Before you commit to a program or career, you will want to make sure you have an idea of what it’s like to work in that field. You will probably also want to make sure that it is something you actually enjoy doing. Below are some career exploration resources to check out.
College Libraries Ontario. (n.d.). The learning portal: Exploring the labour market [Video]. YouTube. https://tlp-lpa.ca/career/exploring-labour-market
Permission to use under license (CC BY-NC 4.0)
If you’re interested in a field, but don’t know much about it, get hands-on experience by volunteering or shadowing someone who works in the industry.
Reflect on past jobs, high school co-ops, and volunteer work. Consider which tasks you enjoyed, and which you didn’t.
It’s hard to assess your own career-related skills and abilities, so ask for feedback from people who have seen you do work-related tasks -- for example, teachers, supervisors, or managers.
Take an individual class at a college to see if you like the subject matter before paying for a full-time program.
Some of your reasons for pursuing a career should come from within -- for example, personal interests. External motivation from family or friends is normal, but shouldn’t be your only reason.