, memory loss, and Alzheimer's disease. Useful insights for aspiring students in nursing, medicine, psychology, and social care.

ROAR: How to match your food and fitness to your unique female physiology by Stacy Simms

This one has been on my bookshelf for years and is well thumbed. And one I recommend to active students with an interest in nutrition, dietetics, and sports performance.

ECONOMICS, FINANCE, DATA & MATHEMATICS:

Simply Economics, by DK London

Love the DK range of books, especially how they explain theories and concepts in one page with a great mix of text, diagrams, and visuals.

Edible Economics, by Ha-Joon Chang

A mouthwatering read (literally) as it dives into food, history, and economics. Chapter titles include Carrot, Noodle, Chilli, and Chocolate, to name but a few.

How Data Helped Win the Premier League by Ian Graham

An inspiring read for anyone interested in sports, maths, physics, tech, and Liverpool FC!

MEDICAL / NURSING / MIDWIFERY:

The Prison Doctor, Dr Amanda Brown

A memoir about her career as a doctor to prisoners in the UK and an insightful read for those with an interest in medicine, social sciences, psychology, criminology, and public services.

Hard Pushed: A Midwife’s Story by Leah Hazard

All about the compassion and bravery of midwives supporting amazing soon-to-be mums in a creaking NHS.

The Story of a Heart, Rachel Clarke

Shortlisted for many non-fiction awards in 2024, this investigative journalism story covers organ donation, transplants, families' grief, and compassion while delving into the amazing dedication of surgeons, nurses, immunologists, and scientists.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY & ENGINEERING:

STEM Careers by Liz Painter

A quick reference guide that provides a wealth of career ideas. Published in 2024, so it’s relatively up to date. Highly recommend for students making subject choices for senior cycle.

The Design of Everyday Things by Don Norman

This book dives into the field of product design and development, with an insight into why people should be at the heart of design. Great for engineering students.

An Astronaut’s Guide to Life by Chris Hadfield

Lots of insights into how Chris Hadfield helped bring the field of space science to the world. A super read, which also covers his life, commitments, and determination to pursue what mattered most.

THIRD LEVEL STUDENTS & GRADUATES:

The Defining Decade by Meg Jay

I loved reading this many years ago when my eldest son was in his twenties. It’s a practical guide aimed at recent college graduates which weaves science with real life stories to uncover how they can make the most of work, love, the brain, and the body in their 20’s. Her TED Talk has over 13 million views and is also worth checking out.

And don't forget, drop me a message and I'd love to add to this list!

Apprenticeships in Ireland: Myths, Benefits and Opportunities

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 11:18:52 GMT

Apprenticeships have been making significant progress in the last number of years, and are now a truly viable option for a much wider range of school leavers and mature students alike.

For many years, there were plenty of myths and misconceptions out there about apprenticeships such as:

“There is limited potential to progress after an apprenticeship”
“Apprentices are a form of cheap labour for employers”
“The standard of education is at a basic level and I won’t be able to apply for further qualifications”
“I’ll miss out on student life”
“Apprentices are only an option if I’m not academically inclined”
“It is predominantly men who do apprenticeships”
“Apprenticeships are only available for technical, practical type jobs”

Times have changed and many of these myths no longer hold true.

With a total of 77 apprenticeship programmes now available in Ireland, with many more under development, there is a strong drive to further develop the range of apprenticeships which makes them an increasingly attractive alternative to the higher education route for many young people.

Traditionally, apprentices were only available in the craft sector, such as construction, mechanics and engineering. Following much evidence of the success of the apprenticeship model in other European countries; employers, education providers and the government, are now collaborating to provide a broader range of apprenticeship opportunities.

S ome of the new industries and professions include:

Financial Services
Science
IT
Logistics
Beauty & Hairdressing
Agriculture & Arboriculture
Healthcare
Hospitality
Environmental

And many more to come over the coming months!

Apprenticeship programmes are able to respond quicker and tailor training faster, in order to reflect technological advances and changes in the workplace due to much stronger engagement between employers and the training institutions.

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Patrick O’Donovan stated that there were more than 9,000 new apprentices registered in 2024 with a goal of 10,000 new apprentices for the year 2025. This showcases the demand and interest for apprenticeships.

So, l et’s delve a little deeper into Apprenticeships in Ireland to understand their attractiveness.

WHAT IS AN APPRENTICESHIP?

In Ireland, an apprenticeship provides an opportunity to earn, while you learn the relevant skills required to succeed in a career. Most programmes have a duration of two to four years where an apprentice can earn a wage (and in some cases, a full suite of employee benefits) for the work that they do.

Each apprenticeship programme is based on the development of specific skills, competencies and standards required for success in the chosen field. In order to pass and apprenticeship, the apprentice must meet these standards in the workplace, in addition to passing all module examinations and completing project assessments to a required standard.

This dual mode of learning provides the opportunity for the learning acquired off‐the‐job, to be applied and further developed with support and mentorship in the workplace.

Within the apprenticeship model, there is a strong focus on integrating the application of the concepts, tools and techniques in the participants’ organisation during the course of the programme, which results in learning embedded much quicker than the more traditional university education pathway.

Upon completion of the apprenticeship programme, graduates can walk away with substantial work experience which is another unique advantage over the more traditional, university graduate programs. They may also contiunue to work towards full accreditation from the relevant professional bodies, such as the Insurance Institute of Ireland.

HOW IS THE APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING DELIVERED?

Off-the-job training may take the form of day release , with the apprentice attending a local ETB, Institute of Technology or University.

Alternatively, apprentices may learn through block release where they are immersed in the learning environment for 4-12 weeks at a time.

Online learning is also increasingly used therefore providing opportunities for an increased number of apprentices to be located in more remote working locations, or in regions where the apprenticeship is not delivered locally.

And for some apprenticeship programs, a blended learning approach is adopted where there is a mixture of workshops, lectures and online learning.

For most programmes, there is an emphasis on directed assignment work to allow apprentices spend more time applying the concepts in the context of their own work setting.

In some of the University and Institute of Technology led programmes, a community is established (using technologies such as Slack and similar applications) for the apprentice group to enable them to interact and engage in peer‐to‐peer learning activities around the academic content and on‐the‐job learning.

Typically the student will spend 70% to 80% of time working and the remainder of the time learning. For some apprentices, additional study time may be required outside of the normal working day to ensure you successfully complete all modules and exams.

WHAT APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE ON OFFER?

The range of roles available as an Apprenticeship has grown dramatically in the last number of years in Ireland. The government has committed to growing the range of apprentices available to incorporate a greater number of career fields and skills specialties.

These include the more traditional Engineering, Electrical, Motor, Hospitality and Construction as well as the more recent additions of Insurance, Auctioneering, Biopharmchem, Finance, ICT, Logistics, Sales and many more.

The complete listing of all Apprenticeship programs, as of August 2024 can be accessed here .

The National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) is a system of ten levels. Each level is based on nationally agreed standards of knowledge, skill and competence. Some apprenticeships provide a stepping stone option for progression onto more advanced programmes upon successful completion:

The IFS Associate is a two year apprenticeship program and the apprentice will complete the program with a Certificate in Financial Services (NFQ 6).
Apprentices may then be considered for the IFS Specialist program, which will see them graduate with an Honours Degree in IFS (NFQ 8).

WHAT ARE APPRENTICES PAID?

Depending on the type of apprenticeship and industry chosen, wages and allowances may vary.

For apprenticeships established pre 2016 (traditional trades such as electrician, plumber and others), each apprenticeship program agrees a minimum rate of pay applicable, which are stated on the information pages of that apprenticeship offering. The employer and apprentice should also clearly agree time off for learning, additional study and any contributions towards the payment of the tuition fees, student contribution, off the job elements, etc. Detailed information on payment of craft apprenticeships can be found here .

For apprenticeships established post 2016, each apprenticeship program agrees a minimum rate of pay applicable, which are stated on the information pages of that apprenticeship offering. However some employers are open to negotiating on pay especially where the apprentice is starting with valued transferable skills.

The employer and apprentice should also clearly agree time off for learning, additional study and any contributions towards the payment of the tuition fees, student contribution, off the job elements, etc.

In addition, some employers offer very attractive benefits to the apprentice such as additional holidays, health insurance, etc. This is particularly so with the apprenticeships in larger, corporate workplaces.

TOP TIP: Be sure to verify with your employer who pays the college fees and student contributions. These can be a grey areas, so it’s important to clarify this with your employer at contract negotiation stage.

HOW CAN I FIND AN APPRENTICESHIP JOB?

With the increased attractiveness of apprenticeships, places are becoming more competitive so it’s important that potential apprentices be prepared and ready to sell themselves well. An apprenticeship is based with an employer and they are responsible for hiring directly.

Apprenticeship opportunities can appear at any time of the year. All apprenticeship employers are encouraged to advertise opportunities on Apprenticeship.ie however some also advertise on their company careers pages and other job portals, such as jobs.ie , irishjobs.ie , etc. Many of these job sites have email and text alert options, so it's worth registering to keep up to date on new opportunities e.g. Laboratory Technician.

For some of the larger, established programmes, they hold dedicated recruitment campaigns. For example the ESB usually open up the Apprenticeship campaign in Spring, with the intention to start successful applicants in September. In some of these, applicants are required to go though in-depth recruitment process which may include detailed application forms, personal statements, online assessments, video interviews, psychometric / assessment testing and interviews.

If you seeking an apprenticeship in a smaller company, workplace or with a sole trader; you may have to take the initiative and find an apprenticeship directly. It’s worth making a speculative enquiry to an employer in your preferred career area to see if there is a potential to do an apprenticeship with them. Use your network, and that of your parents’ and friends, to see if they know of any prospective, local employer that may be willing to take you on.

For pre-2016 developed apprenticeships, when you find an employer willing to take you on as an apprentice, be sure that they either on, or apply to be on, the register to employ apprentices. This should be done, in advance of starting the apprenticeship position. The date your apprenticeship application is signed by the Regional Apprenticeship Manager is the date that your four year apprenticeship journey commences.

TOP TIP: When considering an apprenticeship, the apprentice needs to be very clear on why they are pursuing that particular job. Employers are investing in the your future, providing you with a job and facilitating your continuous education. You may also be engaging with customers directly, so they will adopt many of their standard selection processes. Therefore, you will need to clearly articulate why you are interested in this particular apprenticeship; be able to highlight any studies or work experience completed which show your interest in this field or occupation. In some ways, career planning needs to be even more advanced than someone applying for college.

WHAT ARE THE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS?

As apprenticeships are now a proven strategy in todays’ labour market to develop talent pools in companies and specific industry sectors, many organisations, who traditionally required new recruits to have a university degree, are now opening their doors to a much broader range of backgrounds and applicants

Successful applicants may be school leavers, further education, university graduates or mature applicants looking to pivot in their careers. They may also have a number of years’ experience in a similar role but without any recognisable qualifications so the apprenticeship programmes allow them to continue earning while they learn.

