Andree Harpur

2011-08-31T05:58:00.000-07:00

Go Visit Your College!

If you have accepted your CAO or College invitation for a course, well done! You have taken the first step. While it is really great and efficient to do everything on line, it is also really useful to visit the College before your courses start.

I realise that if you are living in the country, this might mean an extra trip to the city, but it is well worth it! Each college will organise an "Orientation" or "Introduction day". These are really valuable days, so do attend them.

What happens?

You get shown around the college.

You will be told how to register and how to choose your major and minor electives.

Lecturers will be on hand to describe each subject and what it involves

Facilities such as the Library get explained to you. This can be invaluable later on as some systems are complex and would take a long time to figure out on your own.

Some colleges have students who took the subject last year in to talk. Chatting with former students can identify pitfalls and give you really handy hints for approaching your course.

Good luck and enjoy your college days

http://www.andreeharpur.com/

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2011-08-25T12:00:00.000-07:00

To Repeat or not to Repeat - that is the Question!

The words every student dreads to hear: “You need to repeat your Leaving!” No one does this willingly! Even the thought of a repeat Leaving makes most students sick. So why on earth would you do it?

Consider the following questions:

a) Do you think that the results you just got in your Leaving Cert reflect your true potential?
b) Are your current results stopping you from doing the course that you would really love to do?
c) In the future when anyone asks you about your Leaving Cert results will you try to avoid the question?

d) If you worked harder do you think you could get a much better result?

You are a serious contender for a repeat Leaving Certificate if you answer:
Question a): No. Question b): Yes. Question c): Yes Question d) Yes

People will tell you that it is not so bad to repeat your Leaving Cert. The Truth: it is!
They will tell you that it is a question of just a few months - the Truth: its not, it’s a year- a long year.
They will tell you that it is not as bad as school – the Truth: its not, it is far worse! It is Boot Camp. The people in repeat schools figure that you are giving over a year of your life to get the results you want – and they want to make sure you get them. You will have to attend all classes, study in the evening, study during holidays etc.
People will tell you that you can still see your friends – the Truth: you will hardly have time to see anybody!
Once you get the above reality clearly into your head, repeating the Leaving Certificate is not too bad at all!!

Only repeat your Leaving Certificate if:

· You now see that you are an adult and you want to take responsibility for your own life
· You know what you want to do and your are prepared to work for it
· You realise that this year will be the toughest one you have had so far, academically, but you are prepared to go through short term pain for long term gain.

Do not repeat your Leaving Cert if:

· You don’t see the point of repeating but your parents want you to do it and you want to get them off your back
· You don’t know what career you want and this course will put in the time (There are loads of other things to do which are far more fun – and cheaper!)
· Your friends are repeating and you want to doss around with them (Your friends will more than likely be studying hard. They will not have time to hang out with you and you will be bored stiff. You will also have wasted a year of your life and a lot of money)
You feel you worked really hard last year and you don't see your results getting any better.

No matter what the results of your Leaving Certificate are, you can still make them work for you.
Our book, coming out in September, will answer the above question and more. It is called Sorted! A Survival Guide for Parents of Students making a Career Choice. Andree Harpur and Mary Quirke. Published by Kite Publications.
Andree Harpur, Career Consultant, Email: info@andreeharpur.com. Web: http://www.andreeharpur.com/ Tel: 01-2788013

http://www.career-guidance-ireland.com/

2011-08-24T13:07:00.000-07:00

I did not get any CAO offers!

At the moment I am getting many calls from worried parents and students to say that they did not get any CAO offers, what should they do?

It is important to remember that points can go down in the second round CAO offers so there is always a chance that you will get an offer at that stage.

Just in case research similar courses in the PLC system ( see last post) Also have a look at some private colleges, sometimes the entry points can be lower here. But dont forget, you will have to pay fees here.

Check http://www.cao.ie/ after Aug 26th as some colleges will advertise courses which are not filling up.

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2011-08-19T01:37:00.000-07:00

Support for Parents

As we all know the Leaving Certificate results came out on Wednesday. Since then I have received worried calls from parents. The majority of these were about students who did not do as well as they thought they would in their exams. Parents were wondering what should they do.

