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Nicola Porter, PhD

Career Change Specialist | Coaching, strategy and decision support for experienced professionals figuring out what comes next

About

If you’re experienced in your field but no longer sure it’s where you want to stay, the hardest part is often not knowing what else you could do with the skills and experience you already have.

That’s where I come in.

I help midlife professionals explore their options and turn that thinking into an actionable plan.

My background spans career change coaching, psychology and higher education. I spent nearly two decades teaching and supervising students before changing direction myself, and I now work with experienced professionals navigating career change, career uncertainty and reinvention.

My approach is structured, thoughtful and practical. The aim is not to push you towards a dramatic leap into the unknown, but to help you understand your options, make better-informed decisions and move forward with more clarity and confidence.

Packages

EXPLORE + FOCUS 2026

Join career change coach Nicola Porter for EXPLORE + FOCUS: the live EXPLORE workshop plus a private coaching session to help you narrow your ideas and decide what to investigate next. 
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Career Pivot Discovery Call

 A complimentary 20-30 minute conversation to find out more about working together. We'll talk about where you are, what you're looking for, and whether coaching is the right next step.
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Career Pivot Strategy Session

A focused, one-to-one session for professionals who feel capable but unclear about what should come next. You leave with a clearer sense of direction and one or two concrete next steps. 
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Career Decision Session

A focused 60–75 minute session to help you think through a specific career decision when your main options are already reasonably clear. 
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Testimonials

Working with Nicola has been such a valuable experience.

She helped me to make sense of my varied background and skills, pulling together a clear story to move forward with.

She asked questions that really made me reflect and consider what I really wanted the next move in my career to be.

She created a roadmap for me which helped to keep me on track and put one foot in front of the other during a very stressful time.

I’m so grateful for her support and would highly recommend her to anyone navigating their next career step.

- BAIRBRE MUNNIS via LinkedIn, Educator | Digital Marketer | Communicator

I needed to get through the untamed jungle of possibilities and decide on a path to follow so I invested in career coaching with Nicola.

The guidance and structure was really helpful. I liked having a format and process to follow because it gave me hope that it would help clear up the murkiness. I appreciated the notes from each session and the experience has been positive.

I’ve identified a good place for me to start (coach certification) and to be able to justify the decision in concrete language using my blueprint, a one-page visual summary of what I’m looking for from my career going forward. This is immensely helpful when the doubts creep in, or other shiny opportunities pop up.

I finally have a direction!

- D.S., TRAINING AS A COACH

I wanted help making a career pivot from technology to education.

Nicola asked questions that challenged my thinking and her insightful summaries of issues we discussed led to a breakthrough in terms of weaving together the different strands of my work experience and expertise.

Nicola’s academic background was a great help, especially as she understood a lot of the issues I will be facing in my new field. I now have a clear path forward to move confidently into this new field, as well as a set of actions to follow.

- GERARD, FROM TECHNOLOGY TO EDUCATION

I hated my job as a teacher but I was struggling to think of an alternative career.

I needed support to find direction, purpose and clarity.

Nicola’s questioning really encouraged me to think more deeply about what I enjoy doing and what skills I enjoy using. Nicola is friendly and personable which instantly put me at ease, and she challenged and supported me to plan my next steps. I have a much clearer idea of what I enjoy doing and what I want my future career to look like. I have enrolled on a health coaching course as health/fitness and ‘helping others’ is something I am passionate about.

The best part is that I feel confident in my decision, as well as happy and excited!

- MIRIAM, FROM TEACHING TO HEALTH AND FITNESS

Nicola’s coaching was personable and tailored. Nicola listened well and had real insight into my interests and skills.

She drew links between points I’d raised in previous meetings and pulled it all together to share with me a new or alternative perspective that I’d not seen or considered before. The coaching also delivered in manageable chunks which helped me feel like I was making progress at and between each session.

I have clarity on my values, strengths and skills which has given me confidence to explore alternative careers and apply for jobs. Nicola’s coaching has also made me aware of the wide opportunities available to me which I couldn’t see or believe in previously.