For traditional apprentices (typically in operation before 2016), such as motor mechanics, electrical, etc., you must be at least 16 years of age; have a minimum five D grades in the Junior Cert and ensure your apprenticeship be registered with a person or company who is a SOLAS approved employer. However some employers require more than the basic minimum. You can find more on entry requirements at Apprenticeships.ie

For apprenticeship programmes post 2016, a greater number of employers are now are using the ‘earn while you learn’ concept to open up opportunities to people with a multitude of backgrounds and skillsets. I n some industry sectors, employers are also providing their current employee base with an apprenticeship opportunity so that they can up-skill and acquire advanced qualifications to support their future growth and development. Therefore, many programmes have broader entry requirements which may include minimum grades on certain Leaving Certificate subjects, specific competencies or skills, etc. Check out the entry requirements as they vary greatly between each apprenticeship program.

WHAT DO I NEED TO GET AN APPRENTICESHIP?

Being well prepared is essential to landing any apprenticeship. Therefore, ensure you have:

A well prepared cv
Clarity on why this apprenticeship interests you
Have work experiences, projects, that relate to the key skills and behaviours required in the role
Proven examples and stories about why you are a great candidate.

Successful apprentices tend to display the following characteristics so be sure to show how you match up with these:

Enthusiastic and willingness to learn
Determined, focused
Prepared (and has some experience in the area or similar fields)
Mature and responsible
Team player

It’s worth checking out too what courses in your local community colleges, ETB’s, etc. can further prepare you for your dream apprenticeship. Not only does this provide you with a back-up plan but at interview stage, you can show your commitment to the particular career field. Check these out on FETCH .

So if you are interested in studying an apprenticeship; it’s worth starting the research process early.

Talk to employers, or contacts in companies, that hire apprentices.

Seek out work experience opportunities.

Attend college and careers fairs where many apprenticeship employers take stands.

And contact your local ETB office to find out more about apprenticeships in your area.

If you need assistance in finding your best career path and determining your first, or next steps, in your career; send me a question or give me a call. I support students, and others, to identify and plan their best career and study possibilities.

Exploring Scholarships and Bursaries for Third Level Education in Ireland

Tue, 04 Mar 2025 10:06:20 GMT

Choosing courses and colleges can be daunting, and even more so when we start to dig deeper into the costs of going to college.

If we don’t have access to a local college or university that offers the right courses for our career goals—within a CAO points range we can realistically achieve—the financial burden of third-level education goes far beyond tuition fees and textbooks. We also have to find cash for the added costs of accommodation, food, transportation, and other daily expenses, making higher education an even greater challenge.

My oldest son started in college over ten years ago, and although he didn’t get a scholarship for his undergraduate, four-year degree, he was fortunate to get sponsored by a future employer for his postgraduate course which set him up for pivoting from an arts programme into business. I have to admit, I was a very happy parent to hear that his future employers were going to foot his fees!

For parents, one way to ease or reduce this burden of college costs (in addition to SUSI grants, if applicable) is to look into the variety of scholarships and bursaries available and identify if your son or daughter may be eligible to apply for one (or more) of those available. Many parents may have heard about sports scholarships, but what other scholarships are available and how can we find out more.

WHAT TYPE OF SCHOLARSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE?

There’s a wide variety of scholarships available for Irish students applying via the CAO system. These are based on academic merit, financial need, sporting achievements, and much more. I've grouped them into 5 categories with examples of programmes across the country.

1. Academic Excellence Scholarships

These are awarded to students with outstanding academic achievements, particularly in the Leaving Certificate. For some colleges, students do not need to apply because the scholarships are awarded automatically based on CAO points. Typically they are awarded in the autumn / spring semester:

University of Galway: There are up to 40 excellence scholarships available each year, and awardees receive €1,500 to recognise their academic success. For more detailed information, check out University of Galway Excellence Scholarship .

University College Dublin (UCD):
The UCD Entrance Scholars programme recognises incoming first-year students with the highest CAO points score from each school in Ireland. There’s no monetary awards, but students are invited to an awards ceremony, receive a parchment, and can benefit from using this on their CV, which will enhance their applications for internships, further study opportunities, and work placements.

The Ad Astra Academic Scholarships require students to submit an online application that includes a personal statement and a statement of achievement with accomplishments outside of the classroom. Successful students can receive up to €3,000 for each year that they are eligible. Note, the Ad Astra closes on 31st January each year.

Check out the scholarship pages of the Univeristy of most interest.

2. Sports Scholarships

These are designed to support highly talented athletes who compete at international or inter-county / provincial level (GAA, Rugby, etc) while they pursue their studies. For some colleges, applications must be submitted in Spring of Leaving Certificate year, as high performing athletes may be deemed eligible for CAO points concessions (up to 60 points depending on university).

In addition to the points concessions, students may be eligible for a monetary subsistence bursary, an on-campus accommodation guarantee (though some colleges require students to pay the costs themselves or a portion of the costs can be deducted or part paid from their bursary award). They also get access to top-level coaching and playing facilities, sports psychologists, medical and physiotherapy support, and health, nutrition, and S&C advice while also benefiting from individual academic and career development support.

Top Tip: start the application early so you can gather references and supporting information from your sporting bodies or boards.

University of Limerick (UL): UL Sports Scholarship—apply between 2nd January to 8th March 2026. You can find an application form here Sports Scholarships | University of Limerick

University of Galway: There are up to 20 Elite Sports Scholarships each year, and students must apply online at Elite Sport Scholarship Details - University of Galway between 14th January and 17th April 2026.

ATU: Sports Scholarships are available for new entrants with bursaries of up to €3,000, and applications are accepted online from the beginning of January with three closing dates. First preference applications close in April, followed by June and October. Eligibility is outlined here Eligibility - Atlantic Technological University

3. Financial Need-Based Bursaries

Aimed at encouraging students from a broader range of backgrounds to support their participation and success at college.

1916 Bursary Fund: For students from lower-income families and/or groups most underrepresented in higher education. The aim of the 1916 Bursary Fund is to encourage participation and achievement of students who are socio-economically disadvantaged. To be eligible for a 1916 bursary, all applicants must meet financial, priority group and college entry eligibility criteria, with applications closing in October.

Meissner at University of Galway: Aimed at students in Connacht who are eligible for HEAR and can apply the beginning of October.

Find out more about the application process at Meissner Scholarship - University of Galway

Optum North West: Offer initiatives and grants to promote a more diverse workforce by supporting college students in multiple colleges. Applications close in October, with further details here: Scholarships, Grants & Education Programmes | Optum Ireland

4. Subject-Specific Scholarships

There are a wide variety of these which can be found in greater detail on Careers Portal Scholarship Finder tool. They can be linked to fields of study in any university or they can be targeted at students attending a specific course in a specified college.

University of Galway: The Terence O’Malley DLA Piper scholarship provides financial assistance for law students in UOG who are from the West of Ireland and applications are invited after enrolment in year one of a Law course.

Coillte: Aimed at Forestry students attending UCD or SETU with up to €5,000 per year to support fees and/or living expenses in addition to paid summer work. Coillte's Forestry Scholarship and Student Opportunities applications close in May.

Irish Taxation Institute: Provide financial support, mentoring and work opportunities for students interested in tax advisory and studying business, accountancy or tax. Leaving Cert students must apply via their Guidance Counsellor with applications to be submitted by April. You can learn more at Scholarships - Irish Tax Institute

5. Creative, Cultural & Irish Language Scholarships

There’s a wide variety of programmes and most are specific to different colleges. These are just two of a myriad available.

University College Dublin (UCD): The UCD Ad Astra Academy recognises exceptional students in performing arts ranging from classical musicians to actors, playwrights and directors. This scholarship offers a range of benefits including financial, mentoring and the opportunity to work with experienced professionals.

University of Galway: The Creative Arts Performance Points Scholarships recognise students in Creative Writing, Film, Digital Media, Drama and Theatre with CAO points concessions. Closing date for applications is 16th May 2025.

IDENTIFYING THE SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS:

Students and parents can explore scholarship opportunities through university websites, professional bodies, sporting organisations and private companies. There are loads! So the quickest, easiest tool to use is on Careers Portal.

They offer a scholarship explorer tool which allows parents and students research all available scholarship opportunities by course area; college or scholarship type.

Check it out here: Scholarships in Ireland | CareersPortal.ie

If you think your son or daughter may be eligible; my advice is to START THE PROCESS EARLY. Check eligibility criteria, deadlines, and application requirements. There may be detailed paperwork to complete; references to gather or personal statements to write so start now to maximise chances of success.

NEXT STEPS?

CHOOSE COURSES THAT ALIGN WITH YOUR CAREER ASPIRATIONS BEFORE APPLYING

Before applying for scholarships, students should take their time to carefully consider what course of study aligns best with their aptitudes, strengths, interests, and challenges that engage you most.

Then research the different courses and routes available, speak with career guidance or career advisors, and identify the fields of study that will engage and excite you throughout your college experience.

Many scholarships are specific to particular fields of study and involve writing a personal statement or attending an interview, so having clarity on your preferred academic direction will increase your chances of getting the scholarship and financial support.

Comment below or message me directly if you have any questions.

Blog Posting Date: 5 March 2025

Updated: 4 December 2025

How to Choose Leaving Certificate Subjects

Tue, 11 Feb 2025 15:08:48 GMT

Selecting your best senior cycle subjects to support future career decisions

Making the Right Choices for Your Future

Choosing your Leaving Certificate subjects can feel like a daunting task. At just 15 or 16 years old, you are making decisions that may influence your future education, career, and job opportunities. While it’s important to consider your options carefully, remember that many adults change careers multiple times throughout their lives. The path you choose today is not set in stone, and there are always ways to pivot in the future.

So, how can Irish students make informed, confident decisions about their Leaving Certificate subjects?

Discover What Makes You, You

In my experience working with students and professionals, many people struggle to identify what they truly enjoy and excel at. Some instinctively know what they want but lack the clarity and confidence to commit to their choice.

To support students who feel uncertain, we created the ASIC Career Discovery Model , which helps you uncover what matters most to you by identifying and exploring:

Aptitudes – Your natural abilities and the subjects you are curious about.
Skills – The skills you have already developed, enjoy using and want to develop.
Interests – What you are naturally drawn to and engaged by.
Challenges – The problems or opportunities in the world that excite and motivate you.

Uncovering your ASIC requires effort. It takes time, reflection, and research—but it will ultimately help you make more informed decisions and keep your options open for the future.

There are various assessments, tests, and exercises that can help reveal your ASIC. While career interest assessments and aptitude tests can be useful, they should be combined with other factors such as academic performance, learning styles, extracurricular activities, personal values, and long-term goals.

Talking with parents, family members, or trusted friends can also provide valuable insight. Additionally, a career guidance counsellor or career coach can offer independent, professional advice to help clarify your options.

