Something I wish someone had told me before my Leaving Cert

Firstly, best of luck to everyone sitting the Leaving Cert this year. I genuinely hope it goes smoothly for ye and that ye can all give it your best shot. I just wanted to post something here that I really wish someone had told me before my Leaving Cert.

If, god forbid, things don’t go the way you hoped or you don’t get the points you’re after, it is NOT the end of the world. There are still good career paths open to you, including the Civil/Public Service.

This was never talked about in my school at all. I honestly thought your whole future depended on getting into third level education and getting a degree. I ended up doing quite badly in my Leaving Cert for reasons outside my control, third level was out of the question for me and for a long time I genuinely thought life was over for me career-wise.

What I didn’t realise is that you can actually enter the Civil/Public Service with just your Leaving Cert for a lot of entry-level roles (mainly clerical/administration work). I only found this out through a family friend after a tough couple of years of moping around, and honestly it was life-changing information that I really wish I had known sooner.

The starting salary for many of those jobs is around €32k, and the pay goes up yearly to a certain point on a set salary scale (up to €50k for entry level). So you know your pay is increasing as years go on. The job security is also very strong once you’re permanent, and there are great opportunities for progression and moving up to higher grades over time. Basically, they’re decent jobs that you can absolutely make careers out of.

I’m not trying to convince anyone to work in the civil/public service or anything like that. I just know there are probably people on this sub panicking the same way I was, thinking that a bad Leaving Cert means your life is ruined. It really doesn’t.

Obviously try your best and aim high, but please don’t think the Leaving Cert is the one and only path to a decent future.

And if anyone has questions about Civil/Public Service jobs, I’m happy to answer what I can. And good luck again to all!