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
View All
Angela & Aoife: Apprentice Painters
Apprentice Painters / Decorators - Angela & Aoife: Apprentice Painters
Dr Arlene O'Neill
Physicist - Dr Arlene O'Neill
Rosa Doran
Astronomy Educator - Rosa Doran
Executive Officer - Civil Service
Executive Officer - Executive Officer - Civil Service
An Garda Síochána - Shuttle Run/Bleep Test
Shuttle Run Bleep Test - An Garda Síochána - Shuttle Run/Bleep Test

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?

Naturalist?

Not surprisingly, some aspect of the natural sciences will run through the Naturalist's interests - from ecological awareness to nutrition and health. People with an interest in horticulture, land usage and farming (including fish) are Naturalists.

Some Naturalists focus on animals rather than plants, and may enjoy working with, training, caring for, or simply herding them. Other Naturalists will prefer working with the end result of nature's produce - the food produced from plants and animals. Naturalists like solving problems with solutions that show some sensitivity to the environmental impact of what they do. They like to see practical results and prefer action to talking and discussing.

Explore Career Interests...
Career Chat...
View All
Mary Ita Heffernan
Mary Ita Heffernan, Social Worker

Mary Ita Heffernan is a Social Worker who works for the HSE in Kilkenny.  After completing her Leaving Certificate she did a degree in Social Science and a Masters in Social Work. This led to a National Qualification in Social Work which is the only recognised qualification to be a practitioner in this field.

Ask me a question!

Career Articles

Event Management Graduate Testimonial
Event Management Graduate Testimonial
Posted by TU Dublin - Grangegorman
Career Profile: Veterinary Nurse
Career Profile: Veterinary Nurse
Posted by CareersPortal
Louise Caldwell: Business Studies Graduate
Louise Caldwell: Business Studies Graduate
Posted by Dublin City University - DCU
From Dublin to Derry - Medicine Student (Grad Entry) at Ulster University
From Dublin to Derry - Medicine Student (Grad Entry) at Ulster University
Posted by Ulster University - Derry Campus
VTOS Roscommon - Business Administration - Student Testimonial
VTOS Roscommon - Business Administration - Student Testimonial
Posted by Further Education and Training Centre Lanesboro Street
Senior Travel Advisor, Cork City Tourist Information Centre
Senior Travel Advisor, Cork City Tourist Information Centre
Posted by Fáilte Ireland
Close