Maynooth University Careers and Employability Service

It really depends on what you're interested in, choose subjects you like and are good at as you are more likely to do well in these. A good standard of degree is important to employers.

Did you know that up to 40% of graduate employment opportunities are for graduate of any discipline? This means that you can look for employment opportunities in a wide range of areas regardless of the subjects you studied. A useful question to ask might be "what would I like to do?"
If you don't know what you'd like to do visit Discover your Career and follow the Steps until things become clearer for you.  As you move through Step 1 you will be able to identify areas of interest to you and careers specifically related to your subject.

Do you have a particular career in mind?

• If you don't have a particular career in mind at the moment choose subjects you like and are good at - you are more likely to do well in these. 
• If you do have as much as possible about this career, this will help you discover if specific subjects are needed. If particular subjects are needed for the careers you have in mind then this will influence your subject choice but it is still important to pick subjects that you like and are good at.

When considering which subjects to choose it is advisable to investigate what is involved in each subject.
Talk to the year co-ordinator in each department - they will be happy to advise you on what each subject/module involves.
When starting First Year it is also useful to try out several subjects before making a final choice.  Attend the lectures for 3-5 subjects initially so that you can get a sense of what the subject involves and whether it is what you expect it to be. 
Don't be afraid to change your mind, it is common for students to come to university with certain subjects in their mind and it can be confusing when these subjects don't turn out the be what you expected. An open mind to subject choice will allow you to explore a number of options more freely. 
If you are confused about subject choice call to the Careers Service Help-Desk (inside the main door of the Arts Building), where a careers adviser is available daily.

When you have been called or expect to be called for an interview it is important to start your preparation 

• Speak to a careers adviser at the Careers Service Helpdesk - no appointment necessary.
• Use the Interview section of our website
• Attend Careers Service Information Session - Interview Techniques
• See Events for times/venues.
• Copies of Information session handouts are available in Useful Resources

Maynooth University students and graduates can use the services of the Careers Service. You can start using the Careers Centre in first year - you may have questions about subject choice or what to do with your course. We provide information, advice and guidance throughout and after your time at Maynooth  University. Students use the Careers Centre for information on CVs, postgraduate study, getting work experience during the Summer breaks and applying for jobs.
Students and graduates can use Careers Connect to send questions to careers advisers, search jobs and events.
Find out how to Connect with Careers

Careers interest tests designed to help identify your strengths and skills and highlight jobs and careers that suit you.
You can find a number of these tests on our website - Explore Careers Interest Tests you can also access our psychometric tests through Careers Connect (login then click Resouces)
Find out how to Connect with Careers  and please contact us if you have further questions.

Connect with Careers to book appointments, search jobs, ask questions and find upcoming events.
 

Careers meetings last approx 20 minutes so it might be helpful to consider what you wish to discuss during your meeting. If your meeting is for  a CV/Personal Statement Review please upload it to Careers Connect when you are booking your appointment.

The Careers Service is Open Online.

Find out how to contact us.

Connect with Careers and Employability Service

Careers Connect is part of  your Careers & Employability portal, and is your one stop shop to engage with the Careers and Employability Service. On Careers Connect you can ask questions and/or book meetings with careers advisers and view our Jobs and Events Listings. You can also set email alerts for jobs and events.

Current MU Registered Students (Undergraduate and Postgraduate)
Guide to Careers Connect (MU Students)

MU Graduates
Guide to Careers Connect (MU Graduates)
Register to set up an account on the system
When you have logged in to the system you can update your profile and if you wish, sign up for email alerts from Careers on advertised jobs and up-coming careers events.
 

Student/Graduate Career Enquiries: Please contact us using Careers Connect
 
Current MU Students   Guide to using Careers Connect (MU Students)
Login with your MU login details

MU Graduates   Guide to using Careers Connect (MU Alumni)
Register to set up an account on the system

For other career related enquiries please email [email protected]

Employer enquiries:
To advertise job vacancies use our template  Job Vacancy Template   
For all other employer enquiries please email - [email protected]

Address:  Arts Building,North Campus, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland               
 

See Events  and Careers Connect for up-to-date information on upcoming Information Sessions.