We read a lot in the media about points - how they go up and down. In reality none of us know what the points are going to do until the CAO offers come out next week. Points simply work on supply and demand. If there is a demand, the points go up, if not the points go down. We will not know the points until Monday so for the moment - relax!

If you want to create a safety net, go to http://www.codubvec.ie/index.cfm/do/plc_courses/

This site will tell you about the excellent courses in the PLC colleges. You apply directly to the colleges - do this now! Many courses can lead on the the Institutes of Technology.

Over the weekend if the mood is gloomy in your household, dont take it personally. This is so normal and there is not much a Mum or Dad can do. My advice always is to say it with food! This works superbly with the boys, at least!

Cook their favourite meal and serve with a reassuring smile!!

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2011-01-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

If my Intelligence is so "Natural" - how come I need Career Guidance?

In my last blog I talked about Natural Intelligence and how it forms an integral part of our being from the time we were very small. I found that when a client discovered their natural intelligence in our sessions, they often said things like:

"I always knew this, but didn't know I knew it"

" I always had a sense of this, but never was able to put it into words"

" I knew I could sort of do this, but I thought it was no big deal, because I thought everyone else could do this too"

So if these gifts that we discover are such a natural part of ourselves, why do we need Career Guidance? Why can we just not access them ourselves?

I have found that it can be extremely difficult for people to identify natural skills and talents and apply them to their careers by themselves. It seems that this process is far easier, more enjoyable and successful if we seek the help of a qualified professional.

I have identified some recurring difficulties in identifying our own natural intelligence:

The Intelligence we have uncovered does not fall within the realm of conventional intelligence so we don't recognise it as such

It may have been an intelligence that we used very much when we were younger but were told that this is not a real intelligence - it would never lead to a "real" job

It may form so much part of our personality that we never recognised our gift at all

We may have had a sense of our gift, but never thought that it could be applied "in the real world"

Some gifts are so subtle and fine, that it is almost impossible to grasp them or "pin them down" without some kind of objective observation.

Each individual's gift is so unique that, for the most part, we cannot follow rigidly set down and traditional career paths.

Discovering our natural gifts can mean uncovering deeper parts of ourselves. Many times it is reassuring to feel that someone can help us to navigate through this.

Career Guidance can then:

Create a safe, objective environment to explore our natural potential

Provide the structure to clarify and verbalise practically what these gifts are

Reassure us that these findings are actually gifts and talents

Explore how the uncovering of these gifts will influence other parts of our lives

Introduce a broader context to allow us explore how these newly discovered gifts can be applied to our careers and ultimately to our lives.

2011-01-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

Discovering Ourselves in the New Year

The New Year is a wonderful time to take stock of our lives and forge ahead into a new phase. It is always a very busy time in Career Guidance and I have worked with hundreds of people who want to "Make a Change" at this time. Clients initially feel that this involves changing something about themselves - getting rid of some aspect of themselves or acquiring a totally new aspect. This "change", they feel, will allow them to move forward in their lives in a new way.

However, again and again when working with clients, I have made a wonderful discovery - there is nothing to be added or nothing to be taken away. The aspects we need to live life to the fullest and to make the most consisitent and dramatic changes are already there and part of ourselves. We do not need to add or subtract anything ; we simply need to uncover and discover who we were all along.

As I work through the career process with clients, I witness them uncovering parts of themselves that they always suspected were there, but perhaps were never discovered or valued. This hidden potential or "Natural Intelligence" is so much part of ourselves that we take it for granted or, at times, do not even notice it.

To witness a client reconnecting with their true selves is an enormous privilege as a Career Guidance Counsellor. I see a face coming alive, vibrant with energy and colour. I see a person becoming animated and enthusiastic, perhaps for the first time in a long time. I hear them coming up with ideas that have lain dormant for a long time. Doubts begin to fall away and hope takes its place. I see someone discovering a part of themselves and, many times, also discovering the part they can play in their families, their communities and the world as a whole.

