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  • What to Do When You Feel You Have No Career Path

    What to Do When You Feel You Have No Career Path

    By Gavin Mercier

    Committing to a career path is a big deal, and one of the bigger choices that you will make in your life. “The rest of your life” is a long time, and finding a career that you will enjoy for it is a big decision. For some people, this decision might be an easy one – maybe you’ve known what you want to do since you were young. For others, however, it might be a little harder. Maybe you don’t know what you want to do, or maybe you feel like you can’t. In either case, it’s important to take a step back and take a look at what you like to do.

    Take a step back

    Sometimes you just need a break. Take a little bit of time to yourself and think about what you really want to do. Relax a little bit and let your mind settle before making decisions like this. When you feel ready, then you can begin to look. Start by looking at the jobs that really appeal to you, no matter how unrealistic they may be. If for some reason, you can’t do what you would like to, look at things that are similar to it. For example, if you want to be a chef but can’t get in, try starting small. Look for opportunities in the same field, because chances are you can cross over and become what you really want to be.

    Take a look at your hobbies

    Your hobbies best reflect what you like. Anything that you willingly do in your free must be appealing to you at least a little. So, look at the things that you enjoy doing, then look at jobs related to that activity. You’d be surprised what kind of jobs are out there, all you have to do is look. Say, for example, that you like to paint miniatures. Someone has to design those miniatures, so why can’t that someone be you? The same applies for all sorts of things, all you need to do is look.

    Look at what you like to do

    This might sound a lot like your hobbies, but it isn’t. Just look at the things that you enjoy doing. Things like driving, writing, painting, taking pictures, and etcetera. There are so many things that you can do with an interest. Just think a little bit outside the box. If you love to paint, you don’t have to be an artist. You can be anything from a house painter to an air brusher doing custom paint jobs on cars. The possibilities are endless, you just have to be a little creative.

    Picking a career path is a tough choice, and it’s even tougher when you don’t know what you want that path to be. However, by taking a step back and looking at what you like doing, what interests you, and what you can really see yourself doing, hopefully that path will become a little clearer.

  • Why Canada Needs More STEM Students

    Why Canada Needs More STEM Students

    As a wealthy, diverse and constantly growing nation, Canada needs students and workers going into the valuable fields of engineering, technology, science and mathematics. While these can be some of the most challenging career paths, they can also be some of the most rewarding. The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

    There are many other subcategories within the STEM fields like biology, geology, psychology, robotic engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, software design, computer hardware design, anthropology, sociology and a whole lot more! STEM fields are the backbone of society and new students are always needed to design, improve, innovate and create.

    Graduates of STEM programs are extremely valuable to Canada and make great contributions to the Canadian economy and culture. The achievements of Canadians in STEM fields are known worldwide and it’s up to the next generation of students to continue that legacy of greatness. Engineers are responsible for buildings and structures and are required for just about any major project, from bridges to houses to high rise condominiums. Scientists and mathematicians are needed for a huge variety of jobs, from biologists and chemists to the robotics experts that created the world famous Canadarm or some of our leading bio medical doctors and researchers.

    STEM graduates are needed in almost every field, be it politics, conservation, law enforcement, architecture or military. Former STEM graduates create and plan the roads we drive on, the planes in the sky, the computer programs we use, and they even helped to design your home or school. This wide variety of STEM-based careers is integral to the functioning of society. Simply put, if there were no more STEM students the world would be a much more chaotic place to live!

    Not only do STEM graduates benefit their country, they also benefit themselves. They can open the doors to a wide variety of jobs and careers that put your intellect and creativity to the test as well as paying out steady incomes. Unfortunately, Canada currently isn’t producing as many STEM students as it once did, according to data from the Conference Board of Canada’s website.

    Now more than ever, Canada needs students to step up and study STEM programs and career paths. Take a look at STEM today!

  • When It Comes to Choosing Your Career, Just Follow Your Heart

    When It Comes to Choosing Your Career, Just Follow Your Heart

    If you’re in high school, you are probably facing the pressure of choosing a career path that you would like to pursue, especially if you’re in your final year. You are at a point where you have to pick a major or program that you want to take in University or College, so it is important to make the right choices now.

    But what if you have you no idea what you want be? How do you make such an important lifelong decision? It seems like a lot of stress choosing your career path at such a young age. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult.  It’s a lot easier than you think.  Just follow your heart – the answer is there.

    Sure, maybe your parents have other ideas for you. Maybe they want you to be a doctor or lawyer. But what is it that makes you happy? What is your dream? What do you see yourself doing for the rest of your life? These are all important questions to ask yourself because, at the end of the day, it’s your life and you want to do what’s best for you.

    Start off by thinking of the courses you excel at in school. Maybe you excel more in the arts. Maybe you enjoy music or writing. Maybe you love working with numbers and excel in math. Narrowing down your strengths will help you make a better decision. Also spend time thinking about your hobbies. Do you enjoy sports? Painting? Maybe you can turn your hobby into a career. These are all indicators that you can’t ignore.