Booking not necessary (unless otherwise advised).

Handouts from our Information Session are available -

• In Useful Resources on our website and
• FREE to takeaway from the Careers Service, Arts Building - Opening Hours

Our talks are sometimes repeated so check our upcoming Events you may be able to attend the next talk.

Yes any student or graduate can attend our information sessions/careers talks. It is not necessary to book unless otherwise stated. At these talks we will provide information on a range of career related topics e.g. CVs, Personal Statements for Postgraduate Study Applications, Interviews, Applying for Teacher Education Courses, Training as a primary or post-primary teacher, Applying to Accountancy Firms. 

You will not have to participate during in the talks but you will have an opportunity to ask questions at the end of the session if you wish.

The Careers Service offers a range of services to Maynooth University students and graduates.We offer information, advice and guidance on areas such as planning your career, finding a job, postgraduate study options and applications,CVs and interview techniques.
We run Online Queries where you can send your questions to our careers advisers. We offer Individual guidance meetings with advisers to discuss your career plans and assist you as you move through the career planning steps
Find out how to Connect with Careers, to ask questions, book meetings and search for jobs and events.

The Careers Service offers information, advice and guidance in starting out in discovering your career (i.e. I don't know where to start or what I'd like to do!), assessing useful information, job-hunting, getting experience, searching for postgraduate courses, CVs, applications and interviews.
You can look for jobs on our websites and sign up for email alerts on job and events.
We run information sessions on various topics including Interview Techniques, Planning your Career, CV Preparation, Business Etiquette, Making Accountancy Applications and Applying for Teacher Education.
We can help you move through the Career Planning Steps, providing resources to help you assess your interests, access useful information, make decisions and form a plan of action.

Please Careers Connect send your questions to our careers advisers and search jobs and events.

Careers Meetings
Meetings are available In-Person or online through MS Teams
Careers Meetings last 20 minutes.
Meetings can be booked up to one week in advance.
Careers Meetings can be used to discuss any career related questions including CV and personal statement reviews.
 

• A postgraduate (postgrad) course is one that you study after your undergraduate degree.
• The standard of degree needed for entry depends on the particular course to which you are applying.
• There are several types of courses in this category - Postgraduate/Professional Diploma, Higher Diploma, Masters and PhD.

See Postgraduate Study for further information.

Most institutions operate an online application system, either through their website or at www.pac.ie.
Check the websites of the colleges in which you are interested for details of their system.
You can find more information on our Postgraduate Study pages.

Entry requirements vary from course to course and college to college so it is advisable to check college websites for details.
If you don't meet the entry requirements it is worth contacting a course director and asking whether they would consider your application and/or what you can do to improve you application in the future.
For most postgraduate, when institutions list their entry requirements they are referring to your final year results or what you expect to get in your final year - you don't have to have your results to apply.
For the PME (Professional Master of Education), previously known as the HDip in Education, Maynooth University, UCC, UCD and NUI Galway offer places based on your penultimate year results. If you have any questions about postgraduate study have a look at Postgraduate Study come to the Careers Centre Help-Desk to talk to an adviser.

Visit our Postgraduate Study section for more information.

Entry requirements vary from course to course and college to college.
It is advisable to check on individual college websites.
If you feel you don't meet the entry requirements, talk to the course director, asking whether they would still accept an application - some courses can have flexibility in their entry requirements.
Visit our Postgraduate Study section for more information.

The Postgraduate Applications Centre (PAC) (www.pac.ie) is used to apply for 

• Postgraduate courses in a number of colleges (Maynooth University, DCU, UCC, WIT and 3UPartnership).
• Professional Master of Education (centralised application) in the 4 NUI universities (Maynooth University, UCD, UCD and NUI Galway).
• Professional Master of Education at DCU
• HSE / Public Health Nursing (postgraduate courses).
• Higher Diploma in Midwifery.

