6. Lesson Six: Career Plan

• how the career planning process can be useful throughout life
• why it is important to plan ahead
• how to create a career plan

During this theme, you have explored different types of employment and you have begun thinking about and using the career planning process.

The following learning activities will help give you information necessary to create your own career plan in the assignment below.

·       What do you think you'd like to be involved in next year (such as sports, music lessons, other activities)?

·       What do you like about that activity?

·       Do you have a particular goal in mind for what you'd like to accomplish in doing that activity?

·       Who do you know that really enjoys their job?

·       What kinds of jobs seem interesting to you?

·       What makes them interesting to you?

·       What would you like to learn more about?

·       What do you like to do in your free time?

·       What kinds of kids do you like to hang around?

·       What do they do or say that makes you want to be with them?

·       Parents or the parents of a teen's friends can initiate experiences, such as trips to museums, special exhibits like an Auto or Home Show, or arrange for factory tours while on vacations

·       Ask a teacher or school guidance counsellor for suggestions of activities that you can do with your teen to develop readiness to provide help with career exploration

·       Biographies, autobiographies, movies and videos can all serve as "windows to the world of work"

For parents of middle and secondary students

(Even though this article is technically for parents, it has a ton of good information)

For students in secondary school

The 21st century offers today's young people opportunities unknown to previous generations. Their challenge is to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes that will equip them to make the kinds of career/life choices required to achieve their personal goals and to make a contribution to society.

Be a 'guide on the side'

As a parent, it is your role to fully understand the career planning process and to assist your teen to work through it. Your role is not to provide the answers, but rather, to encourage your teen to ask the right questions and assist him to develop personally meaningful answers to those questions.

 

Use the career planning process

The career planning process is a lifelong and personal journey that seeks to find answers to four central questions.

Who am I?

• interests
• values
• learning styles
• personality
• multiple intelligences
• skills

What are my opportunities?

• secondary school courses
• extra-curricular activities
• community involvement
• fields of work
• occupations within fields of work
• education/training required
• post-secondary programs
• admission requirements
• costs

 

Who do I want to become?

• goal-setting (S.M.A.R.T.)
• decision-making
• managing/using information
• detecting bias
• fact vs. opinion
• rational vs. intuitive decisions

What are my plans to achieve my goals?

• a series of steps
• work backwards from the goal
• identify steps, resources, potential barriers, solutions
• the more detail the better

Remember the keys to success

• accept that change is constant
• focus on the process
• use your head, but 'listen' to your heart
• recognize the many pathways to destinations
• select a pathway that suits the individual
• look to the future (trends), not the past
• be flexible and revise plans as needed
• beware of the "Keep the doors open" myth
• access resources
• plan for lifelong learning

 

The following are opportunities and resources available to help students and parents in making decisions about appropriate post-secondary destinations:

Chart Your Course – Explore Your Future Direction
This common course calendar is available at www.peelschools.org. Look in the "Student Stuff" section.

Annual Education Plan (AEP)
See your teen's guidance counsellor for details.

Take Our Kids to Work Day is a one-day job shadowing experience available to students in grade 9.

Career Studies
Career Studies is a compulsory grade 10 course. Students develop the skills needed to effectively explore educational and career/life opportunities.

Work Experience
As part of a course, students are able to spend from two days to four weeks in a work environment.

Discovering the Workplace
This optional grade 10 course includes two short-term work experiences, an introduction to the Ontario Skills Passport and the opportunity for students to develop the essential skills important in any chosen career.

Co-operative Education
Co-op programs are available in all secondary schools. Students work at placements where they can apply and practice the skills and knowledge acquired in previous courses. Students may earn one, two, three or four credits. Information is available in the "Student Stuff" section at www.peelschools.org. 

Resources

www.makingmyway.ca
www.careercruising.com (see school for password)
www.ontarioprospects.info
http://jobfutures.ca/en/home.shtml
http://careermatters.tvo.org
www.osca.ca/cardev/htm
www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.apprenticesearch.com
www.tradeability.ca
www.ontariocolleges.ca
www.ouac.on.ca
www.careerparent.com

This tip sheet was prepared by Pat Evans, Instructional Resource Teacher/Experiential Learning, and John Lavelle, Instructional Co-ordinator (Guidance and Career Education).