Nothing has been added or subtracted - I just see what was always there coming to the fore - the true person coming alive before my eyes.

Truly, this must be the best job in the world!

2010-05-30T13:04:00.000-07:00

Your Timetable

During your exams, your timetable becomes a very important piece of paper.

I would advise making several copies of it.

It is really important that your parent, or guardian, has a copy and that you ask them to double check each day for you. In this way, you can know that you do not have to shoulder the responsibility of this all by yourself.

It is a good idea to put your timetable somewhere where several people in your family could see it. I don't advise sticking it on the fridge as it can sometimes not be conducive to eating!

The most common mistake is not getting the day wrong, but the time wrong. It has been known that a student arrives at 2.00pm for an exam that took place at 9.30 that day.

Get someone really responsible to take on the job of double checking for you each day and then you don't have to worry.

A website which has a copy of the timetable and really good exam hints is: http://www.esbexampass.ie/

Have a look.

http://www.career-guidance-ireland.com/

2010-05-29T15:23:00.000-07:00

Remembering all the Bits and Pieces

I once heard the story of a pupil who finished an exam but accidently took a piece of her answer sheet out of the hall with her after the exam.

If you are doing a subject which requires you to hand up several different sheets of paper, make very sure to check that you hand them all up and not take them out with you with your exam paper. I am thinking specifically of papers such as Geography. It only takes a second to check but might save you much worry later on.

2010-05-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

Having a Spare

In a previous blog we looked at having a spare pen but you may need spares in many departments.

One of the most obvious is glasses. If you do wear glasses, make sure that you have a spare pair - just in case. They don't need to be too pretty - they just need to allow you see an exam paper!

Also stock up on extra pairs of contact lenses and contact lens solution.

If you have a hearing impairment, make sure you remember batteries.

You might plan to bring in water with you as the weather at this time of year can be very warm.

you mgiht

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-05-25T06:31:00.000-07:00

Breathing is the best way to Relax

Coming up to your exams it is very normal that you may feel pressure. Most people say: "Just relax and breathe" What they don't tell you is how to do that, or why you should do it.

Let's start with the "Why" .

Thousands of years ago the Yogis made a scientific study of the brain. They found out one exciting fact: The slower you breathe, the more your mind slows down.

If you observe yourself when you get stressed, your mind starts racing. It hops from one thought to the other until you feel overwhelmed. Your mind speeds up and suddenly you are stressed. This can be slowed within a few minutes and you instantly feel calmer.

Here comes the HOW!

Focus on your in-breath and your out-breath. Normally you breathe out for far longer than you breathe in - try it and see! Count both your breaths. If you breathe in for 4, you will normally breathe out for 8.

We are going to change this:

Focus on your in-breath.

If you inhale for 4, exhale for 4 too.

This will mean at the start that you will have to force your breath out a bit, but don't worry.

Do this 12 times.

Don't worry if after a while you start breathing in for 5 or more that just means you are relaxing. Stick to the same rule:

Inhale for 6(or whatever time feels comfortable) Exhale for 6.

When you are finished you will feel much calmer . Easy peasy - now you can calm yourself!

2010-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

Study Breaks

It is generally agreed that you study better over short periods of time. The brain will be happier not having to focus on one topic for too long.

It is a good idea to change topic every 30- 40 mins . In this way you will minimise boredom.

It is also important to take short breaks at least every 90 mins. Regular short breaks seem to work better than cramming for a long time and then taking a longer break. In this scenario, you get so tired, you do not want to go back to study at all.

When you take your break, make sure it involves physical movement. Moving your body will refresh your brain.

And, yes, dancing around your bedroom to your favourite music qualifies here.

Enjoy!

Some interesting exam tips on this site - worth a look!
http://www.mocks.ie/index/examtips

http://www.career-guidance-ireland.com/

2010-05-19T04:05:00.000-07:00

The Pen- The Tool of your Trade

Because writing is going to be so important to you during the month of June, it is essential that you are comfortable with your pen.

Now is the time to look into this. Make sure to buy your pen in plenty of time so that you can practice with it and be completely comfortable using it.

Firstly, find a pen with which you can write easily. Secondly, choose a pen which will make your writing really clear.

Don't forget that a poor examiner has to read pages and pages of your writing! Don't make the experience frustrating for him or her by making your writing unclear.

Experiment with different pens now. See how comfortable they are. Then show your writing to different people at home and ask which writing they find the clearest.

Once your choose your pen, buy at least three or four of them, just in case you lose one or one runs out.

There are specialist pen shops which are fun to visit. Try:

http://maps.google.ie/maps?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=the+pen+shop+dublin&fb=1&gl=ie&hq=the+pen+shop&hnear=dublin&view=text&ei=icTzS5SrENXI_gbHgsiEDQ&sa=X&oi=local_group&ct=more-results&resnum=1&ved=0CCEQtQMwAA

However, in the end, keep things simple and above all, keep your writing clear!

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-05-18T11:47:00.000-07:00

Natural Smells can Make you Feel Better!

When you are studying you can sometimes feel stressed or tired.

A very simple way to change your mood is to use smell.

All your need is an oil burner, a night light, some water and some essential oils.

For example, if you were very anxious put 3 drops of Ylang Ylang and 3 drops of Lavender into a little water in the oil burner and heat with the night light. Your room will smell great and you will feel much calmer.

(Guys might prefer to substitute the Ylang Ylang with Sandlewood)

If you are feeling tired and finding it hard to study, use 3 drops of Rosemary and 3 drops of Lavender. This should make you feel refreshed.

To find other uses for oils click: http://www.healingtherapies.info/Aromatherapy.htm

They are easy to find in any health store. To find the one nearest to you see:
http://www.irishhealthstores.com/member_list.php

However, if you are down Enniscorthy way, a real treat is Evolv Health Store. Here you can find anything and everything and get expert advice from Proprietors, Nuala and Mat Ronan. See:
http://www.evolv.ie/

Using natural oils is simple to do and the effects are almost instant.

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-05-14T14:01:00.000-07:00

Time off is Just as Important

Just as study is important, so is your time off. The problem is that sometimes if you take time off a month before your exams, you might tend to feel guilty. You spend this time thinking of what you should be at home studying.

If, on the other hand, you do not take time off, you may begin to feel tired, bored and resentful that you are not getting some fun time.

The solution is to do both. It is important that your free time is included in your timetable. So, for example, if you plan to take Saturday afternoon completely off, this is written up on your timetable. 2.00pm - 5.30 pm Town ( You can write this is a bright colour!)

You will also plan how you will spend Saturday morning - how much study will you do?

Having worked on Saturday morning and having earned your time off, you will actually enjoy your free time and not feel guilty that you are not studying.

You can have fun, come home feeling a lot better and get some constructive study done afterwards.

By planning both your time off and your study time, you can enjoy both worlds and cut down on the guilt!

You can find some useful study hints on www.skool.ie

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-05-13T00:19:00.000-07:00

You Have Lots of Time!

From today you have almost a month to your exam - much work can be done in a month!

So even if you feel that you have not done enough work up to now, you still have the opportunity to do much more, so don't worry.

One of the tricks to working well is to stay calm. You will study far better and remember what you read if you are not stressed.

Focus on studying one topic only, and keep your mind there. Do not let it wander on to how much you have to do. What happens then is that you are not really reading in the moment and you will not remember it in the future.

Choose a topic, study it and congratulate yourself when you have it finished - one less thing to do!

A good idea at this stage is to play relaxation Cd's. These can be played just before you go to sleep. Your mind will then drift into sleep in a restful state and you will awake refreshed.

One CD which I often recommend is Exam Buster, designed by Mags Corbett. Many students have used it just before exams and found it so helpful. It is only 9.99 and well worth the investment!

You can buy it at http://en-gb.facebook.com/pages/Rathgar-Ireland/Exam-Buster/134001418235

It works for Mums and Dads too!

Don't forget to send any questions you may have and I will answer them as soon as I can.

Have a great day!

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-05-12T03:02:00.000-07:00

Steps to the Leaving Certificate

Welcome to my blog on the Leaving Certificate!