As a direct result of Nicola’s coaching, I have reached out and spoken to people in other sectors, I’ve extended my activity and network on LinkedIn and I’ve applied for jobs. Funnily enough, I’ve also become more satisfied in my current post as I appreciate more the aspects I enjoy, and Nicola provided me with tools to help manage the aspects I least enjoy.

I also feel more empowered to know there are other careers out there for me. The insight and tools Nicola has equipped me with will stay with me for life.

- NICOLA, LECTURER

Career changes take different forms. Some clients change role or sector, some start businesses, some begin an active job search, and some find renewed purpose in their current role.

View more client outcomes at COACHD.ie/outcomes .

- CLIENT OUTCOMES →

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I need to reschedule?
You can reschedule with at least 48 working hours’ notice. I allow one reschedule per four sessions booked. Sessions missed, cancelled or moved with less than 48 working hours’ notice are normally counted as used.

This policy helps maintain momentum in the coaching process and allows me to protect the time I set aside for each client, including preparation and follow-up. In exceptional circumstances, such as serious illness or an emergency, I may offer an alternative arrangement.
What if a job comes up while we’re working together?
If you’re still getting clear on what you want next, I usually suggest pausing the active job search for a short period. Switching between exploring wider possibilities and reacting to job adverts can make things more confusing and less productive.

That doesn’t mean you can’t apply for something that interests you. If a relevant role comes up, we can look at how well it fits with what you've learned about yourself already.

Once your direction is clearer, we can shift the focus towards applications, networking and making the move.
What is your approach to career change?
My approach is structured, thoughtful and practical.

We start by getting clear on what you want from your working life, the skills and strengths you want to use, and the kinds of work that might fit. From there, we narrow the options and turn that thinking into practical next steps.

I won’t tell you what career to choose. I’ll help you think more clearly, challenge assumptions, explore possibilities you may not have considered, and make better-informed decisions.
What qualifications and experience do you have?
I have a PhD in Psychology from Trinity College Dublin and spent many years working as an academic psychologist before moving into career coaching.
I've been coaching since 2017 and have worked full-time in private practice since 2022, primarily supporting experienced professionals navigating career change.

My professional qualifications include a Diploma in Executive and Life Coaching, a QQI Level 6 Award in Professional Coaching Practice and Ethics, and specialist training as a Licensed Firework Career Change Coach and Certified Hidden Job Market Coach.

I'm also a full member of the Psychological Society of Ireland and its Division of Coaching Psychology and I undertake ongoing professional development and regular coaching supervision.

My approach combines psychological expertise, structured career exploration and practical strategies to help people make informed decisions about their working lives.

You can also read about the experiences and outcomes of clients I've worked with on my Client Outcomes page.
Why work with a career coach when I can use ChatGPT?
ChatGPT can be a useful tool for career change. I use AI myself and encourage clients to use it where it can help.

But AI works with the information you give it, including your assumptions and blind spots. It can generate convincing answers without necessarily challenging the questions you're asking.

Working with me gives you an experienced professional who can ask questions you might not think to ask, notice patterns and contradictions, challenge assumptions and help you make sense of what you're discovering.

I also bring a structured process, practical strategies and accountability to help you move beyond thinking about career change towards making informed decisions and taking action.

And we can of course use AI along the way, where it adds value.
What if coaching isn’t working for me?
Tell me.

Coaching works best when we can talk openly about what is and isn’t helping. I check in regularly, and we can adjust the pace, focus or approach if needed.

If you need to pause or end coaching, please let me know rather than simply disappearing. Each package has its own timeframe and cancellation terms, which you’ll receive when you book. I can’t keep coaching packages open indefinitely, so it’s important to get in touch if your circumstances change.
Why does coaching cost what it does?
You’re paying for more than the time we spend together in sessions.

My fees also cover preparation, reviewing homework or other materials, follow-up notes and recommendations, and client-specific work between sessions. That might include reviewing a LinkedIn profile or job description, researching career options, or creating a resource for you.

I deliberately keep my client load relatively small so I can give each person that level of attention.

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