Options for school leavers

There are many options available to students upon leaving secondary school and it is important to research all options. The huge variety of options means that there is something for everyone to embark on upon leaving school.

Going to college

For many students, going to college is the most obvious next step on the career journey. There are a huge variety of courses available at level 6, level 7 and level 8. Students need to research the courses fully before putting them down on their CAO application form. They need to check the entry requirements, course content and subjects taught on the courses to make sure it is something they are interested in. Some students know exactly what they want to do and will choose a specialised course in a certain area, for example, Nursing. Other students might have an interest in a subject area but are not sure where further study might take them in terms of a career. As a result, they might study a more open degree, such as General Science and specialise in 3rd or 4th year of the degree. The most important factor in selecting a course is the student’s interest. It must be something that the student is interested in as this will lead to greater satisfaction and fulfilment in future years. C.A.O. application system is now open online through www.cao.ie and will close on the 1st Feb. It will then re-open again for Change of Mind facility on 5th May at 12.00 noon and close on 1st July at 5.15pm. There is also the option of going to college in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland or Wales or further afield, which I will discuss in greater detail in next week’s blog.

Teagasc courses

Many agricultural courses are available in our colleges. However, there is also a huge variety of shorter level 5 and 6 courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry available at Teagasc Agricultural Colleges throughout Ireland. These include Ballyhaise Agricultural College in Cavan, Clonakilty Agricultural College in Cork, Kildalton College in Kilkenny and Botanic Gardens in Dublin. Students thinking of applying for a further education course in one of these colleges, apply directly to the college itself through their website www.teagasc.ie .The colleges also collaborate with a number of third level institutions in the delivery of higher- level courses in agriculture and horticulture. Students apply for the higher- level courses through the CAO application system. Students do have the option of applying for both the further education and higher education courses to keep all their options open.

 Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships are an excellent option for students. They combine learning in the workplace along with learning in an education/ training centre. Students will earn a salary throughout their apprenticeship. The idea of earning while learning is very appealing to many students. Apprenticeships are also a very good option for the more practical, hands on learner. After completion of a number of phases, apprentices are recognised professionals in their chosen field. The variety of apprenticeships on offer in Ireland is growing continuously. We have the traditional craft apprenticeships, such as Bricklayer, Carpenter, Car Mechanic, etc. But we also have apprenticeships now on offer from industries in Computer & ICT, MedTech, Insurance, Finance, Accountancy, Logistics and Hospitality sectors. More information on the variety of apprenticeships available can be found at www.apprenticeship.ie .

 Traineeships

A Traineeship combines learning in the classroom and experience in the workplace. They are developed in conjunction with the labour market to identify different skill gaps in different sectors and industries. They are between 6 and 20 months duration. Some examples include Software Testing, Software Developer, Aircraft Maintenance Technician, Engineering Technology and Office Administration. The huge variety of Traineeships on offer in Donegal  can be researched at www.donegaletb.ie . For information on Traineeships available throughout Ireland, go to www.fetchcourses.ie .

The Defence Forces

The Defence Forces have many different positions available. These are General Service, Apprenticeships and Cadetships. They advertise for these positions at different times of the year through The Defence Forces website www.military.ie . All applications are made online through this website.

BIM – fisheries

Bord Iascaigh Mhara promote careers in the Irish catching, fish farming and seafood processing sectors. They have courses in Skipper/ Crew and Marine Engineering sectors. Training takes place at the National Fisheries College, Greencastle, Co. Donegal. For more information go to www.bim.ie.

Further Education

There are many PLC courses available throughout Ireland at level 5 and 6. There are many reasons why a student might pursue a PLC course. Some study a PLC with a view to applying to a CAO course which reserves a specific number of places for FE students. Others apply to sample a particular sector such as Childcare, Business, IT. This is a financially viable option if a student is unsure about what CAO course to study as there are very little fees associated with Further Education in comparison to Higher Education. Our local PLC providers in Donegal are Finn Valley College, Stranorlar, St. Catherine’s Vocational school, Killybegs, Errigal College in Letterkenny and the Abbey Vocational School in Donegal Town. Check out the individual school websites to find out what PLC courses they offer. Research other PLC courses throughout Ireland through www.fetchcourses.ie. I know from my own experience that these courses are very well recognised and have excellent progression into Higher Education. Past students of my own have pursued PLC courses in Pre Nursing, Childcare and Business, to name a few,  and have went on to enter Higher Education into degrees in Nursing, Primary Education and Business with the results of their PLC course.

Gap year

Some students decide that they want to take a year out of study and commit to travel, volunteering or work. In the past, this was a great opportunity for students to develop interests, skills and life experience. However, in the current climate, it is difficult to undertake any of these and students might be better perhaps to enrol in a short term course of interest, such as a PLC or a Traineeship, to help give them direction and develop new skills.

Employment

Going straight into employment is another valid option for school-leavers. But, the current climate, makes it more difficult, than previous years, to gain employment. However, if students do decide that this is an option they want to pursue, they must make sure that they have an effective and informative CV tailored to suit the employment you are applying for.

In today’s society, it is excellent that school leavers have such an array of options to choose from. There is something to suit all personalities, interests and learning styles. Students should take their time to research and consider options that suit them.