Every day, from now until the 9th of June, I will be posting a blog.

If you have any questions or you would like me to deal with a particular topic, please do contact me. I would love to have your feedback!

It is for all of you who are facing this exam - whether you are a student, parent, relation or friend.

Each day there will be a little helpful hint to make this journey a little easier.

Keeping your Body Happy

The year of the Leaving Certificate can be seen as a long distance run. It starts at the start of September and keeps going until almost the end of June. It is pretty much work all the way.

In order the keep your energy up, it is important to look after your body.

Now is the time to start taking a multi-vitamin. You have almost a month to your exam and, if you take this every day, it will make a significant difference to your energy by the time you are ready to sit down and take your exam.

Which one should you take? I would advise taking one which has worked well for you in the past - now is not the time for experimentation!

If you are not sure, do consult your doctor. Explain that you are sitting the Leaving Cert and that you need a vitamin boost to make sure that you are on top form.

Do this today - and you will really notice the difference in a little while!

http://www.career-guidance-ireland.com/

2010-04-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

How You Look is Important

When you were at work, you never really had to think too much about what you wore. The dress code of the company and of your colleagues more or less dictated this. The very fact that you went to work each day meant that you left your house each morning fresh, groomed, wearing your work clothes and ready to greet the day.

Now that you don't have to go to work, there is no dress code. You don't have to dress for a boss, for work colleagues or clients any more. So what you now put on each day doesn't matter - right?

You can just chill out now and throw on whatever you like - OK?

Absolutely not. Your appearance now is possibly far more important for the following reasons:

The first person you dress for is yourself. The fact that you dedicate time and effort into how you look gives yourself the message that you are important . You are now not dressing for anyone else but yourself - and for one sole reason - yes, you ARE worth it!

You pay attention to your appearance for the sake of those who care about you. People close to you, who love you, will be concerned for you at this time. It is actually extremely painful to watch a loved one sinking down and going to seed. If people who care for you see that you are caring for yourself, they will be much relieved. They will see it as a sign that you are coping with this situation, that you are putting structure into your life and that you will come out the other end a stronger person

You also dress for others. The appearance you choose will also send a strong signal to those you meet outside your living space. Life is full of opportunity. One thing about opportunity is that you never know where it is going to come from. On a trip to the supermarket, you might bump into a neighbour. This person may be in a position to recommend you to someone else. You have no way of knowing this; your neighbour may not even tell you. S/He may simply observe you for a while and then pass on this recommendation - you simply do not know. Each time you leave the house, see it as an opportunity for a new experience, a new opportunity. Be ready for it.

Does this mean that you need to invest in new clothes or wear your business suit each day?

No, not at all. But it does mean that each day you get up, you shave (if you were in the habit of doing this at work) or put on your make-up (if you were in the habit of doing this) and shower. Your clothes are clean and ironed. Your hair is clean and groomed. In other words, if you had to drop back casually into your old workplace, you would look just fine.

Looking after your appearance is making a commitment to yourself each day that, regardless of your personal circumstances, you deserve respect, attention and dignity.

If you do not give this to yourself, why would you expect others to give it to you?

If you do not look after your appearance, how easy is it going to be to attract the attention of those who might be able to help you?

Start focusing on yourself right now and make this commitment to yourself every day.

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

2010-04-13T01:44:00.000-07:00

Managing Your Thoughts in the Morning

The first thoughts that pop into our heads in the morning are the ones which set the scene for the rest of the day. This is why it is so important to monitor them. On waking, you might notice that a thought seems to be in your head already. It may be: "Great, the sun is shining." or " Oh God, another day, what am I going to do with it?"

Both are valid thoughts, but both have vastly different effects. The positive or negative energy attached to our first thoughts can linger with us throughout the day. Each thought that passes through our minds has an effect on our bodies. The first example here is obviously a positive one which will make you want to jump out of bed. The second thought is a heavy one. The body will feel pulled down and depressed. You will want to stay in bed, seeing no reason to get out of it.

This is where you come in.

Only you know what goes on inside your head. Only you have the power to change it.

