What if I feel I should have figured this out by now?

Your needs and interests can change as you gain experience. Take what you have learned seriously. It can help you explain what you want more of, what needs to change and which options deserve a closer look.

What could a career change look like for me?

It might mean a different employer, a related role or a new field. Compare what you want to change with what you want to keep. Then research the experience, qualifications and income each option would involve.

Do I need another certificate before I move?

That depends on the role. Check actual entry requirements before enrolling. Compare them with your experience and qualifications, then ask an employer or relevant professional body what you would need to add.

What if I cannot take lower pay?

Treat your income needs as part of the decision from the beginning. Research actual pay and look for roles that value your existing experience. Jobs considers the income needs you tell us about, but a report cannot guarantee what an employer will offer.

Is this only for people who hate their job?

No. You may enjoy your work and want more responsibility, a different environment or a new direction for your skills. You can use Jobs to explore those possibilities as well as a larger career change.

Jobs covers Ireland and the UK. Select the United Kingdom before you take The Compass to receive recommendations from the UK catalogue, then research the roles and requirements that apply there.

Guide · Ireland

Thinking about a career change in Ireland?

You may know your current work no longer suits you and still have no clear idea what to do instead. Begin by looking at what you want to keep, what needs to change and what you already have to offer. You can explore a different future without deciding everything at once.

A change has to make sense for your life

It is hard to consider a new direction while doing the job you already have. Income, responsibilities and limited energy all affect what feels possible. Making those needs explicit can help you judge your options more clearly.

A few questions often sit underneath the uncertainty:

The poster role Does the title appeal, or the work itself? Look at the tasks, responsibilities and conditions before deciding what you want to pursue.
Certificate collecting A course may help, but first identify what you need it for. Check the requirements of roles that interest you before committing to more study.
Pay and status fear You may worry that changing direction means losing what you have worked for. Be clear about the income you need and the experience you want to use.
Everyone else’s certainty Colleagues may seem settled while you are reconsidering things. Their choices do not tell you what your next move should be.
Want versus fit You may like an idea more than its daily tasks, or be tired of your employer rather than your profession. Separate what you know from what you still need to investigate.

You have learned things through your working life that can help you make this decision. Start with that experience, including the parts you would like more opportunity to use.

Start with evidence from your own experience

Write down a few tasks you enjoy and examples of work you are proud of. What did you actually do, and which parts would you like to repeat? Compare those activities with current job descriptions in Ireland. Look for familiar responsibilities, as well as requirements you would need to develop.

Ask someone doing a role that interests you what they spend most of their time on and how they entered it. A conversation can help you test your assumptions before you invest in a change.

See where your interests and experience could lead

Jobs helps you bring your interests, working preferences and circumstances into the same picture. Your report explains potential strengths, suggests up to five top roles to explore, with others to consider, and highlights points to investigate. It also considers where your experience could transfer and outlines a possible route towards the first role in your list, with practical next steps. You can return to it as you learn more about the options.

Use the report alongside your own research and conversations. It gives you possibilities to investigate and reasons for considering them. Read how it works for the steps. If you are supporting a student instead, our guide to CAO for parents may be more useful.

Research the route as well as the role

Compare current vacancies in Ireland and check the entry requirements with employers or the relevant professional body. Some roles require specific qualifications or registration. Check likely pay and training demands early, so you can judge whether a route is workable for you.

Exploring work in the UK?

Select the United Kingdom before taking The Compass. Your report will use the UK jobs catalogue, ready for you to explore roles and their entry requirements there.

Jobs · €149

See what you could build on next.

Understand your working preferences, explore real career options and consider possible routes from your current experience. Your report helps you decide what to investigate next.

Dream Jobs — €149

See what is included on the Jobs page.

Questions about making a change

What if I feel I should have figured this out by now?: Your needs and interests can change as you gain experience. Take what you have learned seriously. It can help you explain what you want more of, what needs to change and which options deserve a closer look.
What could a career change look like for me?: It might mean a different employer, a related role or a new field. Compare what you want to change with what you want to keep. Then research the experience, qualifications and income each option would involve.
Do I need another certificate before I move?: That depends on the role. Check actual entry requirements before enrolling. Compare them with your experience and qualifications, then ask an employer or relevant professional body what you would need to add.
What if I cannot take lower pay?: Treat your income needs as part of the decision from the beginning. Research actual pay and look for roles that value your existing experience. Jobs considers the income needs you tell us about, but a report cannot guarantee what an employer will offer.
Is this only for people who hate their job?: No. You may enjoy your work and want more responsibility, a different environment or a new direction for your skills. You can use Jobs to explore those possibilities as well as a larger career change.
What about the UK?: Jobs covers Ireland and the UK. Select the United Kingdom before you take The Compass to receive recommendations from the UK catalogue, then research the roles and requirements that apply there.

Discover your Dream Courses — €99 Discover your Dream Jobs — €149

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