Q.Can parents / guardians attend the meetings?
A. Choosing a career is an important milestone in a young person’s life. Yes, parents / guardians can sit in on all consultation meetings in order to find a career coach that suits their young person / student, if they feel it will not effect the person / student from expressing their point of view or indeed themselves.
Q.How long is each session / meeting?
A. Each intense, busy session / meeting involved in choosing a career has a maximum duration of 1.5 – 2 hours after which time they have taken in all of what they can. There is also some homeplay / homework between each meeting / session as it is important that people complete some of the exercises privately and in a quite, tranquil place of their choice. They are making decisions that will change their life – so when they find a career coach, they are taking an important first step.
Q.How many meetings / sessions are there?
A. Number of meetings / sessions vary and are dependent on the specific needs and required intervention and can be up to 3 sessions.
Q.How much are your fees?
A. We provide an initial FREE Consultation to help an individual in choosing a career.
(Fees can be tailored to meet your budgetary needs and requirements)
Q.Is there a charge for follow up contact?
A. No, there is no charge for follow up emails, telephone calls and/or texts.
Q.What is the general sequence / process of working with people?
A. Main Tasks:
- Junior Certificate Subject details
- Leaving Certificate subject details (if already chosen)
- Work experiences analysis
- Calculate CAO Points target (lowest / highest / target)
- Discuss and list current career aspirations
- Discuss and list current third level course aspirations
- Ask where they wish to study i.e. college type and location
- Discuss current study training and techniques (When, how long and how they study)
- Develop study plans timetable around school, sport, grinds, music (Sept.-Dec. & Jan.-June)
- Discuss and show how to study
- See Examination and Study Tips & Techniques Hand-out
- Focus on how to study
- Stick to the plan
- OU Test (paper-based)
- Values Clarification (paper-based)
- Motivation / Interests Analysis (paper-based)
- Natural Skills, Talents and Competencies (paper-based)
- Eirquest (computer-based)
- Centigrade (computer-based)
- Cambridge (computer-based)
- Essay (paper-based, 400-500 words)
- Wants / Don’t Wants
- Identify career
- Identify Third Level Course
- Identify Leaving Certificate subjects from the choice available (if not already chosen)
- Role model person, who and why?
- Regular weekly or monthly contact by telephone, skype, e-mail or in person (if parent/s, guardians request)
- Examination techniques
- Build your career with confidence (Ref: Stillwater Communications – /09/2013):
- Define what success means to you
- Figure out what motivates you
- Identify your values
- Believe in what you have to offer
- Master your skills
- Complete and sign Commitment Summary Form (see attached)
Other Tasks:
- Student to write down everything during intervention, even the small important talk / tips
- Student to write summary of everything covered each day and tasks for next meeting
- Student to show the above to their parents / guardians
- Follow-up with student / parent weekly or monthly