'Act Quickly' For Career Coaching, Says Experts

An award-winning Irish-owned career coaching company, Career Decisions Ireland, has reminded jobseekers who wish to avail of free career coaching under a Government-backed scheme that they should enrol immediately as places are being snapped up with over 40% of the total places already taken.

The company is providing 1,000 unemployed people throughout the Irish Republic with a free professional Career Coaching Programme in several locations in a bid to help them explore their career options and improve their future job prospects.

Delivered under the Career2Fit initiative which is 100% funded by the Department of Education and Skills through its Labour Market Activation Fund, the Career Coaching will assist jobseekers who don't know what to do but wish to improve their job prospects.

Billy Kelleher, Minister for Trade & Commerce, who was present at the launch of Career Decision's Career2Fit programme, said: "The Government is committed to making this initiative work in favour of the unemployed.

"This is a unique opportunity for jobseekers to explore their true potential and identify suitable career and training options. We encourage unemployed people nationwide to take advantage of this opportunity with Career Decisions Ireland and we are confident they will gain tremendous benefit from the Career Assessments and Coaching provided."


Miriam Magner-Flynn, Managing Director Career Decisions which operates nationwide, stated: "We would strongly recommend this 100% funded programme to people who are unemployed and who are unclear as to the type of work that best suits them or are unsure about how to re-enter the jobs market or those people who wish to re-train." Enrolment has already begun and participants can find out more about this programme on www.careerdecisions.ie or by calling 061 400664 or find Career2Fit on Facebook.

This three-day Career Assessment & Coaching Programme is particularly suited to (but not exclusive to) people previously employed in construction, retail and manufacturing. The programme will be delivered in multiple locations covering 15 counties throughout Ireland, Cork, Limerick, Kerry, Waterford, Tipperary, Westmeath/Midlands, Donegal, Sligo, Kildare, Galway, Dublin, Kilkenny, Mayo, Cavan and Wicklow.

She further stated that participants will go through an award winning Career Assessment Programme and each person will be individually met by a Career Decisions Career Coach who will highlight career opportunities and training paths in growth sectors ensuring that jobseekers are fully aware of the best options for the future.

"Participants will be shown how their skills can be transferred to different jobs/industries which will help them to reinvent themselves for the future and improve their job prospects. Career2Fit will provide people with career clarity and improved job prospects," Ms Magner-Flynn said.

Ms. Magner-Flynn indicated that bookings to date are very strong with over 40% of the total places already taken on the Career2Fit Programme.

"Each of the 15 counties has a limited number of places so for instance Cork has only 200 places and with over 26,000 people on the Live Register we expect that the places on the Career2Fit programme will be quickly snapped up.

"People interested in the programme need to act quickly and book their place to avoid disappointment," she said.

Career Decisions will also deliver another Government-funded programme under The Labour Market Activation Fund – Level 7 Diploma in Career Coaching (CPD) awarded by Dublin Institute of Technology.

Only 15 places remain out of the 100 funded places so interested candidates should visit www.careerdecisions.ie for more information.