Start with the End in Mind

Once you have a clearer sense of your ASIC, it’s time to think about the future:

Consider potential career paths that align with your ASIC. At this stage, you don’t need to pick an exact job title—just explore fields that interest you.
Dream big and cast your net wide. Try setting a one-minute timer and writing down ten careers you’ve ever considered, even briefly.
Research these careers on websites like careersportal.ie and prospects.ac.uk.
Ask yourself:

How do these careers align with my ASIC?

What other related career paths exist?

What skills and qualifications are needed?

What Leaving Certificate subjects would support these career interests?

Balancing your current interests with the requirements for your future career is key.

Work Backwards from Your Goals

Once you’ve identified potential careers, explore the courses and educational pathways that interest you. Reviewing college prospectuses (online or in print) will help you determine which subjects are most relevant and beneficial for your future.

For students aiming for direct entry into college through the CAO system , be aware of these three key hurdles:

Minimum entry requirements for colleges you’re considering.
Essential subjects required for specific courses (if any).
Leaving Certificate points needed for admission.

Some courses also have additional requirements, such as:

HPAT (Health Professions Admission Test) for Medicine.
Portfolios for Art & Design courses.
Practical experience logs for Veterinary Medicine.

Since requirements change regularly, it’s crucial to stay updated by checking course details frequently.

What Senior Cycle Subjects Should I Take To Support My Career Options?

Most Irish students take seven Leaving Certificate subjects at either Higher or Ordinary level, with some opting for an additional subject outside their school timetable. Irish and Mathematics are also available at Foundation level.

There are three compulsory subjects :

Mathematics
Irish (unless exempt)
English

Most students then choose four to five more subjects from the growing list of subject options available through the Department of Education. However, your choices will depend on what your school offers , which can vary based on school size, teacher availability, and student demand.

* Compulsory ~ May be considered a Science subject for some courses

To research each subject further, check Curriculum Online and Careers Portal .

Understanding Subject-Specific Requirements for Course Entry Requirements

Some college courses require specific subjects for entry. Here are a few key examples (not an exhaustive list, so always check individual course requirements):

Honours Maths

It is required for 72 courses (as of 2023), including Mathematics, Data Science, Financial Studies, Economics, and Engineering.

Not required for Medicine/Health Sciences, but the extra 25 points for passing Honours Maths can be beneficial to maximise CAO points.

Science Subjects

Chemistry – Required for Veterinary (UCD), Pharmacy (TCD, UCC, RCSI), Medicine (UCC, TCD).

Physics – Required f or Theoretical Physics (TCD).

Biology – Required f or Genetics (UCC), Human Health & Disease (TCD), various Health Science courses (ATU Letterkenny).

Two Sciences? - Often need ed for Medicine, Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, and Medicinal Chemistry.

European Languages

Som e NUI colleges (UCD, UCC, NUIG, Maynooth, RCSI) require a third language (exceptions exist, e.g., Engineering & Ag Science at UCD and Business & Law courses at Maynooth).

UL, DCU, TCD, and technological universities gene rally don’t require a third language unless applying for a language-focused course.

Irish

A H4 (60-70%) is required for Primary School Teaching (direct entry), though alternative pathways exist, if you are taking Irish at ordinary level.

Choosing Levels

First of all, this will depend on your ability in each specific subject. Consider your academic results to date and discuss this with your teachers.

For the CAO, your points are calculated based on your best six subjects achieved in one sitting of the leaving certificate. Honours mathematics attracts an additional 25 points (so long as you pass) and this is included in your calculation for the best six subjects.

The Leaving Certificate points system has changed over the last decade (or more!) and it should also be considered before making decisions on the selected levels of each subject.

A H5 (50% to 59%) at Higher level attracts the same points, 56, as a O1 (90% to 100%) at Ordinary level, so if you have the ability and are willing to work consistently, you should try to take your subjects are Higher level.

Balancing Practical’s, Projects, and Study

When selecting subjects, consider the workload. Many subjects have practical or project components that contribute to your final grade. Most languages also include Oral and Aural components, and English and Irish exams have multiple papers.

A teacher recently advised me that students should balance their subject mix to avoid being overwhelmed by multiple projects while also preparing for mocks, oral exams, final exams, and—if applicable—the HPAT (for Medicine) in February.

A good guideline is to choose two, or at most three, subjects with a significant practical/project component. However, with upcoming Senior Cycle curriculum reforms , more subjects will introduce project work.

This table provides a breakdown of the assessment structure for various subjects:

Note: the above percentages are based on Higher level and there may be slight adjustments to the percentages for Ordinary level.

Keeping Your Options Open

If you’re unsure about your career path, try to keep your options open by selecting subjects that span multiple disciplines which also build on your favourite subjects from Junior Cycle:

Science
Business
Applied Science
Social Science
A European language (especially for NUI universities)

Final Thoughts

Choosing your Leaving Certificate subjects is an important step, but it’s not a final decision on your career. I’ve worked with students who never took business subject at senior cycle and successfully graduated with a business degree.

Focus on subjects that align with your ASIC, balance workload effectively, and stay informed about entry requirements for college courses. Above all, remain flexible—your future is full of possibilities!

If you’re still unsure, ask questions, seek advice, and research thoroughly —your future self will thank you! ��

Building Teenagers Confidence with Strengths Cards

Wed, 08 Jan 2025 12:48:32 GMT

How to empower teenagers make better decisions with strengths-based career guidance

Parents often contact me when their son or daughter are low on ideas on what to do in the future.

Adolescents can struggle to identify what they like to do, what they are good at, or what even interests them. Some cannot easily recognise their own qualities and traits, and feel they are often like every other teenager they know. They don't see what WE see, their unique potential.

When well-intentioned parents start to identify the variety of possibilities that are out there for them; some teenagers tend to shut down the conversation. Their self-esteem may drop; confidence is low and so too is their motivation to study. They can then become overly focused on what they cannot do, rather than on what they can do.

How can we help our children see their unique potential?

Our career strengths can come from all areas of our lives, and some teenagers need help idenitfying and building awareness of their strengths. Using a strengths-based approach, I help teenagers identify their best skills and qualities and recognize how amazing and unique they are.

When I discuss with clients how they have used these strengths, skills and qualities in the past; they start to recognise how they’d like to use them again and how further study will help them use these strengths in their future career.

One way I help them identify their strengths is to use a set of cards so that they can sort and filter. These cards are particularly useful for the quieter, more reserved students.

How to use strengths cards for career conversations?

What’s Your Strengths cards, developed by Katherine Jennick, help students identify what they have done to date and tell their stories. We discuss how their top cards relate to them and as they tell their stories, they start to identify how they are at their best when they use these skills and qualities.

Recently, I was working with a Leaving Cert student who was unable to verbalise his likes, interests or strengths. We started our consultation by introducing a set of strengths cards, which he could then focus on sorting and prioritising.

He identified cards which highlighted how he:

On the flip-side of each strengths card, we reviewed the list of skills and qualities that may be relevant from his experience. He was able to identify:

skills and qualities that he got energised and excited by
skills or qualities he had not come across before
skills and qualities he'd like to develop further

Comparing a few cards, students can start to identify their strongest skills and how to relate these skills and qualities to subjects and career fields they may be interested in. We also talk about situations where they may have demonstrated these strengths in the past so that they can now clearly articulate and demonstrate these in the future.

Benefits of identifying strengths in career guidance

Once a student has recognised their strength, it's amazing to see how their confidence, self-esteem and curiosity about their future can grow.

“I’m good at hurling and I’ve got great hand-eye coordination, determination and stamina.”

“I love to help my grandparents during the summer. I go on my own, do the same set of jobs and I really enjoy the responsibility and being supportive to them. I just like helping them.”

Not only does this help them figure out next education and career steps, but it also gives them a confidence boost when seeking out their first job or going on work experience. They can now clearly articulate why this experience will suit them, and what skills they can offer a future employer.

The positive reaction to identifying students strengths is wonderful. I see students sit up straighter, smile brighter and realise they have something to build on in their future career.

A father shared this with me after his daughters’ career consultation with me, when we used strengths cards to help her build on her current strengths and interest in others:

“My daughter left (her session) today so happy and a completely different person coming out, than going in. When I joined the end of her session, the moment I walked into your office, she was confidently sitting forward in the chair and smiling broadly.”

This strengths-based approach to supporting teenagers figure out their next steps helps them:

Increase their self-awareness and self-esteem
Allows them to focus on what they can do, instead of what they can’t
Goes beyond their academic results, and helps them look at a much wider variety of potential opportunities that they can work towards
Develop their first cv and application forms (especially with very little work experience) which highlights the relevant skills and life experiences that can be relevant to their first role

If your son or daughter could use some help in seeing their potential, check out our Senior Cycle Programme , which includes the use of online assessments and cards to aid college and career exploration through the use of multiple leaving certificate career guidance tools.

#careerstrengths #careerguidance #careerconsultant #careercoach

Letting Go of Job Titles

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 10:42:20 GMT

How to Help Leaving Cert Students Make College and Career Decisions

As a parent of a Leaving Cert student, you’re likely already navigating the excitement, uncertainty, and pressure that comes with supporting your son or daughter plan their next steps. It’s tempting to focus on helping them choose a “career” – something stable and recognizable that leads to a secure future.

However, starting from the idea of a job title can feel really constrictive for them. For some, it’s like narrowing their potential paths way too soon and this creates a fear.

A fear that they are limiting their options.

A fear that they won’t like it, be bored.

A fear that they may drop out of college or that job that they invested so much in.

It’s a natural a tendency for us to name jobs and careers that we may know about. Or talk about careers that meet what we now want in our work-life, such as ‘a stable, steady job with good pension’, or ‘freedom and flexibility with work hours’.

If we approach this process of supporting our children from a much broader perspective, a wealth of options can open up for their future. Paths that, may or may not align with traditional career fields or job titles but, are rooted in purpose, joy, and their unique characteristics.

So how can we as parents support our teenagers make college or career decisions?

Step 1: Exploring Impact

Instead of asking “What career do you want?” try starting with a question about impact:

“What change would you like to see in the world?”

It’s a powerful, purpose-driven question that opens up a bigger conversation. By shifting the focus to impact, you encourage them to think about the mark they’d like to leave on the world.

For many students, they will draw a blank when it comes to this question. In client consultations, I use physical cards to help students understand what the challenges are in the world and identify what matters most to them.

When they’re exploring “impact,” they’re looking beyond job titles to what genuinely excites and motivates them. This approach allows them to consider multiple ways of making a difference, even within fields they might not initially have considered.

For example, maybe your child has identified that they are most interested in helping others learn more and reach their potential. They are also passionate about technology but are not inspired by the idea of sitting at a desk, in front of a pc, and programming all day long. They might realize that their interest lies in using technology to make education more engaging and fun.

Step 2: Discovering Essence

Every one of us has an “essence” – a core quality that drives what we’re naturally drawn to, what inspires us, and what activities feel fulfilling. For teenagers, identifying this essence can point them towards further learning and work options that are more aligned with who they are, not just what they can do.

For instance, perhaps your son or daughter has shown a love for solving complex problems. Their essence might revolve around creativity and curiosity. This doesn’t mean they’re limited to roles like engineering or data analysis. Maybe they’d feel equally at home in a career that combines problem-solving with a love of design, such as urban planning or user experience research.

One of my clients a few years ago, was really unsure about what she would do after the Leaving Certificate. We discussed her love of shopping and how she always gravitated towards cosmetic halls, more specifically perfume counters. She had already identified chemistry as a subject that drew her in a bit more than some of her other subjects, so we linked chemistry to perfumery, and she ultimately opted to pursue a degree in chemistry with an eye on moving into the perfumery industry.

Encourage students to identify the common threads in what they love. Look for the ‘connectors’. By focusing on their essence, teenagers can make career decisions that feel authentic and fulfilling for them.

Step 3: Identifying Their Unique Talents

Each of us has strengths that feel so natural we don’t always recognize them as special. These strengths, aptitudes or talents, are what others see as unique or inspiring about us.

Taking aptitude tests, interest profilers and identifying strengths can be a big step in helping teenagers understand themselves but sometimes they need someone else to help them identify how they can use and apply these in ways that are meaningful and satisfying for them.

As a parent, you may already have some ideas about their talents. Maybe you’ve noticed they’re a natural listener, or they’re great at organizing events. Encourage them to see these skills as potential building blocks for meaningful work. For example, if your child is a natural at connecting with people and putting them at ease, they might thrive in roles that involve relationship building or community engagement.

Sometimes, they might need independent career guidance to see these skills as valuable. They may view their talents as too “ordinary” or assume they’re not overly special. Encourage them to explore how they might use their unique gifts to help others and consider how these skills can be used in multiple ways. This doesn’t mean they have to choose a career solely focused on one skill, but it provides a starting point to be more curious about the world of work and education pathways.

By considering their unique talents, they may find a direction they hadn’t considered, seeing how their strengths could be used in many creative, unexpected ways.

Releasing the “Career” Label and Embracing a Path

Deciding what’s next, after the leaving certificate, is less about arriving at one specific, final destination – a defined “career” – and more about a continuous process of growth, exploration, and contribution.

When students feel pressured to choose a career from the start, it can limit their sense of possibility, focusing too much on immediate stability rather than long-term fulfilment.

By supporting teenagers in exploring impact, essence, and their unique talents, you’re helping them cultivate a sense of direction rooted in who they are and what they’re passionate about. They may still end up with a traditional career title, but the journey to get there will be fuelled by curiosity and purpose, which will keep them engaged and energised when times get tough.

Your role as a parent isn’t to direct them to a perfect career path but to help them see the potential in themselves and in the world. When they understand that their work doesn’t have to be a rigid “career,” they gain the freedom to explore, adapt, and grow.

So, take a step back from a ‘career’ or ‘job title’ and broaden the conversation to work that speaks to their heart. A fulfilling path awaits each and every student.

#careerguidance #careerconsulting #leavingcertguidance #seniorcycle #careerplanningforteens #careernavigationconsultants #petrinamitchell

College Taster Days

RG281947 — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 20:28:22 GMT

Why should I sign up to a college or professional experience taster-day?

Are you a third year, TY or senior cycle student on the brink of making decisions about life after secondary school?

Choosing the right subjects, education pathway or college can feel like a daunting task, but fear not!

College and professional experience taster days are regularly run throughout the year to guide you through this exciting journey. These experiences offer second level students a first-hand glimpse into academic programmes, campus settings, projects, hands-on activities,

and the overall atmosphere within a college or university.

They provide invaluable opportunities for students to:

dig deeper into your interests
validate (or invalidate) a preferred field of study,
interact with faculty and current students, and
envision if you can see yourself in this field of study or college.

Typically you will attend a few information sessions, workshops, and lecturer or profession led discussions, which will give insights into the different fields of study, career opportunities and really help you decide which field of study or course can align best with your aptitudes, strengths, and interests.

There is usually lots of time to engage with current (or former) students and lecturers where you can ask lots of questions, learn more about what you don’t know about the course, and ease any anxieties you may have about specific modules, career paths and courses.

I often hear my clients say they’ll " go if a friend is going ", but as a parent and career coach, I really encourage students to attend these on their own as they are a great opportunity to build independent social skills and meet like-minded students from all over Ireland who are there on their own too. Who knows, you may end up on a course together in the future!

Over the years, I’ve found that clients who can attend college taster days make much better, informed decisions about their future. And when study gets tough and the hours drag on in their Leaving Cert year, they focus in with clarity on what their goals are for after the Leaving Cert; why this career direction suits them and reflect on the enjoyment and curiosity that the taster experience gave them.

In deciding your best options post senior cycle; first of all, detect your interest, aptitudes and strengths. Then discovering what fields engage and excite you; what you are curious about and how you can take your best steps towards that.

So seize the opportunity and explore your best options for future study by signing up for a college taster or work experience programme.

Here’s some links that may be useful, however keep an eye on the websites and social media channels of colleges and schools of interest, as they always post taster day sessions on these marketing platforms.

University of Galway:

These are aimed at TY and fifth year students with closing dates on 24 ^th March and 27 ^th March. For more information and sign ups, click on web link below:

6 ^th April: College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science

10 ^th April: College of Arts, Business, Law and Computer Science

11th April: Arts, Engineering, Science, Computer Science & Podiatric Medicine

University of Limerick:

26 ^th & 27 ^th June 2024: UL Nursing and Midwifery Summer Camp

TUS, Moylish, Limerick:

8th to 10th May: 5th Year Engineering Taster Days

Engineering (Online):

Engineers Ireland run a 4 hours virtual work experience which any secondary level student can sign up & complete in their own time, between 29 January and 26 April.

Engineers Ireland: Engineering with STEPS, Virtual Work Experience

How to Engage Teenagers in Career and Life Planning Conversations

Fri, 28 Apr 2023 17:01:48 GMT

Tips for Parents Struggling to Communicate with their Teenagers about Future Plans

Are you finding it challenging to engage your teenager in conversations about their future plans? Do you often feel shut out or ignored when you bring up the topics of career, college or next steps? As a parent, it can be frustrating when we want to help and support our children but don't know how to break through their communication barriers.

In this blog post, we introduce the BRIEF model – a five-step approach to having short, succinct conversations with teenagers and young adults. We share tips on how to

use this model to discuss careers and life planning with your teenager and give examples of how to apply each step in practice.

I recently came across a model for engaging teenagers in conversations which I thought may help us. As a parent of two teenage boys (and one other son off-the-payroll), I know about the rolling-eyes and conversation avoidance strategies. Sometimes, I just have to back-off on conversations and consider an alternative strategy.

This approach, from the author Michelle Icard, in her book ‘ Fourteen Talks by Age Fourteen ’ is termed the BRIEF model and covers five steps.

Michelle recommends short and succinct conversations work best with teenagers and young adults, while avoiding trying to squeeze everything you want to discuss into one big conversation.

How can we use the BRIEF model to discuss careers and life planning with teenagers?

B - Begin peacefully:

Initiate the conversation by expressing a gentle and broad curiosity about the subject. Is your teenager more receptive to talking about something when they have some thinking done about it? By letting them know or giving them the heads-up that you’d like to talk something specific in the next few days, they can consider the topic a little more or maybe even kick start some research.

For example, “I’d like to hear what you are thinking about doing over the summer months. Perhaps we can get some time at the weekend to talk about it?”

R – Relate to your child:

There’s always a giggle in our house, when we say ‘when I was your age’. But there’s value in it. We’re sharing what our experiences were like – good, bad or indifferent – so they know what it was like for us.

By trying to relate to your son or daughter with empathy, compassion, and / or vulnerability, we can share with our teenager that the topic (we need to discuss) may be sensitive and difficult for one or all of you.

To follow up on the above example, you may say “I know you found last summer tedious and you were often bored, with little money to go and do stuff with your friends.”

I – Interview to collect information:

From a neutral, unbiased approach, ask your teenager what they know or feel about a topic. It’s important to adopt a curiosity mindset and just listen. Let them fill you in without trying to catch them out or immediately highlight gaps in their knowledge. Ask lots of short, open ended questions.

“What would you like to do this summer? Where you can start to plan that? What else are you thinking about?”

E – Echo what you’re hearing:

Gently relay what you have heard, but again be careful to just tell them what you have heard without any judgement. Avoid filing them in on the gaps that you may feel there is, or the concerns that you may have at this time.

“So you’re interested in getting a few hours work each week and concerned that it may impact your ability to attend training or be available for games. As you are 16, you’ve heard from others that some of the larger shops require summer students be at least 17 or 18. You want to do something this summer but just not sure what you can do.”

F – Give Feedback:

This is the final step and it’s crucial that we hold off on giving feedback until the end. In this way, we have kept the conversation going, built trust by carefully listening and understanding their perspective first. Then we can ask if they’d like help and support.

For example, “would you like me to help you figure out what kind of summer jobs you may do?” or “perhaps we can talk to Joe in XYZ who has takes on summer students each year and see what number of hours they typically do, rosters and age restrictions?”

If you are a parent wishing to positively engage with your son or daughter about their future plans, try implementing the BRIEF model in your conversations. By following these steps, you can create a safe and open environment for your teenager to share their thoughts and feelings about their future, and you can offer support and guidance to help them achieve their goals.

I've shared this model with some recent clients, and by following this approach they then encouraged their teenager to meet with me to explore their best career and college options further. Get in touch if you'd like me to help your son or daughter.

Want to find out more? Book a 10 minute phone call with me - find a time that suits you.

How to prepare for college open days

Wed, 22 Mar 2023 18:12:23 GMT

Tips and strategies to help teenagers make the most of college open days

College open days are invaluable for students and parents to get a real sense of what the college is like and get first-hand information about the courses of interest.

So how can parents help their teenagers make the most of college open days so that they can make informed decisions about their college and course options?

For Leaving Certificate students, in particular, the Spring Open Days provide them with a final opportunity to review and decide their order of preference for CAO applications.

But, college open days are not just for Leaving Certificate students. Junior Certificate, Transition Year and Senior Cycle students all benefit massively from visiting college open days before they even need to submit a CAO application.

Starting the college exploration process early allows them time to:

- research a wide variety of courses and career fields

- dive deeper into areas of interest which may ultimately help them select their best junior certificate subjects

- identify work experience opportunities, and / or

- focus on their senior cycle studies with more clarity now that they know what they can look forward to upon completion.

To make the most of your attendance at a college open day, here’s some tips to ensure that you can stay focused and don’t get distracted during the day.

1. Research fields of study:

Before you go, identify your preferred career fields or schools of interest (e.g. Engineering or Science or Business).

Research the specific courses that you want to learn more about. All prospectus are online and most course web-pages have video’s, text and testimonials from students.

Check out the minimum course entry requirements. There’s little point in attending a live talk to then find that you are not studying the subjects that are listed as a minimum entry requirement.

2. Plan ahead:

Think about who you are going to go with. Is it a parent or a friend, and do they know what you want to achieve for the day?

Register in advance on the college website to get timetables, campus maps and QR codes. You may also need to sign up for presentations, talks or workshops that have restrictions on numbers, so book early.

If you find that two live presentations clash; then enlist a parent or friend to attend. Chat with them about what you don’t know for that course and ask them to take notes.

3. Make a list questions:

Having reviewed online information and prospectus; write out a list of questions and store them in your Notes app (or similar). As you go through the day; review these questions and make sure that you are getting them answered.

Think about work experience opportunities; studying a foreign language as an extra; Erasmus options; module choices; end of year assessments and anything else that you are unclear of.

4. Talk with current students:

One of the best insights to a course is to talk with current students, and there is usually a few readily available on open days. Here’s some questions that you can ask them:

- What they enjoy about the course?

- What are the different module choices that need to be made and when?

- How many lecture hours per week?

- What projects are they completing?

- What are their prospective career paths?

- Will they need to do further study?

Now what else would you add to this list?

5. Clubs and support services:

Check out the various support services, clubs and societies of interests.

It’s also important to get more information on accommodation, including price, availability, booking dates, locations, and alternatives to campus accomodation.

Be sure to check out transport options to / from the college. If you are lucky enough to be driving; find out about parking options.

You may also find stands or rooms where you can get more information about sponsorships and bursaries, as there are a variety of these in many colleges, and the eligibility varies widely. If you don't ask, you won't know; and if you're not in, you can't win.

6. Limit screentime:

Ok, I feel like a ‘dinosaur’ mentioning this (and I know my sons will cringe when they read this!). I’ve attended a few open days over the last few months, and I’ve seen so many students more engaged with their phones than experiencing the college culture and vibe. It all matters.

So stay focused on why you are there and maximise the time. Avoid getting distracted by other things (or friends who may have completely different interests) and enjoy the few hours. Soak it all in. Would you like to be here for the next three to four years?

7. Reflect and plan next steps for after the Leaving Cert:

Think about what you learned today; what did you experience and what else do you need to do now to explore your options further? Are there any other questions that you have after today? What other colleges or courses do you need to investigate?

For parents, if your teenager has attended an open day, it provides an opportunity to discuss their experience; identify any concerns or issues, and provide support in their college decision making process. Here’s some questions to help reflect:

- What did you like most about the college open day?

- What surprised you the most?

- Were there any aspects of the college (or specific courses) that concern you or you didn’t like?

- What did you learn (that you did not know before) from current students or lecturers?

- How does this college (and / or courses) compare to others you have visited or are considering?

- Based on what you know today, how would you prioritize the courses of interest to you?

By following these seven tips, parents can help their teenage children stay on track and avoid getting distracted during a college open day. Open days are a wonderful experience and as parents, we want to ensure that they make the most of the day and gain valuable insights into the colleges and courses so that they can make their best CAO choices.

If you, or your son or daughter, need independent support to make decisions about their college and course options after the leaving certificate, please get in touch .

How to help teenagers land their first job

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 12:53:51 GMT

Tips for Parents to Support Student's Secure their First Job

As a career coach, I understand the importance of helping teenagers get their first job. A first job can set the tone for a young person's career and instill valuable life skills such as responsibility, time management, and financial independence. And equally, I regularly hear from teenagers and recent graduates that they found out in their first job what they definitely don't want to do in their future careers.

How did you get your first job?

When I was 14 I walked into a retail store, and waited for the owner to finish serving a customer, before walking up to him and telling him why I wanted to work in his shop. Primarily, it was my interest in sport and I also wanted to get a job so that I could avoid the farm work that my dad would find for me to do during the summer!

I introduced myself and told the shop owner what time I could start / finish work at (had to get public transport) and that I’d happily work for three trial days for free. Within 24 hours, he called me to come in the following day.

Many students and graduates get their first job over the summer holidays, and each summer I hear from parents who would love their children to start working, if only for just a few hours every week. Those who take action and get talking with others will find that, opportunities open up and they will land a job, even if it’s for just a few hours a week initially. Luck happens when you get out there and are visible.

Start with some key questions

Help them start thinking about what kind of work they would you like to do?

How many hours, and what hours, can they commit to?

Is location an issue (especially if they are reliant on public transport or lifts to get to / from work)? Encourage them to check out bus times so that they know what they can feasibly do.

Look ahead

Encourage them to identify jobs that they would like to do, and help them explore the type of skills needed to do those jobs. Think about what they are going to do, or are doing, in college and what kind of work will develop their skills. First jobs help showcase their skills and are often the basis for many internship or graduate interviews and a super way to create networks for future work.

Create a cv

Support teenagers to create a simple cv that showcases what they have done to date. It doesn't need to be more than one page, but let it highlight their energy, interests, and initiative. Use templates in Microsoft Word or Canva to get started.

Ensure a good online presence

It's important to ensure that students have a clean and appropriate social media presence. Tidy up any posts or comments that you are not proud of a future employer reviewing. Make sure their WhatsApp image is appropriate.

Research

Keep an eye on job boards, Instagram, Facebook, and other advertisements, but don’t let them hide behind a phone or laptop. Most people get their first job through contacts or by putting themselves directly in front of business owners and managers.

Ask for help

Talk to family, uncles, aunts, friends, and neighbours to see if they know of opportunities at their workplace or have contacts that are worth checking in with. If you have identified workplaces that regularly hire part-time staff, then encourage teenagers to talk with those that work there already and find out how they got their job and who is the best manager to talk with. Referrals for current staff are a great way to open the door.

Prepare a pitch

Help them prepare a short 10- to 15-second pitch that they can use, when walking into shops and businesses and handing in your CV. This is really important so that they can show how well they can communicate with others. Managers are much more willing to hire students without a work track record when they can show how great they communicate.

Be persistent

Finding a first job can be challenging, but persistence is key. It's important to encourage them to apply for multiple opportunities, follow up with contacts, and stay positive throughout the process. Keeping themselves visible is also really important, as is following up and regularly letting others know that you are seeking work. If they don't receive a positive response from an employer, its important to encourage them to ask for referrals or to be kept on file for future opportunities.

Check your phone, messages and email regularly

During my time as a Recruiter, it was amazing the number of students who only responded to phone messages and emails every few days. Employers and managers tend to hire young people quickly, so be responsive. Typically, managers will call a few people at a time, and if you don't respond quickly, then they'll move on.

Please share in the comments how you got your first, paying job so that you can inspire teenagers and students.

Get your CV to "Yes"

Mon, 18 Jan 2021 16:13:12 GMT

Want to get your cv noticed and increase your chances of securing an interview? Check out this list of cv tips and hacks to make sure you're on the right track.

Over the years, in my role as an in-house Recruiter and HR Director, I’ve seen way too many cv’s generically written. If you cv doesn’t tell an external recruiter or employer what you do, how you do it and what you want to do next; then they will possibly throw your cv to the ‘no’ or ‘maybe’ pile.

Many recruiters make their ‘yes - no – maybe’ decision within 10-15 seconds of reading a cv . If you find you are getting calls for interviews to the same type of job year in, year out, or not getting called to interviews at all; then check out the first twenty words on your cv. These first words need to tell recruiters and hiring managers that you are simply, a great match for the job and they need to find out more about you.

If you provided these first twenty words to a friend or colleague (without any other detail); would they know it’s you? Can they paraphrase back to you what you do, how you do it and what you want to do next?

CV’s need to be clear, succinct, memorable and packed full of enthusiasm. They need to convey your personality too so that you get remembered amongst a sea of applicants.

If you want to get your cv taken seriously, here are some cv hacks that will help you redesign your cv and land on the ‘yes’ pile?

- Put your personal details, out-of-date qualifications and job information to the end of the cv. Don’t waste their time with this detail at the outset.

- Frame your experiences in a way that demonstrates how you meet the qualifications and skills required in the job posting.

- When outlining your employment history; start with your most recent job. State your job title, company and then employment dates. Keep the most important information first and put the strongest information / bullet point at the top of each list.

- Ensure your dates of employment and education align and if there are significant gaps, address them on the cv or be ready to talk about them at interview.

- Know what words and / or phrases pack a punch in your industry and ensure you use them cleverly. Keep your sentences, short, focused and ensure that they capture attention of the reader.

- Provide facts, figures and metrics where you can, as these bring more credibility to your achievements.

- Write your profile after you have compiled the rest of the cv. A well written profile statement should tell any reader:

Who YOU are
WHAT you offer in terms of unique skills, knowledge and ability, and
What’s NEXT, which can be a target job statement or what your next job / company will look like.

- Your profile statement is your elevator pitch so practice speaking it out loud so that it becomes more concise and natural.

- Ensure there is plenty of white space and the text is big enough to read quickly.

- Check for typos, grammar and use the Read Aloud feature on MS Word to find any incomplete sentences or phrasing.

- Share your cv, cover letter and job posting with a friend and ask them for feedback on how you match the job you are applying for.

- Save in PDF and format the file name as 'Last Name_First Name_Job Posting' so that it is makes life easier for the recruiter to download and save.

Finally, if you need help getting your message right, so that you can stand out from the crowd and get to the ‘yes’ pile, let’s talk so that we can schedule a 90-minute Career Boost session to fire up your job search.

Top Tips for Parents of Leaving Cert Students

Tue, 05 Jan 2021 19:34:10 GMT

Guiding young people to make their best decisions for after the Leaving Cert

During the teenage years, it is important to stimulate conversations around careers to facilitate career thinking and encourage exploration of the various career options. However parents are wary of becoming highly authoritative or authoritarian especially in light of the portrayal of helicopter parents, and most recently tiger moms, in the media. So how can we balance our want, to support, and our need, to ensure that they make their best choices?

Here are some guiding tips to help parents support and inspire their teenage children to explore the best college and career options for them.

INSPIRE:

Don’t take the lead for your teenager by deciding what careers to investigate, rather encourage them to explore as many options as possible initially. Inspire them to start identifying people in different careers. These can be tv characters, friends and family members, etc. or they might be intrigued by what some of their older friends or family are studying in college. What’s important at this stage is that you don’t take control and name careers. Rather encourage exploration around what elements of careers are attractive to them.

SHARE:

Discuss your own career story with your children. Do they know exactly what you do and how it fulfils you? Think about:

- As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?

- Talk about your interests and how these have impacted your career development.

- If you attended college; why did you choose your particular course and how did you enjoy it.

- What jobs have you had over the years and what did you learn from each of them? Identify the positives and negatives, however ensure to frame your discussion around the negatives in terms of what you learned from the experience.

- Talk about what you are passionate about in your job; what energises and engages you in the workplace; etc.

- And how do you make career decisions? Think about job changes, promotions, etc.

Use career related language as you discuss your career story – talk about cv’s, application forms, job descriptions, performance appraisals, compensation packages, promotions, etc. Encourage your teenager to start creating their own cv so that they can start identifying skills, experience and qualifications achieved.

