What is an apprenticeship?
Apprenticeship is a work-based training program for people who want to work in a skilled trade or occupation.
Apprenticeship training provides access to well-paying jobs that demand a high level of skill, judgement and creativity. Apprentices are paid while gaining work experience, and their wages increase with their skill level. An apprenticeship is an equal form of postsecondary education.
There are currently over 150 trades to choose from in Ontario in four sectors: construction, industrial, motive power and service.
Why choose an apprenticeship?
Earn while you learn
Get an edge in competitive job markets
Learn and master skills in high demand
Your earning power is higher than that of unskilled workers
We think it’s because you have a goal you want to achieve. Because you don’t want your education to feel one-size-fits-all. Because you want freedom to grow while also developing first-class skills that will lead you into a successful career.
Ontario’s colleges make sense for all these reasons.
Innovative and Groundbreaking Programs
Explorer-Friendly
Something for Everyone (And We Do Mean Everyone)
Choose Your Own Adventure
It’s Never Too Late
Real-World Experience Before You Graduate
No Stereotypes, Just Acceptance and Support
Classrooms that Connect
Locations That Work For You
Graduate With Less Debt (Need We Say More?)
Some students choose to take a year off between high school and their next step. They often spend it traveling and volunteering arund the world. These are a few organizations that can help you with this!
Four years. That's typically how long you have spent in high school. Years in which you have had a seemingly endless parade of homework, tests, essays, the SAT and ACT, and the grueling process of researching and applying to colleges. Add those years onto the nine you spent beforehand in K-8th, and it’s totally understandable that, come graduation day, you may be ready for a break before entering college and the world of lectures, essays, and stressful exams.
If this sounds like you, you may want to consider a gap year. Good news: Go Overseas has answers, so if taking a gap year sounds at all appealing then keep reading our guide to post-high school gap years.
Unlock your potential and use your gap year abroad to discover what you’re capable of. With Projects Abroad, you’ll gain real-world experience and support communities in need at the same time. It’s an exciting and different way to start the next chapter of your life after high school.
On a gap year program abroad after high school, the experience can be designed to benefit your exact interests and goals. You can explore a career you’re interested in, like medicine or law, and add relevant work experience to your resume. We have options for students who’ve deferred their college acceptance, and for those who don’t feel they’re ready for university just yet. Whatever your motivation, we’ll be there to help you find what you’re looking for.
There’s a lot you can get involved in by volunteering abroad on your gap year. You can protect endangered ecosystems and wild animals on a Conservation Project. Or, give children the educational support they desperately need on a Childcare Project. If you’re eager to be more independent, we recommend our Flexi Trips. You can also join a group of gap year students on our Global Gap program, or join shorter Team Trips.
All of our programs focus on implementing long-term, sustainable solutions. We don’t believe in quick fixes. So no matter how short or long your gap year abroad is, you’ll be part of ongoing efforts to make a real difference.
If you’re super excited about taking a gap year, but still have some doubts the gap year statistics study conducted by The American Gap Association, might help you make your decision. It showed that about 85% of students who take a gap year recommend it to others, 88% of those who took a gap year after high school who planned to go to a specific college, did, and 89% of those who took a gap year during college returned to college, and 86% of gap year students were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. They also found that the majority of students taking a gap year do so after high school and before college. A much smaller part of the group take their gap year during college and an even tinier portion take their gap year after completing graduate school or after college.
Taking a year abroad will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life. We provide a variety of gap year abroad opportunities that help you strengthen your foreign language skills and provide a better understanding of other cultures. Our international gap year programs allow you to step outside your comfort zone and experience personal growth.
Whose Future?
Ontario universities are a magnet for hundreds of thousands of learners. Anyone can find a path to a brighter future at our institutions.
A Working Future
Ontario university students are more likely to find jobs related to their field of study. They earn more on average, and have higher overall employment rates.
A Future Open to Everyone
We believe in removing financial barriers, so that any eligible student who wants a university education can receive one.
A Future Driven by Positive Change
Ontario’s 21 universities, with campuses in 30 communities, support local and provincial economies. We draw talented learners from across the globe. We champion game-changing research.
