Guidance Counsellor Generative AI Prompt Toolkit

CHOOSE YOUR TOOL

Which AI assistant for which task?

Each tool has different strengths. Use this as a starting point — results will vary depending on the version, your prompt, and the date you're working in.

ChatGPT

OpenAI

Strong all-rounder. Good for drafting parent letters, CV feedback, and brainstorming session plans.

Drafting Brainstorm

Claude

Anthropic

Excellent for long documents, nuanced writing, and reflective questions. Strong with tone.

Long text Tone

Gemini

Google

Integrates with Google Workspace. Useful for live web look-ups and slides for talks.

Workspace Search

Copilot

Microsoft

Built into Word, Outlook and Teams. Handy for school admin, meeting notes and reports.

Admin Reports

Important: All AI assistants can produce confident but inaccurate information — especially about CAO points, deadlines and course details. Always verify against CAO.ie, official institution websites, and current handbooks before sharing with students or parents.

PROMPT LIBRARY

Filter prompts by category

Replace the bracketed placeholders with the student's actual context. The more specific you are, the more useful the response.

All CAO & Applications Career Exploration Subject Choice Wellbeing Parents CV & Interview Study Abroad Apprenticeships & FET Sessions & Lessons Admin & Reporting

CAO & Applications

Balanced CAO list builder

Act as an Irish guidance counsellor. I'm supporting a 6th year student interested in [FIELD]. Predicted grades: [GRADES]. Strongest subjects: [SUBJECTS]. Build a balanced 20-choice CAO list (10 Level 8, 10 Level 7/6) covering aspirational, target and safety options. For each: course code, institution, points trend 2023–2025, key modules, and progression routes. Flag any subject requirements I should double-check on CAO.ie.

CAO & Applications

Course comparison side-by-side

Compare these three Irish CAO courses for a student weighing them up: [COURSE A], [COURSE B], [COURSE C]. Build a comparison table covering: typical points, course structure, work placement, accreditation, graduate outcomes, modules in Year 1, and student culture on each campus. End with three reflective questions the student could ask themselves to choose.

Career Exploration

RIASEC-aligned career options

A student's Holland code is [e.g. SAI]. Their values are [VALUES], skills [SKILLS], and they prefer [WORK ENVIRONMENT]. Suggest 10 career options well-matched to this profile in an Irish context. For each: typical day, education pathway through CAO / PLC / apprenticeship, entry-level salary range in Ireland, and one reflective question the student could explore.

Career Exploration

Future of work analysis

Analyse the career field of [FIELD] for a current Leaving Cert student. Which skills will matter most over the next 10 years? How are AI and automation reshaping this profession? What subjects, work experience and extracurriculars should they prioritise now? Include Irish industry examples and progression routes through Irish institutions.

Subject Choice

LC subject combination advisor

A TY student is picking Leaving Cert subjects. Career interests: [FIELD]. Strong subjects: [STRONG]. Less strong: [CHALLENGING]. Compulsory: [CORE]. Recommend optimal subject combinations balancing points potential, CAO requirements, workload, and keeping options open. Include three example CAO courses that need or favour these subjects.

Subject Choice

Subject change impact check

A 5th year student wants to switch from [CURRENT SUBJECT] to [NEW SUBJECT] after Christmas. Target courses: [FIELD]. Analyse feasibility, impact on CAO options, catch-up workload, and alternative strategies. Current subjects: [OTHERS]. Predicted grades: [GRADES]. Suggest a 6-week catch-up plan and questions for me to ask the student before agreeing.

Wellbeing

Exam stress conversation guide

Create a one-to-one conversation guide for a guidance counsellor meeting a 6th year student showing signs of [SYMPTOMS]. They have [WEEKS] until exams and are juggling [COMMITMENTS]. Include open questions to ask, listening prompts, a simple weekly structure they could try, and clear referral signposts (NEPS, GP, Jigsaw, school counsellor). Avoid being prescriptive.

Wellbeing

Motivation & goal setting

Design a 30-minute session for a disengaged student. Past interests: [PAST]. Current mood: [FEELINGS]. Build a SMART goal framework appropriate for a young person, with reflective questions, identification of barriers, and micro-milestone rewards. Keep the language non-directive and respectful of their autonomy.

Parents

Parent meeting talking points

Prepare diplomatic talking points for a parent meeting where parents expect [PARENT EXPECTATIONS] and their son or daughter wants [STUDENT PREFERENCE]. Cover both perspectives fairly, provide objective information about realistic pathways, and offer 3 compromise frameworks. Tone: professional, warm, neutral.

Parents

Parent information FAQ

Create a friendly, accessible FAQ for parents on [TOPIC: CAO process / subject choice / apprenticeships / DARE-HEAR]. Include key dates, common misconceptions, conversation starters for home, useful Irish resources, and how to support without pressuring. Tone: warm, practical, distinctly Irish.

CV & Interview

Student CV builder

Draft a one-page CV for a Leaving Cert student applying for [OPPORTUNITY]. Experience: [ACTIVITIES]. Achievements: [WINS]. Subjects: [SUBJECTS]. Interests: [INTERESTS]. Transform typical school activities into transferable skills. Use action verbs. Include a strong 3-line profile suitable for someone with limited work experience.

CV & Interview

Interview practice pack

Build an interview prep pack for a student applying to [COURSE/JOB/SCHOLARSHIP]. Generate 15 likely questions (basic to challenging), STAR-method sample answers drawing on typical student experiences, 5 thoughtful questions the student could ask, body-language tips for nervous young people, and a 7-day practice schedule.

Study Abroad

UCAS application strategy

Guide an Irish student applying through UCAS for [SUBJECT]. Predicted grades: [GRADES]. Target universities: [UNIS]. Build a timeline to the deadline, a personal statement structure, advice on super-curricular evidence, reference preparation, and a side-by-side comparison with staying in Ireland via the CAO.

