Catalyst Careers is a specialist career guidance service led by Dylan O’Shea, a qualified Guidance Counsellor and secondary school teacher, supporting Leaving Cert students and their parents to make clear, informed decisions about life after school.

We work one-to-one with students to help them navigate CAO, PLC and apprenticeship pathways, with a strong focus on subject choice, keeping options open, and planning beyond the immediate exam cycle. Our work is shaped by real classroom experience and an in-depth understanding of the pressures students face in secondary school, informed by a background in science education (biology and physics).

Where appropriate, guidance is supported by professionally administered psychometric assessments. These are used carefully and responsibly — not to pigeonhole students, but to support reflection, confidence, and better decision-making.

The service is underpinned by postgraduate training in personal and management coaching, alongside a master’s degree in Guidance Counselling and Lifespan Development. This allows us to balance structure with flexibility, and clarity with empathy.

Catalyst Careers is designed for students who feel unsure or overwhelmed by their options, and for parents who want reassurance that their child is being supported by someone who understands both the education system and the realities of school life.