Beyond the Numbers
The world is changing at a rapid pace, and the challenges facing Ontarians are more complex than ever before. We need to find creative ways to adapt, capitalize on our province’s strengths, and bolster our competitive assets within today’s global economy to nurture a brighter future.
Our universities are working within this tumultuous time to build up the next generation of leaders and future makers. Ontario universities are educating tomorrow’s leaders, finding solutions to global issues through research, fostering jobs through entrepreneurship, and contributing to the health of our communities. Whether it’s partnerships with parents, students, business, government, health care, the arts and social services, we’re working with Ontarians to build a brighter future for the province.
From researching possible employment positions to filling out applications, there is a variety of steps involved in obtaining a part-time job. As a high school student who is competing with other teens and adults in the job search, you must be prepared and put your best foot forward. Check out these top 10 job search tips for high school students.
Get you Social Insurance Number (SIN).
You will need this to work in Ontario.
Clean up your social media pages.
If you are active on social media, make sure that your pages represent someone who is responsible and hirable.
Hiring managers can and do screen potential employees by observing their online presence.
Delete any questionable pictures or text from your social media pages before you begin your job search.
Create a high school resume.
A resume isn't just for adults; high school students need a resume too.
Providing hiring managers with your resume not only shows that you are serious about obtaining a job, but it also highlights your abilities, education, and experiences.
Include your resume when submitting your application for employment.
Secure letters of recommendation or a list of references.
Before you begin your job search, be sure to secure references.
Ask your teachers, counselors, coaches, etc. if they will be your references or if they would be willing to write letters of recommendation for you.
If they agree to be references, let them know that you will be starting the process of searching for a part-time job and that they may be receiving phone calls from hiring managers soon.
If they agree to write letters of recommendation for you, provide them with materials they may need, such as a list of your accomplishments and experiences, your transcript, etc.
Utilize a variety of search methods.
When searching for a job, don't put all of your eggs in one basket. Be sure to use an assortment of resources including:
Online search engines – Job search engines, such as monster.com and snagajob.com, are the most convenient ways to search for jobs.
Social media sites – Three of the most common social media sites to utilize when networking for a job are LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.
Personal contacts – Networking is very important during the job search. Let your family, friends, teachers, counselors, mentors, etc. know that you are looking for a part-time job.
Cold contacts – Cold calling companies is a great way to find a part-time job that hasn't been vastly advertised. Telephone, write, or visit employers in your area and inquire about part-time job opportunities.
Print materials – Part-time jobs can be found through print materials, such as flyers and newspaper classified ads.
Apply for many jobs.
Don't just apply for a couple of part-time jobs and cross your fingers that you get one. Apply for as many jobs as possible to increase the likelihood of an offer.
Use a professional email address.
When filling out job applications, be sure to use a professional email address.
Using a cutesy or risqué email address will make you appear immature and prove that your attention to detail is lacking.
Save the cutesy email address for personal use among your family and friends, and keep your professional email address simple and straightforward by using a variation of your first, middle, and last name.
Keep an open mind.
Don't limit yourself to a certain type of job. You may be set on finding a retail job but if you only apply to those types of jobs, you could be missing out on a great opportunity that you didn't even realize existed.
Expect an instant interview.
If you are filling out or dropping off a job application in person, always be prepared for an instant interview in case the hiring manager can meet with you right away.
Dress appropriately and make sure you have practiced answering sample interview questions beforehand.
Be sure to bring materials that the hiring manager may need, such as your driver's license, Social Insurance card, resume, letter of recommendation, or a list of references.
Follow up.
You should always follow up when searching for a job.
If you meet with a hiring manager in person, be sure to send a thank you note to express your appreciation for the interview.
If you submit an online application, you may call after 7-10 days to check on the status of your application.
Be Flexible.
Be as flexible as possible when it comes to your availability.
The more flexible you are, the more likely you are to get a job offer.
Also, know when you're available for work.
Bring a list of the hours you can work with you when you apply in person or go to an interview.
Consider Volunteering.
Even though you won't get a paycheck, volunteering is a great way to add valuable work experience to your resume, which will help you find a paid position in the future.
Check with your high school guidance office and with local non-profit organizations for volunteer opportunities.