What's the next step in your career journey?

Course Selection (Ontario)

Generally speaking, course selection at all levels will need to take into consideration required courses, prerequisite courses, and elective courses. Your next level of education will determine to what range of options you will have, and how much support you will receive in selecting your courses.

Entering Grade 9 or 10

Know the difference between academic and applied courses. It is difficult to transition from applied to academic courses, but their reverse is typically easier.

Entering Grade 11-12

You have to begin thinking longer-term now.  In selecting your grade 11 courses, know that it may limit which grade 12 courses you can take based on what the prerequisites are for the grade 12 courses, and you might need to take specific grade 12 courses for entrance into the university or college programs of interest.

University/College

In post-secondary education, more of the course selection and your timetable management is up to you.

1.    In the first or second year of your program, you will need to declare, change or apply for your major(s)/minor(s) or program of study. Talk to the registrar’s office about how to do this.

2.    Start with any required courses and fill them into your timetable, noting there may be different sections offered at different times.

3.    If your program has any, add your category options to your timetable. Category options are where you must complete 3 credits from list A, 2 credits from list B, and so on. You will need to take a certain number of credits from each category to graduate.

4.    Finally, add your elective courses, shuffling sections of required or category options where possible to allow for your top choices of electives.

Networking is...

Purposeful

You know what you are hoping to gain from connecting with others. This could include advice, problem-solving, future work opportunities, seeking clients, or improving a skill

Reciprocal

You offer something of value in addition to what you gain yourself. As a student you may not feel like you have much to offer, but you do have enthusiasm, and familiarity with new theories, tools, and innovative ideas.

Deliberate

It is planned and well thought through; it will not simply happen by accident. Be specific about who you want to connect with (persons of interest), and how you can establish or build those connections.

Networking Approaches

Expanding Existing Groups

Who among your existing connections (family, friends, neighbours, religious or community groups), has connections to people of interest to you? You have a referral of sorts who can vouch for you (and vouch for the new connection) that often results in greater investment to stay connected and follow-through with one another.

Exploring New Groups

Attend “networking events,” conferences, business association meetings, etc. to try to target strangers who may be of interest. It is a bit of a shot-in-the-dark; a quagmire of new acquaintances, but rarely does it yield many high quality, long-lasting connections – at least not right away.

Resumes

A professional resume needs to:

• Stand out among other resumes, yet be well-organized

• Be targeted towards the type of job you are applying for

• Emphasize results and accomplishments rather than tasks

• Quickly pique the reader’s interest and want to interview you to learn more

• Use specific, clear language rather than clichés, generalities or idioms

A resume is not:

• A fill-in-the-blank template (no matter how cool it looks)

• A comprehensive list of every menial task you have done

• A generic, one-size-fits-all document to be spewed to every job opening

• Going to be read top-to-bottom, like an instruction manual, novel or biography

• A cryptic puzzle to be interpreted and solved

Note:

The way you express your experience and education with vary significantly over time, as well as what you emphasize. For more information on accomplishment statements and resumes, contact FCC

Setting Goals

Why Most Goal-Setting Doesn’t Work

• The person setting the goals often has limited aspiration or desire to achieve it. 

• The goals are missing key components. For example a goal that is too vague, there is no clear timelines, it is unrealistic, or just too difficult to measure. 

• There is no follow-through. Goals may be SMART and have a wonderful action plan, but without actually doing anything it won’t be achieved. Accountability can really help.

1. Identify Direction

If you don’t yet have dreams, do some brainstorming that has absolutely no limitations. Dream as big, small, obscure and practical as you can imagine. You may want to have a close friend, parent, or other trusted individual to help you brainstorm.

2. Determine Next Step

Research what it will require for you to do to achieve it: What needs to change that you have the authority to change? Remember you don’t need to have every step planned out, but you must be pointed in the right direction, and it is prudent to be aware of the steps along the way.

3. Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

S.  Specific: Is your goal clear what you are wanting?

M.  Measurable: Can you establish at what point you have achieved your goal? Can you establish how close you are to achieving your goal at various points along the way?

A.  Action-Oriented & Attainable:  Is it possible to achieve the goal? Are there clear action you will be taking to achieve the goal?

R:  Relevant: Is the goal in line with what matters to you now and what you want in the future?

