Success Stories | Maureen Murnane Career Guidance

I initially heard of you through word of mouth from my friends who had previously gone to you for help during their Leaving Cert cycle and also from parents around the Bantry area who had recommended you. I was very unsure of the right course and career that would genuinely suit me. I was very lost and confused about the right path and thankfully Maureen was a great help in settling my mind straight.

The uncertainty of my choices had made me feel very anxious and upset at the thought of going into college without a clear idea of my ideal course. I believe our work together cleared my mind and with the personality tests we did, it made it clear on what type of work I would succeed in. It helped me choose a realistic career path, and one I will hopefully love.

Maureen also helped me set my mind straight with the order of my course choices for the CAO which I had previously struggled a lot with. I enjoyed the personality tests the most, I found it very interesting that by looking at the way I act while at work and around friends and family shows the type of person I am and the career areas I would work best in and enjoy.

I really would recommend going to career guidance with Maureen if you are any bit unsure of your college course choices as I found it was the best way to truly figure out which careers would suit me best, according to my personality and values. I highly recommend Maureen to anyone transitioning into 3rd level education. Thanks for all your help over the last few months, I wouldn’t feel so confident if it wasn’t for you!

I was struggling to find what I want to do in college and where to even begin looking.

I was really stressed and panicking as my final year of school was coming to an end and I was unsure as to what I was interested in, I had worked with my guidance counsellor in school but couldn’t get enough time with her to fully be confident in the decisions I was making about college.

I felt really knowledgeable after leaving the sessions, I knew where to research and what words to use when looking for courses and the stress went away.

I was surprised that there is so much more choices out there then you think.

I did the career assessments with Maureen which helped me determine the career path I wanted to go down. I was feeling very overwhelmed about making such a big decision on my own and I had a lot of different options coming from family and friends so I felt I needed to get professional guidance.

What I liked most about the service was that Maureen was very informative and gave all the information needed without being opinionated or pushing me in any direction in particular, she just laid out all the facts for myself and my family to determine which was best for me.

I would like you say that this is a great service if you are not sure what career path to go down and Maureen is very thorough in her work and also stays in touch all the way to the end and continues to give support through a very difficult and confusing time.

Before I met Maureen I was unsure what path I would like to choose after school. This was making me feel anxious and confused. I had looked for help from my guidance teachers in school but with the pandemic I didn’t have much access to them as I would have liked.

One of the benefits I gained was that I found out that certain courses wouldn’t have suited me. I found as well after looking deeper into courses and at modules that I wouldn’t have enjoyed the course. I now have a clear view as to what I’m doing after school.

I was stuck between two options and couldn’t make up my mind. I was getting worried because I didn’t have long till the CAO and I wasn’t fully sure what path I wanted to go on. I felt less pressure as Maureen gave me loads of information about everything before I made any decision.

I loved that at anytime I could contact Maureen with a question and she would send back loads of information about what I was questioning. Anytime I needed anything she would be there straight away with the information and I never felt pressured into picking any course, it was completely my decision. I feel at ease knowing I picked the right courses for me.

The UCAS application made me feel overwhelmed as there are so many locations you can do your course and it’s hard to narrow it down. Also the personal statement needs a lot of work and advice and opinions are very helpful.

While working with Maureen, I felt I had a number of backup routes if my first choice didn’t work out and this made me feel less stressed in many ways.

I never felt alone Maureen went through every application in detail to avoid any confusion. She would always get back to me the day I contacted her which was great when you need reassurance especially during the Leaving Cert.

I was informed about routes to education and courses that I would have never came up with on my own. Life looks really bright – so many options and plans in place for the future.

I was unsure what career and college courses I wanted to pursue. I had a rough idea but I need to get more information and advice on what options to choose. I was nervous and anxious about doing it in case I made the wrong decision. I tried doing research on my own and had done some in Transition Year but it was overwhelming with all the options and information.

The whole process felt tailored to me and my interests. Unlike other career and college guidance it didn’t feel like a blanket option and was customised and fitted to my interests and goals. It was easy to ask questions and your experience and insight was a massive help. I would highly recommend your services to anyone who is unsure in the slightest, it was a massive help to me and I now feel more confident going into college.

I contacted Maureen not knowing what I wanted to do after school and subject choices. This was making feel stressed. I looked online on sites such as Careers Portal. I got to take the career assessments which helped me decide which career choice I wanted to go into. Maureen rescued a lot of stress for me and showed me a lot of options to do after school. Honestly, I never knew how many different routes there are into everything.

I liked that she was always there even for tiny questions over the past two years. I liked seeing how many different options there are with school, PLCs and Universities as well as studying abroad. I’ve just sat my Leaving cert. I have my courses picked with many different back up options. Thank you so much for all the time and effort you put into helping me, it truly means a lot.

When I contacted Maureen I was very overwhelmed researching courses and unsure of where I wanted to end up next year. I didn’t know what career I wanted to work my way towards. As a result of that, I was unmotivated to study because I had nothing to work towards. I was very stressed because I thought I wouldn’t find something that suits me. A lot of my year were talking about the courses they were putting on their CAO and I had no clue so my stress was increasing.

