FAQ’s

Additional questions? Check out these answers below.
If we haven’t answered your question, please feel free to get in contact.

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 through all the school years. Having said that, there are more popular times to seek out career support. These are during Leaving Certificate subject choice, fifth and sixth year. My preference is for the second half of fifth year. 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 of sixth year. So, there’s 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’ve worked together, I’m 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 to 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 in-person/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 In Person/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?

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’re 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 types of 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 interview panel.

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

Competency based interviews have been around for 25 plus years and remain very popular, particularly in large organisations and for roles in the Public Sector. These interviews use behavioural questions to assess a candidate’s suitability for the role. The STAR model is a useful structure to use to prepare and practice your interview responses. 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.

You could also send a thank you note – and really stand out from the crowd.

CAREER CONFIDENCE

When is the best time to start working with you?

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

Time is a most precious resource, so if you’re 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 career coaching 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 our work. 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, how can I translate my experience for the Irish market?

Welcome to the Irish labour market! We can do great work translating your previous experiences for the Irish employment scene. You can get clear on your work priorities and opportunities and create a clear plan for success. I’ve worked with people from many countries including Brazil, the US, Australia, Nigeria, UK, Belgium and Mongolia.

I recently arrived in Ireland – is now a good time for career coaching?

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), let’s get started. If you are still acclimatising to life in Ireland, perhaps get settled first. Personal orientation before career orientation!

You mention Millennial in your description, is this programme suitable for other generations?

Yes, it is. I will adapt the programme to your specific needs and goals.  Contact me to organise a free call. After 15 minutes you’ll know if this is right for you.