Career Guidance and Career Advice for Graduates

What career guidance or career advice would you give to somebody that really hasn’t a clue as to what career they would like to pursue? Education and Career Guidance, do they go hand in hand? What importance those education and academic qualifications go toward career guidance and a candidate’s career progression?

The student who hasn’t a clue can often be very worried about this but in actual fact they are often better off than the student who sees career as a particular occupation they will have when they graduate for the rest of their life. Career is a lifelong journey and a process of continually developing skills and personal qualities that are transferable. It is far better if the student can focus on the journey rather than on a particular destination.

Education and Career Guidance go hand in hand. For almost all careers nowadays academic qualifications are a pre-requisite. However students also need to be able to make decisions and choices, plan initiatives and be creative thinkers. This is because the reality today is that the majority of the students I see will have not one but several careers. They will have to change roles and organizations and reinvent themselves many times.

Is it ever too late to get back into education?

It is never too late to get back into education. Learning is a life-long process and people are most alive when they are learning and engaged. There are also so many opportunities now for people to return to education. There are also many more opportunities for students to remain in education after second-level. The National Framework of Qualifications provides a level for everyone and all qualifications in the NFQ are recognized at home and abroad.

At secondary school level education, career advice and career guidance are very closely linked. You are guiding the student and helping equip them with the skills and self knowledge to progress further. With post-graduates current job opportunities and prospects play a much bigger role.

Post Graduate Options:

Why should a Graduate consider Post Graduate study? How can a career guidance face to face session help a graduate pick a post graduate course?

There are several reasons why a graduate should consider postgraduate study. It can improve their employment prospects, may give them the chance to specialist in a particular area, may help them change a career direction.

An Arts degree for example can be a good choice at undergraduate level as it keeps a tremendous range of options open if a student isn’t quite sure what path they would like to follow. The difficult task for many Arts graduates can then be deciding which postgraduate course to choose and this is where getting professional advice can certainly help. A professional assessment will look at their level of educational achievement to date, their personality type, aptitudes and interests as well as job experience to date. There are over 1400 different subjects that can be studied in Ireland at post-graduate level and when busy studying for a degree many students find they are not aware of the choices available to them. This is where educational guidance can be of huge benefit.

Are employment prospects heavily factored in a career guidance session for a graduate?

Employment prospects are certainly considered in a career guidance session with a graduate but again it has to be remembered that ultimately we are striving to prepare the student best for a lifetime of change and uncertainty and help them equip themselves with the skills necessary to survive for whatever jobs may be available or whatever opportunities may arise. In the world of business a Masters degree has almost become an essential if you want to be called for interview whereas in many other career areas a few years work experience is often valued more than additional qualifications.