Having done the Career Exploration Programme I learned a lot more about myself than I thought I would. Through all the personality tests and just general conversations I found out about what I want to achieve in life and what makes me want to achieve it. I now have a clear plan of what I want to do, I have my CAO filled out and am happy with each course. I have a backup plan if I don’t get my main course and I have motivation to work hard for my Leaving Cert because I know what I want to work towards and I feel I can put all my attention on my studies now.

I would recommend Maureen and her coaching to everyone I know.

I was referred to Maureen and contacted her for guidance on Postgraduate options. I was uncertain in which path I should choose. I searched around and was set on going down a different route to what I am now. I liked I was able to bounce ideas around and narrow it down to what was the best fit for me without any bias. I liked her ability to unearth options I had not heard about prior.

I am extremely grateful to Maureen for her time, patience and advice over the past number of months. Thanks to her I am certain about the next step I want to take and how best to achieve it.

I was preparing for interviews for a Masters in Primary Education. I was quite nervous as I had never done interviews like this before and did not know what to expect or how to prepare. After working with Maureen, I found I was much more prepared going into the interview. I knew what sort of questions would be asked and knew how to go about answering them. The mock interviews were very helpful as I felt less nervous and worried doing the real interview as I had some idea of what to expect. I was offered a place in Maynooth to complete the Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching)! My experience with Maureen was very beneficial to me as she helped me to prepare for interviews for my Masters. I can’t thank her enough for all her help.

When I met with Maureen, I was thinking about returning to education as a mature student. I had already completed a four year degree and after a year of placement quickly realised that it didn’t line up with what I wanted out of a career. I took some time to think about where my passions lay and when I was ready I started looking into college courses. However I was very apprehensive about making a final decision because I had already -made a huge time commitment studying for a degree that wasn’t for me. Speaking with Maureen gave me the confidence that I was making the right decision for myself. She understood me perfectly and I felt so comfortable talking with her. She provided ongoing support and was there to help every step of the way. Thanks to Maureen’s guidance, I’ll be returning to study English with Creative Writing and I couldn’t be happier.

I found Maureen from my mother. My mom knew that I needed the help of a guidance counsellor and that Maureen would be able to help as she helped my brother. I was wishing to change course in college when the semester first started and I had no idea of how to go about it. I felt that Maureen would be able to help with this problem. I felt that there was nothing could be done and that I may have to drop out but Maureen made sure that was not going to happen.

There was many benefits of working with Maureen, with the main one being that I felt that I knew what I had to do on my side as Maureen gave me guidelines and that helped me deal with the situation a lot easier. She was making phone calls, sending emails, 24/7 and that really helped me change my course. And the final result was that after a while of trying and trying, I eventually got to change course and I couldn’t be happier with the course that I’m in.

I had taken a year out from my course as I was not enjoying it and did not see myself progressing in any of the areas offered as majors in final year. I wanted to get advice and guidance from Maureen as to what my options were. I was feeling stressed and lost. I asked my college for advice -I contacted career guidance, the head of the department and the course coordinator as well as the admissions office. I contacted several colleges and the heads of several courses which I felt drawn to. I felt extremely overwhelmed by the volume of information and all of the choices I was having to make alone.

Maureen encouraged me to let go of all of my worries and focus on what really matters most to me in a course/career. I felt like I had a non-judgemental contact and support when I needed advice and guidance and felt like I was finally making progress in my desire to return to college and discovering a lot about myself along the way.

I have a path to follow again and a goal to reach. It is so settling to have a plan in place that I can work towards. I feel very grateful for the peace of mind and optimism for the future working with Maureen has brought me. Maureen was made to be a mentor and adviser. She really cares about her clients and makes you feel comfortable and supported from the beginning with her non-judgemental, warm nature. She provides brilliant personality tests and careers work-sheets which she tailors these to your needs. I could not recommend working with Maureen more if you are experiencing any ambiguity around pursuing a course or career route.

I contacted Maureen as I was unsure about the CAO application process for a mature student. There is information online but for something so important I felt walk through guidance was a necessity in order to put the right foot forward. I now have exciting potential future prospects.

…Just accepted my official Trinity offer! Thanks for the guidance on the whole process and the check-ins after the application submission. It wouldn’t have been possible without you. You’ll be highly recommended by me.

I was a Mature Student coming from a Financial background and applying for Masters in the Educational sector and was looking for career advice and interview preparation. I had not done an interview for many years, so I knew I needed help to prepare and got help from someone in the Education Sector. It was excellent Interview Preparation; it had a very positive effect on my confidence levels in my career choice and self-belief in my abilities, and Maureen had a vast level of knowledge and information on course and career progression in Education. What I liked the most about the service is that it is professional and accessible and I can see how any age group would benefit from Maureen’s ability to bring out the best in her client. I am very confident that I will gain entry to course I want (and I did!) and that it is right for me.

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