EXPLORE:

Rather than naming careers that you think they may be suited to; it’s better to start by identifying their skills, preferences and interests. Some good questions to start with include:

- What are your skills? What kind of things are you good at? Think about both at school and at home. If your child has worked part time, volunteered or did some work experience; what tasks did s/he do and what did s/he learn?

- What are your interests? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? What would you do for free?

o Consider music; reading current affairs; building models; watching history programmes; etc.

- What are your unique personal qualities? What makes you different from some of your friends?

o This could be confidence around others; making presentations; helping others with their homework; practical minded; etc.

IDENTIFY:

When we use our strengths at work, it increases our likelihood of success and happiness in our career. It is much easier for parents to recognise their strengths than it is for your son or daughter, so regularly identify and name what they are good at. Talk about how they feel when they are doing something that is a natural strength? Are they energised, engaged and focused? Does time fly by?

Then discuss what type of career fields their strengths may be beneficial in. Brainstorm with them on this, rather than identify the careers directly. For example, ‘doing detailed research and distilling it clearly for others to understand’ is very useful within law, but equally so in the fields of journalism, business, politics, etc. If you define the career(s), it limits the possibilities based on your understanding of how it can be applied. So don’t box them in and encourage them to explore further.

RESEARCH:

In order to inspire them further, encourage and engage with them to use websites to explore career fields further. Be sure to check out the very useful Irish and UK websites which provide detailed information on occupations, future skills needs, earnings potential, etc. Check out www.careersportal.ie and a UK equivalent, https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/

The world of work is changing rapidly and many parents have a limited view outside of their immediate career. Encourage your child to explore all options after their Leaving Certificate. In addition to applying to the universities and colleges through the CAO, talk about other options including further education training with www.fetchcourses.ie , www.apprenticeship.ie , overseas universities and private education organisations.

Taking a focused year out is also another option, where they may travel or get a job where they can build skills and experience which will help them clarify the direction that they want to take their career in.

ENGAGE:

Once the student has started to narrow down the list of potential career possibilities, it’s time to engage and leverage your network of friends, family and colleagues. These will be able to identify people who are working in their interested fields and enable them to meet and interview professionals currently working in these careers.

Once you have made the connection, then help them to email or call the contact to set up a meeting to gather further information on this career. It’s very tempting to schedule and attend the meeting but don’t. This is all part of building confidence for their future, as well as enabling them to develop skills in research and information gathering.

SUPPORT :

Sometimes students require additional help to identify, evaluate and make the best decisions for their futures. There are a range of options out there for them. Encourage them to set up a one to one session with their school guidance counsellor or engage the help of an experienced, private careers consultant who will engage and inspire your child.

Why do parents of Leaving Certificate students decide to get private career guidance in Galway?

All schools have Guidance Counsellors employed on a part time or full time basis. The time allocated to individual one to one consultations with each student is limited and in some cases consists of one, 40-minute session during Leaving Cert year. Guidance Counsellors are in high demand and stretched to support student well-being and mental health, as well as preparing large numbers of students in college / career direction decisions, while in some cases, teaching too.

When we, as parents, make important decisions in life and our careers, we like to seek out second opinions from trusted others. This is especially true when we perhaps feel overwhelmed with a wide range of options in front of us. It takes time to make decisions and sometimes that time is not available within the school guidance setting.

All parents want to ensure that their child can make well-informed decisions on their next steps after school. However despite having perhaps gone through the CAO process many years ago, the world of work and education is changing rapidly and parents sometimes only know careers within their own industry or field.

Some students are crystal clear on their career direction whereas many others need to research and explore options before making any decisions. Without help, some students get anxious and stuck, which affects their motivation to study and focus on the Leaving Certificate. Clients tell us that by helping them get clarity on their next steps, they can then focus on their studies much more effectively.

By making an appointment with a private career professional, parents know that their child will receive dedicated one to one expert support with focused attention on their unique strengths, talents and potential. An online career guidance session may result in the student deciding to stick with their first option however they will have considered and explored alternative options during their guidance session.

I have worked with many students who were tunnel-visioned on one course, and one college only. A private career guidance session can help students explore alternative options so that they have plans B, C and D. This can help relieve pressure which tends to builds closer to the Leaving Certificate exams, especially when the student has limited themselves to one course and one college.

At the end of private career sessions, parents and student receive a dedicated report to support decision making and receive direction on what next steps can be researched and followed through to ensure that their child moves forward with clarity and confidence. A good Careers Advisor will also follow up with clients to ensure that they are confident about their next steps, whether that is CAO applications, apprenticeships, further education, taking a focused, year out or kick starting their work-life.

Subject Choice for Leaving Certificate and Junior Certificate

We offer parents and students guidance on subject choices too primarily at Senior Cycle levels, starting from age 15 onwards. The variety of choices available can be quite confusing and making subject choices is important to ensure that subjects chosen support future college and career ambitions. Understanding ambitions, interests and strengths prior to choosing Leaving Certificate subjects, will maximise opportunities at a later stage. Timetabling issues within schools can also result in reduced choice therefore it’s important to analyse options carefully, choose well and avoid difficulties later on.

Attending Virtual Galway College Open Days

Due to the Covid pandemic, colleges are now offering an alternative to the traditional, on-campus open days to provide Leaving Certificate level students with an understanding of college life through campus tours, course information sessions and an opportunity for Q&A’s with both professors and current students.

There is a variety of information to explore and students say that they felt they were getting lots of information at open days. However at the end of some sessions, they later realised that they didn’t pick up the information that they really needed to make good, informed decisions.

So how can parents help their son or daughter avoid getting distracted by information overload, and bright lights, at a virtual event so that they can get the most out of their time attending?

1. Register in advance to get links, log-in codes and the event schedule. A few days before the event, you will receive information on the technology to be used; a timetable and detail of the live presentations; live chats and virtual booths where you can go and ask Q&A.

2. Identify and research your preferred career fields beforehand so that you know what departments you want to learn more about. Research the specific courses that are of interest and prepare a list of questions which will help you explore the course further and figure out if these courses are good options for you.

3. Make a list of the live presentations you need to attend. You will have a choice of between four to six presentations for each time slot so you will have to be selective. If you need to prioritize and cannot attend a presentation that you feel might also interest you; enlist a parent or friend to attend those sessions. Let them know what information you need answers to and give them a list of questions to ask.

4. Most colleges now have virtual campus tours on their websites. Look at these and then figure out what else you need to know about college life on campus? Do you need to learn more about accommodation, transport, social clubs, sports, etc? If you are potentially eligible for performance or sports scholarships; there will be representatives available to answer questions on these too.

5. Have a friend or family member with you to take notes and bring you food and drink as you may be online for a few hours ��. Use a Course Exploration Worksheet to take specific course notes as you progress to help keep track of key elements of each course of interest. If a college representative is of particular interest to you; take their name as you will be able to follow up with them after the event is over with additional questions.

6. Debrief after the session with your friends, parents and trusted advisors. Rate and rank each course at the end of the day out of 10. What additional information do you now need to gather to help you make your CAO course decisions later on in the year?

7. Finally, don’t do just one virtual open day. Register and log on to others so you can compare and contrast colleges and courses which will help you ensure that you make the best choices on your road to college.

If you’d like a Course Investigation Worksheet to help you explore the best college courses for you, then leave a message in comments or email me petrina@careernavigationconsultants.com

To view recordings from previous Autumn Open Days and to find out when the next upcoming open days for Galway colleges will take place, check out:

http://www.nuigalway.ie/opendays/

https://www.gmit.ie/general/open-day

How do I know my teenager is ready for college?

I get asked this question a lot from parents. A few years ago, my 18 year old son packed up and moved away from home to start college in Limerick. I didn’t give it a huge amount of thought at the time. Was he ready?

As far as I was concerned, he had got the points and was accepted into college on a course that was close to the top of his CAO list. TICK

We went shopping so he had his duvet, bed linen, clothes, etc. All the practical bits and bobs required. TICK

He got stuck into freshers week. He partied. He attended lectures (or so I was told). He made new friends. He was coming home with washing. And raiding the fridge on Sunday evening. TICK

However towards the end of the first semester, I realised it wasn’t all plain sailing. The whole college experience wasn’t what he initially anticipated. Although there was plenty of free hours in the day; time flew by, tutorials were missed and assignments were piling up. It was becoming apparent that he wasn’t overly happy in his course.

One in six third-level students don’t complete first year in college in Ireland. The change and freedom offered to new college students is massive and requires a significant step-up in maturity. A lot of maturing happens between 16-18 years. However all students mature at different paces so just because a student gets offered a place in college; it doesn’t necessarily translate into him / her being ready for college.

How can we, as parents, tell if our teenagers are ready for college?

Here’s seven questions to help determine if your teenager is ready:

1. Who is researching courses and applying to the CAO?

2. Can your teenager cope with challenges, such as setbacks, doubt and disappointment?

3. Can your teenager take personal responsibility for themselves (think self-care, going to bed at a reasonable time, eating well, engaging with professors, etc)?

4. Can your teenager manage their own time? Do they need constant reminders?

5. Has your teen shown that they can manage themselves (without their family stepping in to support or rescue)?

6. Can you teenager assess risk?

7. Why do they want to go to college? Is it really their decision to go?

A careers consultant can help parents and their son or daughter understand if college is the best option for them. There are many other alternative options to be considered post Leaving Certificate. A private career consultation would help students understand their motivation and drivers for attending college or not, and identify alternative options which may suit them better.

What questions to ask Career Guidance Counsellors or Career Guidance Advisors in Galway?

Before signing up to work with a private career consultant in Ireland, I advise parents to check out websites and call the career counsellor that will be engaging directly with your son or daughter.

Here’s some questions to help determine if the career guidance professional is right for you and your child:

- What type of career profiling assessments do you use? Are these online or in person? What professional body accredits these assessments?

- How do you identify strengths?

- What range of career and college opportunities do you typically investigate with students?

- What reports and follow up is provided after the session(s)?

- What programmes and services are offered? What is the length of each session? Are they online? What technology is used and how interactive are the sessions?

- What are your professional credentials and industry experience?

- Do you provide support for CAO and non-CAO courses (e.g. FE’s, apprenticeships, UCAS, European colleges, etc.)?

- What additional services do you offer, apart from career guidance to leaving cert students in Galway?

- Can my son or daughter get feedback on their cv’s, applications and interviews for work experience, part time and graduate jobs?

- Have you any referrals / recommendations that we can review?

If you need more information about me and working with me, check out my profile on Linked In and also here

About Career Navigation Consultants

Petrina Mitchell at Careers Navigation Consultants, has over 20 years’ of experience working in HR & People Development roles across multiple industries so I know careers, development paths and how to guide people towards success. We work with teenagers from 15 years of age and use a mixture of coaching exercises, questioning and accredited career assessments to reveal students interests, aptitudes and strengths and match these to potential career fields. We provide an in-depth report on the best subjects, course options, and careers while also debriefing parents after the career consultation. Contact us today for more information.

