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What do we mean by ‘Employability’?

By Niamh Dwyer, Guidance Counsellor
According to experts in the area of career development, the term ‘employability’ refers to a set of achievements that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations.
This in turn benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. At this stage in the year Leaving Cert students are well into the process of trying to decide what step they want to take next. It is a daunting task for many of you because of the variety of choices available and the challenge for young people at 17 or 18 years of age to really know what career they might like. It is important to remember that you aren’t choosing a career for life, you are taking the next step and you will be building on that as your career develops. A big concern for many students and parents is whether they will get a job at the end of their chosen course or pathway. While we have some indications of where there will be skills shortages in the short to medium term, the jobs market is subject to change.
PATHWAY
One thing we can be sure of is that, regardless of what pathway you take after the Leaving Cert, be that Further Education courses (FET), traineeships, apprenticeships or university courses, on completion of your training and education you will want to be ‘employable’. In simple terms ‘employability’ depends on your knowledge (what you know) your skills (what you do with what you know) and your attitude (how you approach things). As you research the various options open to you after you finish school, remember you are heading into a working world that values transferable skills which include specialist knowledge in the subject, field of study or technical area you have chosen to follow. It also places huge emphasis on having the ability to analyse, evaluate and use information effectively to problem-solve and to organise and communicate knowledge well. Furthermore, your personal qualities are a core part of your offering to a potential employer – your ability to work on your own initiative, to self-manage, to manage time and meet targets and deadlines. Central to all of this of course is the ability to collaborate, to work and study as part of a team.
If you are struggling to decide between courses or options, focus on finding an area that you really want to find out more about. You will develop a set of transferable skills which will give you flexibility and adaptability as you grow and develop in your career. All of the other things you do will add value to your degree/qualification and that is what will ensure your ‘employability’!
Niamh Dwyer is a Guidance Counsellor in Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra, Rathmore, a member of the Kerry Branch of IGC and a career consultant at www.mycareerplan.ie. Follow @mycareerplan on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
News
Sunflower day fundraiser for Killarney on Friday
Killarney Branch, Kerry Hospice Foundation are hoping the sun will shine for their Sunflower Day fundraiser which takes place on Friday, June 10. There will be collections at various locations […]

Killarney Branch, Kerry Hospice Foundation are hoping the sun will shine for their Sunflower Day fundraiser which takes place on Friday, June 10.
There will be collections at various locations in and around town as well as Foley’s Spar Shop, Fossa and Hegarty’s Spar Shop, Muckross.
“This is our first Sunflower Day collection since 2019. It is one of our main annual fundraising events and is always well supported by the local community” says Cathal Walshe, PRO., Killarney Hospice Branch.
The services provided by Kerry Hospice Foundation for people with life limiting illnesses at it’s 15 bed inpatient unit and “Suaimhneas” Day Care Centre at University Hospital Kerry have been well documented in recent years. Also highlighted is the fact that it costs in the region of €10,000 weekly to provide these services.
Kerry Hospice Foundation has plans for further expansion of its services into the future. An outreach clinic has already been set up at Killarney Community Hospital where patients can meet with a Palliative Care Specialist. This service along with the existing services would not be possible were it not for the generous support Kerry Hospice gets from the people of Kerry.
People can find out more about the work of Kerry Hospice Foundation at www.kerryhospice.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @kerryhospice.
News
Ted Healy Properties wins DNG Small Branch of the Year
A Killarney estate agents has received a national award at the DNG National Conference and Awards, which took place at The Curragh Racecourse last week. Killarney estate agent DNG Ted […]

A Killarney estate agents has received a national award at the DNG National Conference and Awards, which took place at The Curragh Racecourse last week.
Killarney estate agent DNG Ted Healy Properties was named the ‘Small Branch of the year’ at the awards sponsored by the Irish Examiner.
The Conference and Awards ceremony was attended by more than 150 delegates from offices across Ireland where a range of topics from Ireland’s property market outlook to DNG’s recent partner affiliation with Hampton International and the role of DNG in the residential and commercial sectors, were discussed.
Delegates were entertained by guest speaker Ireland Rugby legend and La Rochelle coach Ronan O’Gara.
The judging panel of industry experts, included Peter Dargan of Irish Times, Adrian Bushnell of Pan Research, Ross Killeen of Media Pro and Keith Lowe, CEO of DNG.
The panel praised DNG Ted Healy for the high standard of service to customers and the team’s use of Social Media to enhance their business.
A native of Killarney, Ted Healy officially opened his estate agency practice in March 2006 and has gone from strength to strength ever since providing a highly professional and competent residential and commercial estate agency service to the people of Killarney and its surrounds.
“We are so grateful to be recognised as the DNG Small Branch of the year. The whole team at DNG Ted Healy has strived towards excellent for the last 12 months, and this only motivates us to continue exceeding expectations and delivering excellence to our clients,” said Ted Healy.
The awards celebrate the hard work carried out across the DNG Network and recognise the successes of individuals within the organisation, rewarding the high standards of service, business acumen and professionalism that are demonstrated in each DNG branch.