During TY, and over the next few years, you will gain experiences that will shape your career direction. You will have to choose what to study for the Leaving Cert, and at what level. You will then have to choose whether to continue your education after school or not, and what to study if you do. Everybody will make choices based on their circumstances, the opportunities that present themselves, their ambition and their goals.
We ask all the people we interview on this site what were the main career decisions they took in their career so far. Read their stories below to become familiar with the real issues faced by ordinary people around Ireland, so that you will be prepared for the decisions that you, too, will have to make some day!
Discover a range of TY programmes and competitions. Explore opportunities to develop skills and prepare for your future.
There are lots of factors to consider when choosing your subjects for Leaving Cert, so it's important to do plenty of research in order to make an informed decision. Use the CourseFinder to search courses and explore their individual entry requirements.
You can search our database of work placements here. Please note that you must be logged in to apply for these placements - contact details are not provided unless you are logged in.
Are you a TY or Leaving Certificate Student? Have you done a Work Experience placement? Tell us about the career skills you discovered during your Work Experience and you can win fabulous prizes and €1,000 for your school! etire.
The idea of career interests has been made famous by the work of John Holland, an American psychologist who has been researching this area for over 30 years. His theory is based on the following main ideas:
