Research Careers on YouTube | MyCareerVerse
Career Research Toolkit

Use YouTube to Research Your Dream Career

YouTube is one of the most powerful free tools for exploring careers. Learn how to subscribe to high-quality creators and build a personalised feed that shows you what careers really look like from the inside.

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A Day in the Life of an Architect

DamiLee · 1.2M views · 6 months ago

Why YouTube?

Your Career Research Superpower

Forget outdated career brochures. YouTube gives you a front-row seat to real people in real jobs — every single day.

See the Real Day-to-Day

Vlogs and "day in my life" videos show you what a job actually looks like — the tasks, the workspace, the pace — not just a glossy description.

Learn the Pathway

Creators share their education journey, the courses they took, mistakes they made, and advice they wish they'd had — saving you time and money.

Stay Current & Inspired

Subscribe once and your feed becomes a living career resource. New videos keep you updated on industry trends and opportunities as they evolve.

How To Do It

Your 5-Step YouTube Research Plan

Follow these steps to turn YouTube into a powerful career research tool.

1

Pick a Career to Explore

Start with a career that interests you. It doesn't have to be "the one" — you're just exploring. Think about subjects you enjoy, skills you have, or industries that fascinate you.

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Use your MyCareerVerse career quiz results as a starting point — pick one of your top matches to research first.

2

Search Smart on YouTube

Use targeted search terms to find the best content. Try phrases like:

"Day in the life of a [job title]" · "[Job title] career advice" · "How to become a [job title]" · "What I wish I knew before becoming a [job title]"

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Use YouTube's filters — click "Filter" and select "This year" to find the most recent, relevant content.

3

Evaluate the Creator's Quality

Not all content is created equal. Look for creators who actually work in the field (not just commentators), have a consistent upload schedule, present balanced views (pros AND cons), and have genuine engagement in their comments section.

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Check the creator's "About" section for their credentials. Are they a practising professional, or a student sharing their journey? Both are valuable — just know the difference.

4

Subscribe & Build Your Feed

When you find a quality creator, hit Subscribe and tap the 🔔 bell for notifications. Over time, your YouTube homepage becomes a personalised career research dashboard. Aim for 3–5 creators per career area.

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Create a YouTube playlist called "Career Research" and save the best videos there for easy reference when writing your CAO application.

5

Take Notes & Reflect

Watching is only half the work. Jot down what excites you, what surprises you, and what concerns you. Compare across multiple creators and careers. These notes will be invaluable for personal statements, interviews, and career conversations with your Guidance Counsellor.

💡

Use the MyCareerVerse Course Investigation Worksheet alongside your YouTube research to capture insights in a structured way.

Creator Spotlight

Channels Worth Subscribing To

These creators are real professionals sharing genuine career insight — including Irish creators you can relate to. Each one is a gold-standard example of the kind of content you should look for.

⭐ Featured
DL
DamiLee

Licensed Architect · YouTuber

A practising architect who creates beautifully produced videos about architecture, design, and what it's really like to work in the profession. She covers everything from famous buildings to honest career advice.

Why Subscribe?

Real professional sharing genuine workplace experiences, education pathway insights, and balanced pros & cons of the career.

Architecture Design Process Day in the Life
🇮🇪 Irish Creator
RE
Real Engineering

Brian McManus · Engineer from Galway

Galway native Brian McManus studied Biomedical Engineering at NUI Galway and Aeronautical Engineering at UL before leaving his 9-to-5 to create one of the world's biggest engineering channels. With over 5 million subscribers, he explains complex engineering and technology in an accessible, visually stunning way.

Why Subscribe?

An Irish success story — proof that world-class STEM careers can start right here. His content on aerospace, energy, and technology has inspired countless students to pursue engineering.

Engineering Aerospace Technology NUI Galway
AA
Ali Abdaal

Doctor turned Entrepreneur · Cambridge Graduate

A Cambridge-trained doctor who started vlogging his medical school journey and now shares study techniques, productivity strategies, and career insights. His earlier content is a goldmine for anyone considering medicine.

Why Subscribe?

Brilliant study advice backed by real medical school experience. His early videos on becoming a doctor in the UK are especially relevant for Irish students.

Medicine Study Tips Productivity
LE
LegalEagle

Trial Attorney · Legal Educator

Practising trial attorney Devin Stone breaks down complex legal concepts in an engaging, accessible way. From reacting to legal scenes in movies to explaining landmark cases and the realities of law school.

Why Subscribe?

Makes the legal profession feel real and exciting. Great for understanding what lawyers actually do and whether law school is right for you.

Law Legal Analysis Case Breakdowns
JT
Joma Tech

Software Engineer · Data Scientist

A software engineer and data scientist sharing entertaining and honest content about working in Silicon Valley. His videos cover the path to software engineering, interviews, salary insights, and day-to-day life in tech.

Why Subscribe?

Breaks down the tech industry with humour and honesty. Perfect if you're curious about software engineering, data science, or big tech companies.

Software Engineering Data Science Tech Careers
ZS
Zach Star

Engineer · Applied Maths Communicator

An engineer who creates brilliant videos explaining what different types of engineers actually do in the real world, and where maths and science subjects from school are genuinely used in professional careers.

Why Subscribe?

Answers the question every student asks: "When will I ever use this?" Shows how school subjects connect to real engineering careers.

Engineering Applied Maths STEM Careers
TF
The Futur

Design Education · Creative Careers

Founded by designer and entrepreneur Chris Do, The Futur covers careers in graphic design, branding, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Real-world advice on building a creative career and the business side of design.

Why Subscribe?

Essential viewing for creative careers. Shows that design is a serious profession with real business skills — not just "being artistic."

Graphic Design Branding Entrepreneurship
🇮🇪 Irish Creator
BG
Burke's Garage

Gerard Burke · Motor Technician, Co. Galway

A qualified motor technician based in Co. Galway with over 16 years of hands-on experience. Gerard shares detailed, informative videos covering diagnostics, repairs, and the day-to-day reality of running an Irish garage across a wide range of makes and models.

Why Subscribe?

Brilliant for anyone considering a motor mechanic apprenticeship in Ireland. See a real Irish tradesperson at work — practical skills, problem-solving, and what the job actually involves day-to-day.

Motor Mechanic Apprenticeship Trades Irish Garage
🇮🇪 Irish Creator
UI
Underwater Ireland

Ken O'Sullivan · Wildlife Filmmaker, Co. Clare

Multi-award-winning underwater cameraman and documentary filmmaker from Co. Clare. Ken has spent over 20 years documenting Ireland's Atlantic marine life — from basking sharks off Kerry to blue whales at the continental shelf. His documentaries air on RTÉ and BBC worldwide.

Why Subscribe?

Shows a remarkable career path built around marine science, conservation, and filmmaking — right here in Ireland. Proof that passion for nature can become a world-class profession.

Marine Science Wildlife Film Conservation Atlantic Ocean
DM
Doctor Mike

Dr. Mikhail Varshavski · Board-Certified Physician

A practising board-certified family medicine physician who creates accessible, entertaining health and medical career content. From reacting to medical TV shows to explaining complex health topics and sharing the realities of residency and life as a doctor.

Why Subscribe?

An active, practising doctor who gives an honest look at the medical profession — the long hours, the emotional highs, and the genuine rewards of helping patients every day.

Medicine Healthcare Hospital Life
Explore by Category

YouTube Channels by Career Area

Search YouTube for creators in the career areas that interest you. Here are some categories to get started.

🏗️
Architecture & Design

Explore what architects, interior designers, and urban planners really do.

Search: "day in the life architect"
💻
Technology & Software

From software engineering to cybersecurity — see inside the tech industry.

Search: "software engineer day in life"
⚕️
Healthcare & Medicine

Doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists share their journeys and daily routines.

Search: "junior doctor vlog"
📐
Engineering

Mechanical, civil, electrical — engineers show you their projects and problem-solving.

Search: "what engineers actually do"
🎨
Creative & Media

Graphic designers, filmmakers, animators and content creators share their craft.

Search: "graphic designer workflow"
⚖️
Law & Business

Lawyers, accountants, entrepreneurs and consultants reveal the realities of their work.

Search: "trainee solicitor day"
🌱
Environment & Science

Researchers, marine biologists and environmental scientists share fieldwork.

Search: "scientist day in the life"
📚
Education & Social Care

Teachers, social workers and psychologists share their impact.

Search: "teacher vlog Ireland"
Pro Tips

Get the Most Out of Your Research

Smart habits that will make your YouTube career research more effective.

🎯
Use a Separate Account

Consider a dedicated YouTube account for career research so your recommendations stay focused — not mixed with entertainment.

📋
Create Themed Playlists

Make playlists like "Architecture Research", "Medicine Insights", etc. This organises your research and makes it easy to revisit.

🔍
Read the Comments

Comment sections often contain valuable follow-up questions and answers from both the creator and other professionals in the field.

🤝
Cross-Reference Creators

Don't rely on a single creator. Compare perspectives from 3–5 different people in the same career to get a well-rounded picture.

⏱️
Set a Research Timer

It's easy to fall down the YouTube rabbit hole! Set a 30-minute research session and stay focused on your goals.

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Discuss What You Find

Share interesting videos with your Guidance Counsellor, parents, or friends. Talking about what you've learned helps you process and decide.

Your Action Plan

YouTube Career Research Checklist

Track your progress as you complete each step of your research.

✅ My Research Progress

Click each item as you complete it

Chose a career area to research first
Searched YouTube using targeted search terms
Evaluated at least 3 creators for quality and credibility
Subscribed to 3–5 high-quality career creators
Created a "Career Research" playlist on YouTube
Watched at least 5 videos and took notes on key takeaways
Explored a second career area for comparison
Discussed findings with my Guidance Counsellor or parent

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