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Explore Careers

Exploring careers is about learning what is possible, understanding yourself, and gradually identifying options that feel like a good fit. You do not need to have a clear career goal to begin. Many students start by being curious and open to learning more.

This page is intended to help you make a start. Whether you have a specific career area in mind, are unsure what might suit you, or are considering a change of direction, there are tools and supports available to help you move forward.

Exploring a Career Area

If you already have a career area in mind, a useful first step is to research how that profession works in practice.

It is worth checking whether the role is a regulated profession or linked to a professional body, society, or institute. For example, searching for “radiography society Ireland careers” can help you find reliable and authoritative information.

Professional body websites often include:

  • Information on becoming qualified in the profession
  • Details of accredited qualifications or training routes
  • Registration or membership requirements
  • Links to recognised education providers

There are also general careers websites such as GradIreland and Careers Portal which provide overviews of career paths and entry routes. These are particularly useful for prospective students and members of the public seeking introductory information.

Deciding on a Career

If you are unsure what you would like to do after your studies at University of Galway, this is very common. Career decisions often take time and exploration.

A helpful starting point is to reflect on:

  • Your skills and strengths
  • What you would like to gain from your future work
  • Activities or subjects that interest you

You may also wish to consider:

  • Recent activities that gave you a sense of achievement and the skills you were using
  • Whether you prefer working with people, ideas, or practical tasks
  • How you respond to pressure and responsibility
  • Whether you prefer leading work or contributing in a supporting role

This type of reflection can help you understand what might suit you, even if you do not yet have a specific role in mind.

If you would like support with this process, attend a Career event or book an appointment with a careers adviser can help you explore options and identify next steps.

Changing Direction

Some students decide that their future career may not be directly related to their degree subject. This is a normal part of career development and does not limit your options.

As you gain experience and insight during your studies, you may wish to explore:

  • Postgraduate conversion courses
  • Additional training or professional qualifications
  • Employers who recruit graduates from a wide range of disciplines

You can keep up to date with current opportunities by browsing vacancies and employer information on Careers Connect.

Careers Related to Your Degree

If you would like to explore career options connected to your degree or subject area:

Current University of Galway Students

Please visit the Careers Information for Students SharePoint site. This contains degree related career information, sector insights, and resources developed specifically for University of Galway students.
Access requires login through your University Office365 account.

Pre Entrants

If you are considering studying at University of Galway, you may find it helpful to:

  • Explore course pages and select “Why choose this course”
  • Watch undergraduate programme videos and taster days
  • View postgraduate programme information and videos

Exploring Your Interests and Strengths

There are many tools designed to help individuals reflect on their interests, strengths, abilities, and personality. These can support career exploration and help you identify areas that may suit you.

University of Galway students have free access to selected self assessment tools, including personality and career interest assessments.

Details on accessing these tools are available on the Careers Information for Students SharePoint site using your University Office365 account.

You may also choose to explore external tools such as:

  • Prospects Career Planner
  • Careers Portal self assessment tools

These tools can be helpful when used thoughtfully as part of a wider exploration process.

Careers and University of Galway cannot be responsible for the content of external websites.

Graduate Destinations

Each year, universities in Ireland and the United Kingdom survey graduates to understand their first destination after completing their studies.

In Ireland, this information is collected nationally by the Higher Education Authority and published through reports and interactive dashboards.

These reports provide information on employment outcomes, further study, and career progression across different disciplines.

Data is available through the Higher Education Authority Graduate Outcomes reports.
Where available, please select the Galway tab to view University of Galway results.

Next Steps

If you are a current student or recent graduate, you can access further support through:

If you are unsure where to begin or what support would be most helpful, please get in touch through Careers Connect. Guidance is available at every stage of your career journey.