FAQ’s

If you have some additional questions, you may find the answers here.
If not, don’t hesitate to contact me.

STUDENTS / PARENTS

What’s the best time to have a career counselling session for my teenager?

Career counselling is a process, and no one size fits all. I see students throughout all their school years. Having said that, there are more popular times to seek out career support. There are during Leaving Certificate subject choice, fifth and sixth year. My preference is for fifth year as at this stage students are getting clearer on their preferences. They have had some transition year experiences (work or volunteer experience). They also haven’t been drawn completely into the whirlwind that is sixth year. So, they have energy to engage in meaningful career conversations and research.

Do you help with leaving certificate subject choice?

Yes, I can offer a targeted session to look specifically at leaving certificate subject choice.

What about EU college choices?

Eunicas is a wonderful website resource for students considering EU college. If the EU is on your radar, we can include this into our planning. Studying in the EU is becoming increasingly popular. Students are choosing the EU for both undergraduate and postgraduate study options.

Will I get follow up support?

Once we have worked together, I am happy to give backup support by email or over the phone.

What if my teenager is struggling with anxiety or school refusal?

As a trained Guidance Counsellor, I support students and their parents to overcome anxiety and school refusal. I use cognitive behavioural methods in this work. If I feel that a student needs more intensive support, I can refer you to other counsellors

Should I make an appointment if my teenager isn’t interested in talking to anyone?

To get the most from career guidance, your teenager should be open to talking with me.

My teenager isn’t doing any study, can you get them motivated to knuckle down and start?

My career guidance process is a motivating experience. I look at what your teenager finds intrinsically motivating including subjects, tasks, types of people etc.  We all need a goal to focus our efforts. For your teenager, we can also look at effective study habits in our work. However, there is no magic wand, the effort for the session and subsequent study must come from your son or daughter.

How long does the whole process take?

The total time is: 4.5 hours.

Your teenager will have 4 hours work to do and parent will have 2.5 hours (30-minute consultation and 2 Zoom sessions)

  • 30-minute consultation call with parent/s.
  • Replying to questionnaires will take about another 30 minutes (Teen)
  • For the psychometric tests you will need about an hour (Teen).
  • 60-minute Exploration/Discover Meeting (Parent and Teen)
  • 30 minutes for follow up Assignment Tasks for Teenager.
  • 60-minute Zoom Recommendation & SMART Planning Meeting (Parent and Teen)
Are sessions recorded?

No, for privacy I do not record sessions.

JOB INTERVIEWS

How much time should I leave between the session and the interview?

I think there is a magic sweet spot between both. I recommend 3/4 days. This will give you enough time to practice your new skills/responses while they are still fresh.

Can you prepare me for all types of interviews?

I specialise in competency-based interviewing. I believe preparing using this model provides an excellent framework for all interviews.

I have an internal interview and will know the panel; how can I plan for this

You have an advantage over many external candidates. My suggestion is to use this inside knowledge to demonstrate relevance and insight to the internal panel.

It’s been years since I prepared for an interview, what is changed?

Competency based interviews have been around for 25 plus years. It uses behavioural questions to assess a candidates suitability for the role. The STAR model is a useful structure to follow when answering questions. Online (virtual and phone interviews) are becoming more popular.

Should I ask for interview feedback?

Yes, it might take a little time for HR to get back to you so be patient. Some feedback will be more useful than others but it is worthwhile for two reasons:

  1. It shows a commitment to your professional development, and
  2. It may help you assess your performance for future interviews.

CAREER RE-LAUNCHERS

When is the best time to start this programme?

Two conditions need to be in place to get the most from this programme. Time and Energy. If you have both you are good to go!

Time is a most precious resource, so if you are busy with other commitments, it might be a good idea to wait until you have more time.

I’ve been through a personal setback – is this programme right for me?

Personal setbacks can often cause us to reassess our choices and re-evaluate our priorities. However, you will need emotional and cognitive energy to engage in this programme. If you’ve recently been through an illness or bereavement, I suggest taking some time to recover first.

Most of my career has been outside Ireland, will this programme suit me?

Yes, I’ve worked with people from many countries including Brazil, the US, Australia, Nigeria, UK, Belgium and Mongolia. Our work focuses on taking your previous experiences, priorities and creating a SMART plan for the Irish employment market.

I recently arrived in Ireland – is now a good time to start a programme like this?

We can start as soon as you are ready to focus on your career. If you and/or your family are settled and all practical considerations are in place (e.g., childcare, school started, unpacked and living in new home), lets get started. If you are still acclimatising to life in Ireland, perhaps get settled first. Personal orientation before career orientation.

One month seems intense, can I book 1 tester session?

Yes, it is. For good reason, I want to gain some momentum with you and help to consolidate your plans in an intense way. Contact me to organise a free call. After 15 minutes you’ll know if this is right for you.