“The more I research, the more confused I become”
Does the above quote sound familiar to you? If you’re feeling lost or unsure about which career path to take, you’re not alone. So many people are saying to us how difficult it has become to navigate their way around careers information. Even though we now have more information than ever before, the net result is that people are more confused than ever. Falling deeper and deeper into the black hole of the information superhighway seems part and parcel of careers and courses research.
Navigating the world of college and careers can be overwhelming. However, there is help at hand, and this is the main reason we wrote this book. For over 25 years we have been helping people sort through the maze of careers information. Our focus has always been to cut through the layers of unending data and provide students with a methodology that helps them find the information they need. Armed with this accurate knowledge, they are then able to make more informed decisions regarding their future.
It’s also amazing to see the amount of misinformation that is out there. There is a myriad of courses that make bold promises about career and employment prospects. Students are often lured onto courses with expectations of concrete results, only to discover that the information provided was, well, ‘not quite accurate’, in the first instance. Worse again, students are sometimes swayed by information that they received from their peers. This is often hearsay where a student purports to ‘have heard’ about a ‘brilliant course’ that leads to a prestigious career and a high salary.
So, what to do about all of this? Over the years the focus of our career assessments has always been work. Rightly or wrongly, we firstly set out to identify where each candidate would see themselves working, and what kind of role they would be performing. Potential salaries also play a major role in this decision-making process. For us it is very important for students (and their parents) that upon graduation from their course or apprenticeship, they individuals have a good chance of gaining meaningful employment in a job that pays a wage that is reliable and leads to a sustainable lifestyle.
If this is your goal, then this will automatically rule out a lot of pointless course searches. While it’s a nice thought to think I am a patron of the arts or classical studies, have you thought about where a degree such as this will place you in the modern competitive jobs market? Or perhaps you are strongly interested in a degree in Sports Science, but have you considered the fact that you may be self-employed when you graduate and working almost every weekend to make ends meet?
How to use this book
This book is your roadmap to finding a career that not only aligns with your skills and passions but also brings you lasting fulfilment. We’ll explore practical strategies, proven techniques, and insightful reflections to help you make informed and inspired career choices.
We have broken down the career areas into 17 broad sections, and these sectors are listed in the contents. For ease of navigation, you should review the contents carefully in advance. Start with those areas of employment that have a strong appeal for you. Then refer to the chapter in question as laid out in the contents and follow the course recommendations that we give you. We have set out to give you the benefit of our experience in this regard. For example, a student interested in Physiotherapy, must make sure that they choose a course that leads to full registration with CORU, Ireland’s statutory body for registration of health and social care professionals. Of the many courses in Physiotherapy within the CAO system today, only 4 carry ‘pre-registration’ status. This methodology is extended throughout all the chapters. Spending time reviewing these will save you endless time and should also avoid the possibility of you ‘falling into the information abyss’.
Your career is not just a means to an end; it’s a journey of self-discovery, growth, and contribution. By the time you finish this book, you’ll have the clarity and confidence to pursue a career that excites you and aligns with your true self.