There are various sources of funding, see the Careers Service Postgraduate Study section and Maynooth University Graduate Studies for further details.

For postgraduate courses at Maynooth University use Course Finder
You will also find a large listing of postgraduate courses at 

• www.postgradireland.com  
• www.qualifax.ie  

 Entry requirement, application procedures and closing dates will vary among institutions so it is important check each individual institution's website for full details.
Visit our Postgraduate Study section for more information

To explore postgraduate options in the UK www.prospects.ac.uk  has a searchable database of postgraduate courses.
Applications are made directly to colleges, closing dates and entry requirements vary so contact colleges for details.
Visit our Postgraduate Study section for more information

Ireland

​Careers Service Presentations

Teaching Council Requirements for Post-Primary Teaching

When considering a career in Post-Primary Teaching students must familiarise themselves with the Teaching Council Subject Requirements.

Our  Information Sheet  Counselling/Psychotherapy   provides information and links relevant to training as a counsellor and you can find further information in Explore Careers in...Counselling 

Our Information Sheet  Social Work (Entry 2025)   provides information and links relevant to training as a social worker and you can find further information in Explore Careers in...Social Work

Employers begin advertising graduate positions starting in Summer/Autumn  at the start of final year - closing dates are as early as October in final year. 
For details of available opportunities check 

• Careers Connect (search for Jobs and sign up for email alerts)
•  www.gradireland.com

You can also make Speculative Applications to employers, enquiring if they would have opportunities for someone with your skills.

You will  need

• A good CV - Use our CV Tips
• To prepare for interview - Interview Advice

Want to make a good impression in the workplace?  Our Information Session Business Etiquette: Norms and Standards of Behaviour in a Professional Workplace will help identify the Do's and Don'ts you need to know.
See Events for times/venues. 
Handouts from the information session are available in Useful Resources (click on Career Presentations - MU login required)

Click Find a Job for more detailed information on seeking out internships and work experience e.g. what is an internship? why should I get work experience?

Not all work experience opportunities are advertised. To find those opportunities that are advertised check
Careers Service Job Listings
Careers Service notice-boards
 www.gradireland.com

You can also make Speculative Applications to employers, enquiring if they would have opportunities for someone with your skills.

You will  need

• A good CV - Use our CV Tips
• To prepare for interview - Interview Advice

When deciding what information include in your CV remember that your CV is your passport to an interview. What do you want an employer to know about you? How will you meet their needs? What will you bring to the job/company or course/university to which you are applying.

• Use CVs and Applications as a starting point.
• Sample CVs are available in our  Useful Resources section.
• To assist you in preparing your CV our sample CVs are in Word.docx format so you can save and add your own details and information.
• The Careers Service also runs Information Sessions on preparing a CV and handouts from these sessions are available in Useful Resources (click on Career Presentations)

If you have changed career or have working in a number of varying roles in the past it can be a challenge to include all this information in  your CV. It is important to include valuable skills and experience, even if these skills and experience were gained in a different work sector. It is also important to display the information in a clear and concise manner so that an employer knows what you are offering. You can use CVs and Applications for general advice and then have a look at our Sample CVs (Maynooth University log-in required) - scroll down to our Skills CV to view a template for including a range of experience under relevant skills headings. You can use Careers Connect to send your questions to our careers advisers or book a careers meeting. Find out how to Connect with Careers.

If you feel that the course you have chosen is not the correct one for you, it can be helpful to look at other options. Initially you should talk to your academic department  - each department has a year co-ordinator available to discuss your concerns.
Also talk to the Academic Advisory Office about what is involved in changing course.
Use Careers Connect to send a question to our careers advisers or to arrange a careers meeting
Some useful resources in exploring your options are www.careersportal.ie  and www.qualifax.ie  ( a searchable database of courses in Ireland).