Discover your options
- What types of jobs are out there?
Research online:
ALIS - Occupational Profiles
Most professions have "professional associations" that are either formal regulatory organizations or information professional development networks
Talk to others:
Example people to discuss their careers:
Family members and guardians (and their networks)
Mentors (coaches, teachers, professors, etc.)
Friends and classmates (and their networks)
Past/current co-workers or supervisors
People with whom you volunteer
2. What do you want and offer?
Investigate YOU!
ALIS offers the "Career InSite" tool, which has many free self assessments and quizzes. These will not give you any "answers" but they serve as reflection prompts as you consider:
What values are most important to you?
What type of work environments and activities are most appealing to you?
What interests do you enjoy?
What are your strengths and how might they support you in different careers?
Get your hands dirty!
As you explore the occupations in your community, and your own characteristics, values, and strengths, it is important to gain experience and test out different career paths!
For example, you might have always wanted to be a teacher, but until you have experience working with kids and experience a classroom environment, it may be difficult to commit to that career path!
This can be achieved through job shadowing, volunteering, or even part time or summer jobs!
3. Set an exploration goal
Identify your road "MAPS"
Identify a career exploration goal that is:
Measurable: How are you measuring progress in this goal?
Actionable: What clear steps will you take to achieve this goal?
Positive: What impact will this goal have on your life? Why is it meaningful to you?
Specific: What exactly are the criteria to meet this goal? How will you know when you have achieved it?
For example: Your goal might be to 'find out more about 3 different career options'. The MAPS goal could sound like: "For 3 different occupations, research the salary, educational requirements, duties and skills, and daily activities in that role by using online resources. This is important because it will help me analyse the pros/cons of each potential career path."
Recognize your skill gaps
As you explore your career interests and options, you might notice that there are important skills or areas of knowledge that you currently don't have. This is completely normal! Keep track of what you are missing, so you can set goals to learn more about those gaps and how you can practice them during your degree.
Here are some example ways to practice professional skills in your degree:
Pick a career-related essay/presentation topic
Seek out volunteer opportunities in the field
Research "micro-credentials" and workshops to develop the specific skills/knowledge
Negotiate your current duties with your current boss. Are there opportunities to shadow, learn, and take on career-related tasks?
Be open to adapting
You do not need to plan out your whole career. Our lives are impacted by so many external forces, all we can do is research current information, test out and evaluate our skills, and adapt as we and/or our circumstances change.
It is increasingly common to have several (some sources say 10+) jobs in your career. You are always changing, growing, and learning - and your career will reflect that!
In summary: shift your mindset away from "career planning" and towards career management by focusing on next steps and opportunities.