Now that you have a good sense of your strengths and weaknesses, it is time to look for careers that match. The purpose of this exercise it to ensure you consider important facets of careers before you invest too much time or effort into changing jobs or changing to a job that is not advantageous or enjoyable to you.  Evaluating different aspects of jobs allows you to make informed decisions based on equitable comparisons. It is important to compare apples to apples and not apples to oranges. Life changing decisions should be made with consideration of multiple factors rather than single criteria. At the end of the activity you will be asked to interpret the data you collected and make decisions regarding your second career choice.

Activity #1:  Career Quest

In this activity you will use the information you collected about yourself during Module 3 and find three careers that meet your desires, skills, abilities. You will also use the Canada Job Bank, the Ontario index and the regional labour market index in your area to determine the market need for those careers.

You will be completing the Better Jobs Ontario Career Research Form. Download this form before you start so you can use it to complete the activity. The instructions to complete this activity are below.  If you would like to print the instructions you can download them here: Instructions for Career Quest.

Question 1: List 3 careers.

Perhaps you have a few career options in mind. For example, a real estate agent, a hairdresser, a salesperson.  Enter each in the heading on the form and answer each of the questions in the chart.  Once you determine a specific career/field you can complete the chart again with roles within that field. Example: hairdresser, esthetician, make up artist. Perhaps you are set on a specific field already.  Compare 3 careers you are interested in. Example: baker, cake decorator, pastry chef.

Question 2: Research the working conditions of each job and detail them in the space provided.

Question 3: Find the average wage per year.  Make sure you compare “apples to apples”.  If you can only find hourly rate you will need to multiply that hourly wage by 40 hours per week. Then multiply that sum by 52 weeks to give you an approximate yearly wage.

Question 4: List any other kinds of benefits the job offers.  In our example this might include free haircuts for family, or ability to take skills anywhere.

Question 5: Research the Labour market in your area and find out where the job stands in terms of need, potential growth, and other statistics.

Question 6: Ask yourself if the job requirements align with your values, beliefs, and way of life?
If you are a religious person, finding a role that requires you to work on Sundays may not be the best decision for you however other considerations might be worth contemplating.  For example, a religious person may choose to become a nurse regardless of the fact nurses work on Sundays because saving lives and helping others outweighs the inconvenience of attending religious services other days of the week.

Question 7: List the academic upgrading needed and time required to achieve these credentials.  List the information even if it has made you lose interest in the job.  Example: a person is researching the clinical psychologist role. This role requires a high school diploma, then a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, then a Master’s degree in Psychology then a practical placement.  Totalling approximately 10 years of study.  If this is too much for you to consider you may want to research other roles related to the field but that require less education or qualifications such as addictions counsellor.

Question 8: Look at your learning styles and things you enjoy doing.  Do the tasks and skills required in this role match?  Example:  Jobseeker is a kinesthetic learner who enjoys gardening and working with their hands.  A cake decorator is required to make cakes and decorate them, using their hands to complete the work.  This is probably a good match of career and personality.

Question 9: Ask yourself, do I have the personality that suits this role?  Be honest.  Money and perks do not create happiness in a job that makes you uncomfortable.  Example:  If you are an introvert who enjoys spending time alone, works well independently and suffers stress while participating in group activities may want to reconsider dedicating time and effort to becoming a salesperson where direct contact with strangers is a daily requirement of the role.  You might be able to develop new skills but changing your fundamental qualities and traits is not easy.

Question 10: Think about your learning style and working style.  If you enjoy working various shifts and being able to move about, a sedentary data entry job might not be good for your long-term mental health and happiness. 

Links to help you complete Activity #1:

1.      Job Bank Careers

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/home

2.      Explore an Occupation

https://www.jobbank.gc.ca/trend-analysis/search-occupations

3.      Ontario Labour Market Information

https://www.ontario.ca/page/labour-market