CareersPortal.ie is committed to providing useful, relevant and up-to-date information to assist all people when making career decisions. In this section of the site we provide quick access to information and resources that may be useful to Career Guidance professionals in the course of their daily work.
The following list includes links to sections of this website, to other frequently used websites and to our downloadable worksheets for use with students and clients.
Most worksheets and lesson plans have been designed for use in the post primary school setting for use by Guidance Counsellors in a classroom setting.
Further Lesson Plans and worksheets are being developed. If you have suggestions for lesson plans/worksheets you can send these to info@careersportal.ie. Feedback on the use of these resources is welcomed, and will be posted on this section of the site.
Career Skills Introduces the topic of transferable skills. Includes Self-assessment exercise on 26 key skills. CareerSkills competition is for 2nd Level only (TY & Leaving Cert's)
Work Placements These downloads highlight the core issues involved for the main participants involved in school work placements. We suggest giving each student a copy of the Student Worksheet, and a copy of the Parent Guide for their parents.
For employers new to offernig a workplacement, we recommend passing on the Employers Guide.
For teachers new to work placements we recommend the Teachers Guide
The Student Worksheet is designed to help prepare for a work placement in advance.
The Summary Worksheet is designed to summarise experience obtained during a work placement.
SMART CAREERS Competition - Junior Cycle 1st & 2nd yrs
This is a poster competition designed to encourage young students to investigate careers. Students present on a poster (or Powerpoint slide) the research they complete into a particular job, and in particular, the science or mathematics involved. Posters will be displayed at relevant SciFest exhibitions.
STEM Video & Worksheet (Kildare & NUIM sponsored)
A 17 min version of a DVD featuring STEM career and course opportunities in the Kildare region collects the views and opinions of school students, teachers, third level students and lecturers, and employees from Intel, HP and Bord na Mona.
The Worksheet contains classroom exercises designed to inform students (Junior Cert & Leaving Cert.) on the career possibilities that exist in the STEM area.
Powerpoint for parents nights
Simple Powerpoint designed to provide a brief introduction to the site to parents. Contains notes with suggested comments for each slide [View / Notes Page). Can be edited to suit your requirements. No animations.
Finding CAO Courses
We maintain our own CAO database to allow full integration with all aspects of our site. All courses are linked directly to Qualifax and college websites. Searching is through a simple search (CAO code, Title, College or combinations thereof) or Wizard (student friendly step-by-step approach)
The following downloadable worksheets assist students identifying CAO courses by introducing 22 course subject areas alongside other criteria to create a working shortlist of courses for further investigation. Used in conjunction with the CAO Wizard on this site.
Career Interests
An introduction to the concept of Career Interests with descriptions and links. Use of the Interest Profiler requires the user to register (free). Can be used for matching Occupations and CAO and PLC courses.
Industry Sectors (Career categories)
Provides a basic introduction to 29 industry sectors. Each sector has associated up-to-date news, occupations, courses, and more.
The following downloadable worksheets enable students do a 'Sector Investigation' and present finding back to the class.
Learning Skills
A series of downloadable resources designed to facilitate student learning and goal setting during 5th and 6th year. Includes online Study Skills Test.
Files in PDF format can be viewed using Adobe Reader software
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What you say you like...
“Students can engage easily with it. Easy to navigate. Up to date info”
"Easy access for students. Class presentations. Very comprehensive resource"
"Superbly interactive. World of work, excellent resources"
“Excellent Resource, keep up the good work”
"Kids love it. Helpful with 4th yrs on subject choices"
"The connection of all points from interests to learning to the world of work"
“It has made the role of the guidance professional so much easier, please keep it updated”
"Very organised programme. Encourage's students to reach in and interact"
“It provides practical examples of real people dong real jobs, which otherwise we would find very difficult to explain to students”
"Job search/indicator. Well laid out, concise, ordered & organised"
“Great site, love it!”
“I think the new resource is excellent, thanks for excellent material”
“The students find it so easy to use, especially the 5th and 6th years”
“I find it great in adult guidance to rekindle old interests and show how these may be reflected in different occupations”
"The connection of all points from interests to learning to the world of work"
“My third level students find it really useful for organisational profiles and graduate training information”
“Thank you so much for this - it is really useful!”
"Easy to use. Modern. Relevant to young people"
“Thank you for the Newsletter and indeed for careersportal.ie, it is extremely helpful in guiding students and all learners”
“I like to express my appreciation for your excellent work, my students and I use the site all the time – we love the videos and up to date information form the sectors and organizations”
“I use the site at least 15 times a day and find it brilliant - and have stuffed it down all my students' throat ad nauseum!!!”
Information collected at IGC Conference 2009 - 2011