How to find the best jobs during the Coronavirus period

Mon, 30 Mar 2020 10:58:10 GMT

This post provides actionable tips on what you can do during the Covid-19 restrictions to increase your chances of finding employment.

Despite the economic and health challenges being presented to us all at the moment, there are still many companies recruiting who have an immediate need to fill key roles.

Many employees who may not be able to work from home are committed to returning to their employer when the coronavirus containment measures are lifted, however there are many more who have returned from overseas; are about to graduate from college or are unsure if their current employer will be re-opening in the near future.

I’ve worked in HR for over 20 years and have also had to look for work in the middle of recessions. Over the last two weeks, I’ve been helping clients who now need to successfully navigate their job search during this pandemic, so I’ve written some tips on how to land your job during the Covid-19 crisis.

1. Polish your cv

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to initially screen candidate cv’s to manage the hiring process. This is how the HSE & NHS are managing the thousands of applications being received for their latest request for additional staff.

It’s critical that your cv gets past the ATS and is seen by a pair of human eyes. To do this, ensure your cv contains key words and phrases which are peppered throughout the job description.

Your cv should not only tell future employers what jobs you have done in the past, but how you did it. List how you excelled and performed in past roles, rather than just stating the job tasks. Your cv needs to sell your soft skills as well as your technical skills and when you do this effectively, a future employer can start to visualise how you will fit in, and excel, in their role.

Have a cv and cover letter ready to go, but customise it for each position you are applying for. And don’t forget to save the version that you submit so that you can easily refer to it when you get called for more information or interview. It’s much easier than scrambling through your ‘Sent Items’ folder to find out which version of your cv was sent for that job.

2. Build your professional network

If you already have a LinkedIn profile, update it to more accurately reflect your career and skills. Ensure your profile is optimised so that recruiters can find you and set up alerts so that you are can easily find jobs that would interest you.

Be active on professional social media sites (for some industries, Instagram or Facebook may be more appropriate). Connect with people in your preferred industry and target companies. Join industry groups and become proactive online by regularly commenting on posts that interest you.

Many people are working from home or not actively working at present, so now is a great time to reach out to them and ask them for an Informational Interview to learn more about the industry, potential opportunities and what you can do to position yourself better for when roles arise.

I also encourage clients to do some gentle hustling i.e. inform your contacts that you are searching for opportunities and ask if they know of any roles that are, or will be arising in the near future.

Even in periods of low unemployment, up to 60% of roles in Ireland were hired through word of mouth and referrals.

3. Set up online job alerts

There is a myriad of job boards online so I recommend reviewing some and highlighting the key ones that will work best for you. Most sites now have job alerts services so you can get immediate notification of roles that match your criteria.

Check out jobs.ie , irishjobs.ie , and Indeed . If you are focusing on jobs within the public and civil sector, be sure to register with publicjobs.ie . If you are soon to graduate, or have graduated within the last two years, check out gradireland.ie

Don’t forget to keep an eye on the local newspapers and search directly on career pages on your preferred target companies’ website.

4. Be proactive and patient

As many teams are now operating remotely, it’s important to be patient during the hiring process. Some decisions may be a little slower than usual and at times, HR may need to stall a process due to changing business demands.

Always respond to emails, no matter what the message. Even a simple ‘thank you’ lets the recruiter know that you still engaged. Empathise with the sender if they inform you that they won’t be proceeding at this time and highlight that you are still interested in hearing from them should they have other opportunities. From my experience, during times of great business uncertainty, employers can reverse decisions within a few days.

Despite this, as a job hunter you must be very responsive. If the company is looking for extra resources during this time, they want people that are reliable and quick to respond.

Monitor your email a few times a day, and get back to recruiters or hiring managers immediately. They won’t hang around too long for you to get in touch with them. From chatting to a few recruiters who are busily trying to find new hires for stretched teams, they are ready to hire within a few hours if they can find someone with the right skillset.

5. Keep an open mind

By applying for a job, you aren’t committing to anything. You aren’t deciding if you want to take the job, just if you want to meet the hiring team and find out more about the job.

Although you may ideally be looking for a permanent, full time position; consider fixed term roles if the position matches your job search criteria. Freelance or self-employed options should also be considered which can be found via LinkedIn , Fiverr , Upwork , etc. Many of these situations may ultimately lead to the offer of a longer term offer of employment.

Many companies are now working remotely due to coronavirus but equally, there are also many companies that do not have a physical office in Ireland and have people permanently working remotely e.g. Shopify , Scrapinghub , etc.

Other companies may be based in New York or California, or elsewhere in the world and want to expand their talent base so are open to hiring staff anywhere in the world. Check out this open source document for an up to date list of remote jobs.

If you get refused for a position, be sure to thank the recruiter for their time and most importantly, ask for feedback on your application. The most successful way to get feedback is to ask for a phone call with the recruiter and while you are talking with them, you can also ask about other opportunities that may potentially arise and the hot-skills required within the company and industry.

As an in-house recruiter for many years, I always gave much more constructive feedback verbally rather than in writing. A candidates’ request for feedback always highlighted their true passion and interest in the job and the company. So inevitably, if another role opened up which was much more suited to them; we would just call them and discuss it with them to determine if they were interested, often before incurring additional advertising costs.

6. Be ready for video interviews

Due to the physical / social distancing measures, be prepared to jump on video conferencing interviews with little notice during the day. These can be Live Interviews or Recorded Interviews, where you are asked to record yourself answering a few questions and these video’s are then shared with the key hiring managers.

Spend some time using Zoom, Google Hangouts and Skype to ensure that you are clear on how they work on your laptop or device. It’s great to have a home office area that looks clutter and distraction free. And ensure your laptop or camera captures your face in the centre of the screen.

If using a mobile device, ensure that you can prop it up on books or a stand, rather than holding it in your hand, especially if you are nervous. It will make you even more nervous if you can see your phone shaking in your hand.

And definitely avoid sitting on a sofa as it will feel much too casual. You don’t want to feel as if you are chatting with your best buddy during an interview for your dream job.

7. Accept a job, if offered

If you are starting in your career or pivoting into a new career field, I recommend that if you are offered a job, to take it. During periods of high unemployment, if you are in a job and have strong references; your next job will be much easier to land.

Taking a job during the pandemic will enable you to get real life experience and you can build out your cv further. Especially if you are in your twenties, most employers don’t expect you to spend much longer than 2 years in your first job out of college.

So even if you wait just six months in a role that you got hired in during the pandemic; employers will not hold it against you if you can clearly explain the benefits of switching to a new employer after just a few months.

Be prepared to work from home initially. If it’s a mid to larger size employer, it’s likely that most of their onboarding programmes will be completed online and in the comfort of your home. So during interviews, now more than ever, it’s worth highlighting how comfortable you are working independently yet are comfortable asking for help if unsure of how to proceed on assigned tasks.

8. Continue up-skilling

Check out the latest software in use in your career field. This period of downtime will give you an opportunity to learn the latest tools of the trade and if you are considering remote work opportunities, check out Google Hangouts, Slack , Trello , etc.

There is oodles of free training on Coursera , Masterclass , etc., so it’s worth tackling some courses. Not only will you be honing your skills but you will be able to weave these into your interviews and add to your cv, which will show future employers that you take initiative, are passionate about learning and are clued into the skills needed for future success in the workplace.

Brush up on your tech skills too such as Data Analytics, Advanced Excel and take some of the Google Digital Certifications to become certified in PPC, SEO, etc. Or perhaps you need to focus on Business Writing skills.

If you are currently based in Ireland and considering longer term up-skilling programmes, check out the courses available through Springboard .

The key is not to waste this time, and even doing two hours a day on up-skilling will reap its rewards for you in the months to come.

Finally, it’s easy to get your hopes up when you see a promising job but focusing too much on one job can result in you putting the brakes on pursuing other opportunities. Job searching is a numbers game so aim to have at least five to ten applications in the pipeline at any time.

Mind your mental health, there will be good days and bad days during any job search, so take breaks and get out (Skype or Zoom) and talk to people. The more you engage with others, the more success you will have in your search.

If you are baffled about what you should do in your career and need help to figure out your next step, we offer career consulting services (via Zoom currently). By working with us, our clients avoid the stress, pain and confusion in uncovering their next career step so that they can start earning much quicker than they would on their own.

Inspiring teenagers to make their best career & college decisions

Tue, 14 Jan 2020 15:15:43 GMT

How can parents best support teenagers to reflect and explore the variety of career and college options open to them while balancing their son or daughters' need to figure it out for themselves and take ownership for their decisions?

Last weekend, I attended a regional careers fair in Castlebar and delivered a workshop to adolescents and their parents who were struggling with the dreaded question: “So what are you going to do after school?”

When my eldest son was in his senior cycle (16 to 18 years old), despite having many years of experience in HR and People Development roles in Tech, Engineering and Service sectors, I often struggled with our conversations about his college and career decisions.

I wanted to encourage him to look at a broad spectrum of careers and understand why they may, or may not, be a good fit for him. He wanted to spend any spare time with friends or playing sports. He was clear on what he didn’t want, and was keen to keep all his future career options open. I wanted to ensure he made the right course choice, first time, and we could avoid the financial burden if course changes or postgrad studies were later required.

His college experience had a few bumps along the way, primarily because of subject choices, but he got there and successfully graduated with an Arts Degree before moving into Accountancy and is now happily working in New York. Thankfully, he was accepted onto a Graduate Program in his final year; got sponsored to do his Postgraduate studies and although his younger self was sure he didn’t want a 9-5 office job, he is enjoying the variety of work in Financial Consulting.

From a young age, teenagers need to be encouraged to think and talk about the different career options available to them. However parents are wary of interfering too much. Nobody wants to be a helicopter parent or a tiger mum. So how can we find the balance between giving our teenagers the space and time they need to figure things out for themselves while at the same time supporting them to make the best choices?

Here are some tips to help parents support their teenage children to explore the best college and career options for them.

INSPIRE:

Don’t take the lead for your teenager by deciding for them what careers they should (or you would like them to) investigate. Instead, encourage them to explore as many different options as possible initially.

Encourage them to start associating people they know with different careers. These can be TV characters, friends, family members, local business owners or tradespeople. Or their interest might be sparked by what some of their older friends or family are studying in college.

What’s important at this stage is that you don’t take control of the process and bombard them with career titles and job descriptions. Let them explore careers that sound attractive and interesting to them.

SHARE:

Discuss your own career with your children. Do they know exactly what you do and what you like and dislike about your job? Think about:

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Talk about your interests and how these have impacted your career development.
If you attended college; why did you choose your particular course and how did you enjoy it.
What jobs have you had over the years and what did you learn from each of them? Identify the positives and negatives but try to frame the negatives in terms of what you learned from the experience.
Talk about what you are passionate about in your job, what energises and engages you in the workplace, what gives you a sense of accomplishment.
Talk them through your career decisions over the years. Think about job changes, promotions, the good moves you made and the not-so-good ones.

