Junior Cycle

Have you ever thought about what you would like to do when you leave school? The Junior Cycle is a good time to start thinking about different career options and considering what subjects you might choose for Leaving Cert. We have lots of useful tools to help you start exploring yourself and the thousands of exciting career paths that lie ahead.

Explore different Career Sectors - for example, business, medicine, or beauty to get a picture of the types of skills and jobs involved in working in that particular area. 

Search hundreds of occupations in our Career Explorer to find out what the job involves, the type of person it would suit, what you might earn and the qualifications you would need.

You can also watch lots of career videos or read career stories with people employed in a variety of jobs across the country to get an insight into different sectors and industries. 

Discover Careers
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Discover STEM with Smart Futures
Discover STEM - Discover STEM with Smart Futures
Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship
Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician - Wind Turbine Maintenance Technician Apprenticeship
Fostering Social Worker
Fostering Social Worker - Fostering Social Worker
Yoga Teacher (Irish Language)
Yoga School Owner - Yoga Teacher (Irish Language)
Rosa Doran
Astronomy Educator - Rosa Doran

Join our complete Guidance programme designed for Irish Junior Cycle students (purchase required).

Build you own unique Career Portfolio through exploring our fun Island of Discovery as the programme takes you through a series of explorations about yourself, your motivations, and your dreams and ambitions.

What Career Type are you?

Realist?

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Explore Career Interests...
Career Chat...
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Aoife O'Malley
Aoife O'Malley, Garda Trainee

Rinne Aoife cúrsa sna dána in Ollscoil na hÉireann, Gaillimh sular thosaigh sí lena Gardaí Síochána. Is í an t-aon duine ar an chúrsa a tháinig isteach tríd an slí Gaeilge.

Aoife O’Malley is from the Gaeltacht region of Connemara in Co. Galway. She joined An Gardaí Síochána after completing an Arts degree in NUI Galway and is the only person in her intake to have entered through the Irish route.

Ask me a question!

Career Articles

How the Accounting Apprenticeship Can Advance Your Career
How the Accounting Apprenticeship Can Advance Your Career
Posted by Accounting Technicians Ireland
How an episode of Nationwide took me from selling clothes to making them
How an episode of Nationwide took me from selling clothes to making them
Posted by CareersPortal
Aisling Kelly, Sligo Oyster Farmer
Aisling Kelly, Sligo Oyster Farmer
Posted by Fáilte Ireland
Molecular Medicine - TCD
Molecular Medicine - TCD
Posted by Research Ireland (Taighde Eireann)
"I chose a different route" FET Graduate Ceara Shaw’s journey after the Leaving Certificate
"I chose a different route" FET Graduate Ceara Shaw’s journey after the Leaving Certificate
Posted by SOLAS
Career Profile - Dairy Herd Management
Career Profile - Dairy Herd Management
Posted by Teagasc
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