Participating in the Open Doors Initiative’s Career Coaching programme was a transformative experience, one that went far beyond CV edits or LinkedIn tweaks. From our first session, my coach brought a rare blend of strategic clarity and human warmth, helping me navigate a complex professional landscape with both structure and empathy. Together, we refined every element of my professional toolkit: from crafting a CV that truly reflected my strengths, to building a LinkedIn profile that felt both authentic and algorithm-savvy. I learned how to position my experience with confidence, how to tailor applications with precision, and how to speak to my value in ways that resonate across sectors. These were not just technical lessons, they were mindset shifts.

During my online job search, I expressed to the Open Doors Initiative the challenges I faced as a person with a disability, struggling to find suitable employment. In response, they connected me with the Towards Work project, where I received training on networking and interview preparation, which proved invaluable. Open Doors continued to support me in my job search with work opportunities and guidance, and in August 2023, I got a job offer from Age Action.

What made coaching especially impactful was its personalisation over time. As we came to know one another better, my coach gently nudged me toward opportunities I might have otherwise overlooked, paths that ultimately taught me lessons I didn’t know I needed. Whether it was reframing international representation roles, embracing non-linear career chapters, or simply learning to trust my voice again, the process was as much about rediscovery as it was strategy. This wasn’t a one-size-fits-all service. It was a partnership, rooted in mutual respect, honest reflection, and a shared commitment to progress. For anyone navigating career transitions, especially those facing systemic or structural hurdles, I cannot recommend this coaching programme highly enough. It meets you where you are—and helps you move forward with clarity, courage, and renewed purpose.

As a result of Open Doors, I’ve been able to set up my production company after doing an entrepreneurship course for people with disabilities thanks to AIB. It’s been kind of life changing, really. The way they structured it and the way they broke it down weekly, I felt capable and I felt like I could complete this task. I just felt like there was a future actually, which I wasn’t feeling at the time. It’s been on my list to set up a production company for years and I just couldn’t. I would get so far and it would just become overwhelming and I couldn’t do it. To have support and to recognise that you need support… so I’d say go for it