Use career related language as you discuss your career. Talk about the importance of a well-crafted CV, application forms, job descriptions, performance appraisals, compensation packages and promotions. Encourage your teenager to write their own CV so they can start identifying the skills, experience and qualifications they already have. They may be surprised at what they’ve already achieved.

EXPLORE:

Rather than naming careers you think might suit them; it’s better to start by identifying their skills, preferences and interests. Some good questions to start with include:

What are your skills? What kind of things are you good at? Think about both at school and at home. If your child has worked part time, volunteered or did some work experience; what tasks did s/he do and what did s/he learn?
What are your interests? What do you enjoy doing in your spare time? What would you do for free? Consider music; reading current affairs; building models; watching history programmes; etc.
What are your unique personal qualities? What makes you different from some of your friends? This could be confidence around others; making presentations; helping others with their homework; practically minded; etc.

IDENTIFY:

When we use our strengths at work, it increases our likelihood of success and happiness in our career. It is much easier for parents to recognise what their children’s strengths and weaknesses are, so regularly identify and praise them for what they are good at. Talk about how they feel when they are doing something that is a natural strength? Are they energised, engaged and focused? Does time fly by?

Then discuss what type of careers might be a good match for their strengths. Brainstorm with them on this, rather than identify the careers directly. For example, ‘doing detailed research and distilling it clearly for others to understand’ is very useful within law, but equally so in the fields of journalism, business and politics. If you define a career for your teenager, it limits the possibilities and discourages them from thinking outside the square. So don’t box them in and encourage them to explore further.

RESEARCH:

The world of work is changing rapidly and many parents have a limited view outside of their immediate career. Encourage your children to use their devices to explore career opportunities. Be sure to refer them to the very useful Irish and UK websites which provide detailed information on occupations, future skills needs, earnings potential and more. Check out Careers Portal and The National Careers Service, UK.

Support your child to explore all options after their Leaving Certificate or senior cycle. In addition to applying to the universities and colleges through the CAO , talk about other options including further education training , Apprenticeships , European universities and private education organisations.

Taking a focused year out is also another option, where they may travel or get a job where they can build skills and experience which will help clarify the direction they want to take their career in.

ENGAGE:

Once they have started to narrow down the list of potential career possibilities, it’s time to engage and leverage your network of friends, family and colleagues. They will be able to identify people working in the career or industry your child is interested in. Ask them to introduce you.

Once you have made the initial connection, then help your child to email or call the contact to set up a meeting to get more information and a better understanding of what’s involved in the job. It’s very tempting to schedule and attend the meeting yourself but resist the temptation. This is all part of building confidence for their future, as well as enabling your child to develop skills in research and information gathering.

SUPPORT:

Sometimes children require additional help to identify, evaluate and make the best decisions for their futures. There are a range of options out there for them. Encourage them to set up a one to one session with their school guidance counsellor or engage the help of an experienced careers consultant who will engage and inspire your child.

A t Career Navigation Consultants, our team have years’ of experience working in HR & People Development roles across multiple industries so we know careers, development paths and how to guide people towards success.

We work with teenagers from 15 years of age and use a mixture of coaching exercises, questioning and assessments to reveal students' interests, aptitudes and strengths and match these to potential career fields. We provide an in-depth report on the best subjects, course options, and careers while also debriefing parents after the career consultation. A Careers Consultant is independent, impartial, and helps students make informed decisions about their future.

What else can I do?

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 21:06:40 GMT

Q: I’ve been working as a systems analyst for many years. I’m good at what I do and am paid well, but something’s missing. I’m just not happy. What else can I do? (JM, email).

A: JM, your query regularly crops up with clients. For systems analyst, substitute graphic designer, school teacher or auctioneer. Essentially, there are three options open to you, writes Petrina Mitchell, Career Navigation Consultant.

One of the easiest options is to consider changing your occupation while remaining in the same general field . You may choose to seek out other internal opportunities in your current employment. For example, I’ve regularly seen team leads and supervisors transition into support functions such as human resources or training, where they can effectively leverage their departmental knowledge and ease the transition into a new career field.

Another straightforward option is switch industries e.g. if in a production environment, move to a service industry or switch from industry to a consulting organisation whereby you can provide services to multiple clients. This can provide you with new learning opportunities and challenges which will re-energise you.

The hardest shift is to change both your occupation and industry (or field) simultaneously . It’s not impossible but it certainly requires a much more structured approach to break through into a new career and may require a stepping-stone approach. I’ll focus on this a little more now.

One of the best ways to start is by identifying fields that interest you. In careers terminology, fields are a way of categorising work.

Review your working history, school and / or college subjects, hobbies, family influences…identify subjects you found most satisfying and seek out more information.

What TV programmes interest you? What articles do you read? What have you dreamt about doing and always found obstacles to stop you pursuing? Write it all down now. Ignore the “yeah-buts” which will you stop you in your tracks. They will stagnate your thinking at the outset.

You may initially identify up to 20 subjects. If any of your subjects are too big or wide (engineering, teaching, medicine…), then refine it further e.g. engineering maybe civil, electronic… write each on a post-it note or blank card so that you can clearly see each subject.

Now select your top 10 subjects that would like to focus on over the next 12 months. If something is purely a hobby and that is all that you would ever like it to be, leave this to one side for now e.g. knitting, running...

Seek connections between each subject. Move your post-it's / cards around to see any overlaps or opportunities to combine fields. The objective is to generate ideas and connections between your subjects.

For example if two of your subjects are physical fitness and computer engineering, you may come up with ‘writing apps to customise fitness plans'. Or if you combine physical fitness with negotiating and training, you might consider ‘creating training programmes for physical trainers to maximise revenue’.

Review all your newly documented field ideas and create a plan to explore possibilities in employed or self-employed positions.

If you are stuck for ideas on what to do next in your career, this exercise requires you to think laterally. It can be uncomfortable and it certainly is challenging. If it is, it’s working, so stick with it.

Sometimes, it's incredibly hard to make a transformational career shift on your own.

If you need help, drop me a message and I'd love to chat about how we can work together.

7 strategies to overcome boredom at work

Fri, 08 Feb 2019 15:59:10 GMT

There are days and weeks when I feel completely bored with work. What can I do?

In 2018, Psychology Today magazine outlined that between 30 and 90 per cent of adults experience boredom at some stage in their day. A year earlier, leading recruiting company, Robert Half , published a workplace survey identifying that employees say they are bored for 10.5 hours of their week, whereas managers think employees are bored for just six hours per week.

Employees are bored most during the winter months, and it is more prevalent among mid-career professionals.

How we manage boredom...

Many employees use time-filling tasks such as tidying up files and folders, checking out social media, snacking, over-focussing on emails and taking longer than normal to complete tasks. A lack of energy is of often associated with boredom.

It can emerge from a shortage of challenging assignments, insufficient workloads, poor workplace relationships, repetitive tasks and so on. Many employers and HR teams use employee engagement strategies to help staff manage boredom.

Here are some strategies you can use...

1. Identify why and when boredom arises for you.

Consider how you can design plans to overcome the reasons. Set monthly challenges to keep you focused on enhancing your career.

2. Develop a new workplace skill each month.

Identify training programmes to benefit your career and discuss these with your manager. Seek their support e.g. financially, time off or flexibility.

3. Evaluate what you do and its purpose.

Carrying out meaningful work increases our level of engagement. Know your customer and understand the impact of your work on others e.g. your internal or overseas colleagues and clients.

Engaging with your customers directly might enable you to better understand the meaning of your work and thereby give you a fresh understanding of the importance of high standards in what you do.

4. Refocus your attention.

When we are bored, we have a greater tendency to feel sorry for ourselves. Refocus your attention on others, and ask the big question of “what can I do or create that would have a greater impact on them?”

In this way, you may think of creative solutions to support them, and relieve you of your boredom.

5. Review your sleep pattern.

Studies show that if you are not consistently getting 7-9 hours’ sleep, it can impact on your decision-making and creativity. It may also adversely affect your attentiveness at work.

6. Get active.

Ensure you are getting sufficient exercise and fresh air every day. Schedule at least a ten-minute walk into your work calendar and enlist a colleague(s) for company and to keep you accountable.

7. Create a new career plan with meaningful goals.

Challenge yourself to think big and to be creative and brave. Look within your current employment for opportunities, including lateral moves, new projects, temporary assignments and promotions.

"You can’t change what you don’t acknowledge."

Boredom can be viewed as a warning sign that you have become stagnant and provide you with the impetus to review and implement career changes.

Where do I start when considering a career change?

Fri, 01 Feb 2019 00:00:00 GMT

Q: I’ve been drifting in my role for a few years, and now feel the time is right to consider changing careers. But where do I even start? (BM, email).

A: There are times we should work on, rather than in, our career. Whether you’re at the start of your career, or in the middle of it and feeling disillusioned, making the best possible decisions for you will have an enormous impact on your happiness and your future.

It's worth taking the time and space to reflect on your career and start the process of steering it in the right direction.

ANAYLSE YOU LTD:

There are so many career discovery options available to people yet I always recommend that you start with an analysis of the most important entity in the world, You Ltd.

Consider what is really important to you, professionally and personally. Identify your career drivers such as security, recognition, autonomy, structure, creativity, expertise and so on. Document what you ‘need’, rather than what you ‘want’.

What are your values and beliefs? Values are the guiding principles that permeate everything you do in life, work, with friends and others. Everyone’s interpretation of values is unique to them.

Identify your values in words, (e.g. trust, harmony, directness, humour, connection…) or by using phrases (e.g. freedom to choose, lack of pretence, or others). To achieve a great career fit, there should be a strong overlap between your values and those that exist in your ideal workplace.

TEST YOURSELF:

Another key factor to consider is your personality type. By analysing your personality, you can discover the key ingredients that your work must offer you to be successful and to enjoy a fulfilling career.

There is little point in working in a career based on the person you would like to be, rather than the person you are, as you will deplete your energy trying to be that person. There are many personality tests available .

One such test, which focuses on careers, is the Holland Occupational Codes which broadly groups people based on six different groups of activities and provides you with a high-level indicator of the types of work you may enjoy. There are various online tests and a good career coach will choose from a variety of personality tests depending on the client profile.

YOUR UNIQUE TALENTS & SKILLS:

It’s important that the career or job you choose will play to your strengths, talents and abilities. Many people tolerate a job because the location is good or the money is right, but end up exerting too much energy trying to improve their weaknesses, simply to function in the job. Frequently , these people experience the Sunday evening dread.

So take your time and document your unique talents (e.g. I connect with people easily, I absorb facts quickly…), skills you love using (initiating projects, improvising under pressure…), and any workplace preferences (large or small company, quiet workspace…), so that you may experience great career flow.

The secret to career satisfaction is to do what you enjoy doing most. The career identification process can be time consuming. It requires in-depth analysis and true commitment to identify a career you will love. However, it can really be worth it, as any happy career-changer will tell you.

Concentrate first on who you are, and then you can move on to next stages of analysing what you can do, where you can do it and what opportunities are out there for you. I'll follow up with later posts on digging deeper to uncover your best career.