The good news is that we can change our thoughts - any thoughts. We are not slaves to what goes on inside our heads; at any stage we can take control and change these thoughts. In fact, are minds are very obedient when we give them clear and consistent messages.

The first step is to recognise what thought you are currently holding in your head. This is especially important first thing in the morning . Is this thought positive or negative?

If it is positive, add to it: "Great the sun in shining - I can take out the bike and head down town..."

If the thought is negative, it needs to be changed.

Focus in on this negative thought. See the effect it is having on your energy and your body.

Now replace the thought.

Replacing a thought can be a challenge, especially if this thought is very ingrained. The easiest way to attack and replace an ingrained thought is with a phrase that is very familiar to you. You will have prepared it already. This is a phrase that is repeated over and over until the thought is replaced. This is called an affirmation.

There are infinite examples of affirmations you could choose. The one to pick is the one that has the biggest effect on you. For example, I could say: "Today is the start of the rest of my life" or an affirmation that many people use is: " Every day, in every way, I am getting better and better"

Search for affirmations on the Internet. Read through the long list you will find. Choose the one which is strongest for you. Learn it off. The next morning you find your head invaded by negative thought, blast it with your new affirmation!

"But", you say, " what if I don't feel in the least positive? Will I only be fooling myself using this affirmation?!"

You are perfectly right. Most of the time if you are thinking negative thoughts, you actually don't want to change. It takes effort. When you start doing your positive affirmation, it will feel quite foreign, as if you are telling yourself stories.

But keep going! Your mind does not know the difference! If you keep repeating that you are happy to greet the day, gradually your mind will believe this and you will feel your body getting lighter and happier.

You have changed the tape. You have set your day up.

Enjoy it.

It is yours.

http://www.career-guidance-ireland.com/

2010-04-08T10:44:00.000-07:00

Possibly the most difficult thing about being unemployed is to see a whole day stretch before you and not know what to do with it. The time seems endless and a feeling of uselessness creeps in. One way to confront this is with structure .

If you think about it, work gave your day structure. You had to be up at a certain time and at work at another. It sounds very obvious, but one of the most important things to do in a day where you are not required to go to work it to get up - early! Many courses which are organised for people who are changing career start early in the morning- sometimes at 8.30 am. There is a reason for this, it is to get participants up early.

It has been recognised for thousands of years that early morning is the most powerful time of the day ( between 5.30 am and 7.00 am) It is a time of stillness which lends itself very well to any kind of daliy practice, such as Yoga, meditation, writing or physical exercise. You will find that it is easy to focus on your chosen activity and your thoughts will be clear.

There are studies which show a link between proactivity and people who get up early. However, tyr it yourself. It is amazing how in control it can make you feel. The following day stay in bed later and see how different this feels.

"Its hard", you say," to get up early when I have nothing to get up for". Agreed, it is not at all easy.
A good idea is to find a motive. Is there some little person who needs to get to school? Would a neighbour like an early paper delivered? Or how would your body respond to some early morning walking or jogging?
Try it. The air is pure... no traffic. The sun rises early these mornings and it is bright. You have the world to yourself and you can do whatever you like with it!

www.career-guidanceireland.com

Unemployment - its a change, not an ending

2010-03-23T05:30:00.000-07:00

My name is Andree and I am a Careers Consultant. Over a period I have worked with many people whose work situation has changed. These clients have come from all employment areas and vary in age. The challenges are the same. I have noticed that the biggest challenge is isolation, feeling alone and not part of it any more.

Chances are that if you have come across this blog, you are either unemployed, facing unemployment or perhaps living with someone who is unemployed.

I would like to use this blog to connect with you. To show you that you are not alone. To share with you simple things which other people have found really work.

Each blog will deal with one simple approach.
If you try each approach, I would love to know how you are getting on.
Or perhaps you would like to share other challenges that you are facing and we can come up with new ideas.

Whatever happens, I would like to show you that this period in your life is an opportunity - lets make the most of it!

www.career-guidance-ireland.com

What to do when you have nothing to do - leading a full life when unemployed

2010-03-23T05:23:00.000-07:00