Study Abroad

EU English-taught degrees

Research EU universities offering English-taught degrees in [SUBJECT]. Student languages: [LANGUAGES]. Budget: [RANGE]. Compare the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Czechia. Include entry requirements, total cost vs Ireland, post-graduation work rights, and adjustment considerations. Cite official sources I should verify against.

Apprenticeships & FET

Apprenticeship pathway planner

Build a pathway plan for a student interested in [APPRENTICESHIP AREA] through SOLAS. Cover entry requirements, finding an approved employer, off-the-job phases, earnings during training, QQI/level outcomes, and progression to degree level. Compare with the traditional CAO route. End with practical next steps for the student this term.

Apprenticeships & FET

PLC progression route

A student is considering a PLC course in [AREA] as a route into [DEGREE]. Map the progression: which PLC providers, which QQI level, what links exist to TUs / Universities via the HLA scheme, typical points-equivalents, and what the student should do in Year 1 of the PLC to maximise progression chances.

Sessions & Lessons

TY group session designer

Design a 40-minute interactive TY guidance session on [TOPIC, e.g. exploring values]. Include a 5-minute ice-breaker, a card-sort or paired activity, small-group prompts, a reflection sheet, a take-home task, and a follow-up session idea. Suitable for mixed-ability groups of 24, with both digital and paper-based options.

Sessions & Lessons

6th year CAO clinic plan

Plan a series of three 45-minute 6th year clinics in October, December and February covering CAO research, change-of-mind strategy, and Round 1 offers. For each session: learning outcome, structure, resources needed, and one reflective journaling prompt. Make it practical and non-prescriptive.

Admin & Reporting

Newsletter to parents

Draft a short, warm newsletter from the guidance department to parents covering: [3 ITEMS]. Tone: friendly, professional, Irish. Around 350 words. End with a calendar of upcoming dates and one practical conversation starter for home. Use clear headings.

Admin & Reporting

Annual plan & reflection

Help me draft a guidance department annual plan for [YEAR]. Anchor it in the Whole School Guidance Framework. Cover one-to-one provision, classroom guidance, key transitions (1st, 3rd, TY, 6th year), staff CPD, parent engagement, and review measures. Output as a structured one-page plan plus a one-page reflection template.

COMPLEX CASES

Advanced scenario prompts

Longer, layered prompts for nuanced guidance conversations.

Plan B after the mocks

A high-pressure rethink when predicted points fall short of an aspirational course.

A 6th year student originally aimed for Medicine but mock results suggest predicted points of 450–500. They're distressed, parents are anxious. They're strong in Biology and Chemistry and motivated by helping people. Build a hopeful, practical alternative pathways plan covering: (1) related healthcare careers in their points range, (2) routes back to Medicine via graduate entry, (3) PLC and apprenticeship feeder routes, (4) EU English-taught medicine options, (5) a script for managing parental expectations respectfully, (6) emotional support strategies. Use specific Irish examples and be careful not to be dismissive of their original goal.

Group session: career identity

A complete classroom-ready session plan for TY.

Design a 40-minute interactive TY session on "exploring your career identity" for a mixed class of 28. Include: a 5-minute ice-breaker, a values card-sort activity (provide the 20 value cards), small-group discussion prompts, an individual reflection sheet, a take-home activity, and a follow-up session idea. Provide both digital and paper-based options, and a one-page facilitator guide.

Decision-making framework

For students choosing between competing offers.

A high-achieving student has four options: (1) Trinity Computer Science (their dream course), (2) a full scholarship for Business in UL, (3) an apprenticeship with a major tech employer, (4) a structured gap year programme. Family wants the scholarship. They're torn. Build a decision-making framework with a weighted decision matrix, values-clarification questions, a 5-year projection for each path, a guide to managing family pressure, and a recommended timeline for the decision. Keep it non-directive.

BEST PRACTICE

Using AI well in guidance practice

A few principles to keep AI tools safe, professional and genuinely useful.

Do

Personalise the prompt

Replace every placeholder with real context — subjects, predicted grades, interests, constraints. Vague prompts produce generic answers.

Verify the facts

Always cross-check course codes, points, fees and deadlines against CAO.ie, the institution's own site, and Qualifax. Treat AI output as a draft, not a source.

Iterate and refine

The first answer is rarely the best. Ask follow-up questions, request shorter or warmer language, or ask the tool to challenge its own response.

Save what works

Build your own library of refined prompts. Notice which prompt patterns produce the most useful, accurate output for your students.

Don't

Share identifying student data

Never paste names, addresses, exam numbers, school names or any personal data into a public AI tool. Use general descriptions only.

Treat AI as the decision-maker

AI supplements your professional judgement, it does not replace it. Final guidance always rests with the qualified counsellor.

Rely on outdated answers

CAO points, course offerings and policy change every year. Prompts and outputs need an annual review to stay reliable.

Overwhelm the student

AI is prolific by default. Edit, summarise and adapt the output to the student's actual readiness and capacity to act.

PRO TIPS

Four habits of strong AI users

Give it a role

Start with "Act as an Irish guidance counsellor with 15 years of experience…" — outputs improve dramatically.

Layer your requests

Start broad, then drill in: "Now rewrite that for a parent who is anxious about points."

Anchor in Irish context

Specify CAO, SOLAS, QQI, NFQ Level — otherwise you'll get UCAS or US assumptions by default.

Name the tone

Specify: "warm and non-directive", "professional but reassuring", "suitable for a 15-year-old".

Bring AI thoughtfully into your guidance practice

A practical, Irish-first toolkit for guidance counsellors who want to save time without losing the human core of the work.

Full Counsellor Toolkit Suggest a Prompt