T:  Time-Bound: Does the goal have a clearly defined end time? Does your goal have natural check-in points along the way? (i.e. is your goal incremental in nature)

Apprenticeship

An apprenticeship combines on-the-job training, work experience and technical training in the skilled trades. You will get paid while you are learning the skills you need to succeed in your trade of choice.

The apprenticeship lasts 3-5 years before being certified, in one of more than 150 trades in Ontario.

• Know what’s involved: An overview of the apprenticeship process

• You must find a sponsor. Most sponsors are employers who will hire, train and pay you during your apprenticeship. Sponsors can also be unions or trade associations.

• You must register with OYAP

Considerations

• Have you participated in an OYAP program in high school?

• Did you complete a co-op placement in a trade that you wish to pursue?​

• Do you have an interest and aptitude in a skilled trade?

• Do you have a sponsor? This is the biggest barrier to getting an apprenticeship.

• Will you be prepared for the trade college portion of the apprenticeship?

College

A college education is a hands-on way to learn the specific skills needed in an industry of your choice. Most diploma programs are 2-3 years, while certificate programs are typically 1 year.

Some college programs are linked with nearby universities to offer a great combination of hands-on skills and theoretical knowledge necessary in some industries.

Considerations

• Do you have all of the requirements for your high school diploma?

• Have you checked the admission requirements for the program(s) that you intend to apply to?

• Will you require academic upgrading?

• Are there penalties for repeated courses?​​

• Are there any supplemental application requirements?

• Would you attend as a full-time or part-time student?

• If you apply to a college, can you transfer to a university to complete a degree in a related program?

• If you have an IEP, how can a college or university support you?

• Do you want to live in residence, at home or off-campus?

• Would you benefit more with starting with a certificate or diploma program?

• Are you prepared for the financial costs?

Employment

There are many jobs available if you have earned your high school diploma. These jobs tend not to pay as well as those requiring a post-secondary education, but some offer training, opportunities for continuing education, job enrichment, raises and promotions.

Full-time employment can help clarify your future career path and help you learn about yourself and the working world to make better decisions.

Considerations

• Are you directly entering the workforce for good reason?

• Do you have a part-time job that you would consider doing as a full-time job?

• Do you need time to consider your next steps in training or education?

• Have you started or are you interested in starting your own business?

• Are you looking to save more money before starting post-secondary education?

• Is your family facing financial difficulty that you want to help out?

• What connections do you have to managers or employers?

• Are you interested in post-secondary education right now?

Gap Year

This is an intentional, purposeful step away from your current studies to pursue personal, educational, professional growth through work, volunteer, travel and/or activities of interest.

Most commonly, the gap year is taken immediately following graduation from high school, but can be taken at any point.

Considerations

• What do you want to get out of a gap experience?

• If you have been accepted at a college/university, do they allow a deferral for my program?

• Do you need more time to make decisions about post-secondary education?

• Do you have a strong calling to work for a particular cause?

• Would you be more or less motivated to do post-secondary education after a gap year?

• Do you hope to save money, spend money, or break even?​

• Will the experiences you gain provide valuable experience (and translate well to your resume)?

University

A university education is geared toward those with a thirst to understand the questions of “how”, “why,” and “what if.” An undergraduate degree (typically 3-4 years) opens doors to employment in a variety of professions.

In addition to lectures and labs/seminars in class, you will be required to read independently, research and write reports outside of class time.

Considerations

• Do you have all of the requirements for your high school diploma?

• Have you checked the admission requirements for the program(s) you intend to apply to?

• Have you met the minimum grades for the program(s) you are interested in?

• Have you built the right skills and habits to succeed at university?

• ​Would you attend as a full-time or part-time student?

• If you have an IEP, how can a college or university support you?

• Do you want to live in residence, at home or off-campus?

• Would a joint program (college-university) be a good option for you?

• Would an out-of-province or international university provide more opportunities?

• Are you prepared for the financial costs?

Victory Lap

A “victory lap” is taking an extra semester or full year of high school. It may be needed to graduate high school diploma or you may be seeking some required courses for post-secondary programs.

You may have access to courses online or at school board adult education centres in lieu of continuing at your current high school.

Considerations

• Are you returning for good reason?

• Is your eligibility for admissions to college/university affected by a victory lap?

• What are the financial costs/ benefits?

• Can you request an admissions deferral and do a victory lap?

• ​Could you do a single-semester victory lap?

• What are my options to complete more high school courses, and what are the costs and benefits?