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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Bernard Caldwell - Stable Staff Association
Stable Staff Association - Bernard Caldwell - Stable Staff Association
Liam Regan - Turning a passion into a business
Activities Instructor - Liam Regan - Turning a passion into a business
Use the CourseFinder Tool to search CAO Courses with Language Options
Search CAO Courses with Language Options - Use the CourseFinder Tool to search CAO Courses with Language Options
Educational Welfare Officer
Educational Welfare Officer - Educational Welfare Officer
Midwife
Midwife - Midwife

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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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

Cullen Fellowship at the Marine Institute
Cullen Fellowship at the Marine Institute
Posted by Marine Institute
Lead Wireless Surveyor at 4site
Lead Wireless Surveyor at 4site
Posted by Research Ireland (Taighde Eireann)
Exploring Science Careers - RISK ANALYST
Exploring Science Careers - RISK ANALYST
Posted by CareersPortal
Dr. Norah Patten - Astronaut
Dr. Norah Patten - Astronaut
Posted by CareersPortal
Geoff Hamilton - Senior Ecologist at ESB
Geoff Hamilton - Senior Ecologist at ESB
Posted by ESB
Maree O’Brien - Guest Experience Manager, Sustainability & Innovation Lead
Maree O’Brien - Guest Experience Manager, Sustainability & Innovation Lead
Posted by Fáilte Ireland
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