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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Tourism Careers 2025 Instagram Take Over
Tourism Careers - Tourism Careers 2025 Instagram Take Over
Executive Officer - Civil Service
Executive Officer - Executive Officer - Civil Service
Residential Care Worker
Social Care Worker - Residential Care Worker
Regional Planning Officer
Regional Planning Officer - Regional Planning Officer
Senior Bioprocessing Technician
Senior Bioprocessing Technician - Senior Bioprocessing Technician

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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Deirdre Lavelle
Deirdre Lavelle, Care Assistant

Deirdre Lavelle works as a Care Assistant in St Michael's House. Having worked for a number of years as a Special Needs Assistant she applied for a job in St Michael's House. She has completed a foundation course on Skills in Counselling from NUI Maynooth. She is currently studying for a B.A. in Social Studies (Disability) with the Open Training College.

Ask me a question!

Career Articles

4 myths you've heard about working in insurance  (and why they're completely untrue)
4 myths you've heard about working in insurance (and why they're completely untrue)
Posted by The Insurance Institute
Dinesh Vather - Mechanical Design Student
Dinesh Vather - Mechanical Design Student
Posted by CareersPortal
Fancy being a pilot?
Fancy being a pilot?
Posted by CareersPortal
Considering being a Social Media influencer?
Considering being a Social Media influencer?
Posted by CareersPortal
Why Further Education and Training (FET) could be the right choice for you after your Leaving Certificate
Why Further Education and Training (FET) could be the right choice for you after your Leaving Certificate
Posted by SOLAS
Women Step into Farming – Teresa Roche's farm diversification story
Women Step into Farming – Teresa Roche's farm diversification story
Posted by CareersPortal
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