    Start off by making a list of your strengths. Then write down your dreams and goals. Seeing your thoughts on paper will allow you to think more clearly and is a great reference point. It would also help to sit down with your guidance counsellor in school to help figure out what you want to do. They are there to help you, so take advantage of it.

    Now you might have a better idea as to what career path you want to pursue. Why not get first-hand experience in it through volunteering or interning? Maybe do some job shadowing in the industry that you’re interested in. Your guidance office at school can assist you with your options.

    Chances are, you will most likely be successful in a career that you are passionate about. Sure, job prospects and opportunities in your chosen career path are important to consider, but following your heart should be given equal consideration as well. Doing something that makes you happy will make a world of a difference for you. You’ll find out that the answer is with you all along.

  • Recognizing Your Skills and Talents

    Recognizing Your Skills and Talents

    In every family, school, club, workplace or association there are always those people who excel at something ridiculously hard, leaving you scratching your head wondering, “How are they so good at that?” For those people, it’s as simple as recognizing their talents and using them effectively.

    Most of us are more skilled then we realize, and unfortunately for us we do not use our skills and abilities to our advantage. This could be because we don’t know what they are or simply undervalue them. In our society, a blatant boisterous skill is most valued; this makes it hard sometimes to discern our skills and talents. The underestimated value of our talents is why so many feel so generic, desperately wanting to be a name brand.

    The drive to be great and be acknowledged as such resides strongly within us. The only problem with this is that most of us have no clue how to accomplish that. Surprisingly enough, the first steps to becoming great aren’t all that hard. It really boils down to recognizing your skills and talents and then finding the best way to utilize them. This can be accomplished by following four steps:

    Step 1. Take a few minutes to think about and then write down the things that you and other people have told you that you are really good at. Just to be clear, it doesn’t have to be something that people would necessarily consider a positive thing. For example, you may be really good at talking yourself out of trouble. Many wouldn’t consider your silver tongue and the way that you wield it to be a skill, but a judge might. That quick wit could make you the perfect candidate for law school. If possible, get someone else to look over this list as well – they may recognize skills that you have that you haven’t considered.

    Step 2. Generate a top ten list of activities that you frequently engage in, or would like to frequently engage in, that make you happy.

    Step 3. Look at your activities list and go through each activity considering what type of skills it would take to excel in each one. If you were honest with yourself, you will find that you have the necessary skills to excel in at least one of these activities.

    Step 4. Now that you are able to recognize your skills and talents and how best to utilize them, get to it. In order for a skill to be recognized as a talent you need to engage in it regularly. That old adage “practice makes perfect” doesn’t exist for nothing. Let the next “how are they so good at that?” be about you. Bask in someone else’s praises about how skilled and talented you are and show the world the glory that is you.

  • Don’t Stress, Just Follow Your Heart

    Don’t Stress, Just Follow Your Heart

    Maybe you’re in your first year of high school or maybe you’re going to be graduating this year.  At whatever stage you are in, choosing a career path is probably on your mind. While some people know exactly what their whole future is going to look like, that is not always the case. Either way, a lot of us are plagued by uncertainty and fear when it comes to figuring out what kind of career we want to pursue in the future. Don’t worry – chances are a lot of your fellow classmates are in the same boat and feel the same way.

    Choosing a career path can seem like you’re choosing the tone for your whole life.  There are so many factors to consider when choosing the career that is just right for you. Questions that may cross your mind are: will this make me happy? Will I have financial security in this field? However, people get caught up in considering so many angles that the one factor they forget to consider is simply following their heart. This may sound a bit cheesy, but isn’t your heart always right?

    Sometimes parents will put pressure on you to choose a certain career path. Maybe they want you to follow in their footsteps and choose the same profession they’re in. Also, it may seem like a lot of your friends are choosing a particular career and it seems like it would be safe to go along with whatever they are choosing. Yet, if you are choosing a career based on what your parents want or what your friends want then you are not taking the time to figure out what is really important to you.

    You may also wish to seek the help of a guidance counselor. They may suggest career paths that they think will be suitable for you. However, remember that it is you that will be in this field one day and not them. So really consider what they are saying and if that career will make you happy.

    Don’t let choosing a career become stressful or a burden in your life. It is something that you will determine as you continue school. You will take different classes that you will either enjoy –  or you won’t. You will also explore different interests which will expand your horizons. Some of these classes and interests will appeal to you more than others. Through this process you will probably gravitate towards a certain career field. Your heart will lead you in the right direction.

  • The Future Is Now

    The Future Is Now

    Where do you see yourself in five years? Choosing a career path can be entirely overwhelming if you don’t know what you’re looking for. When it comes to your future, only you can have the final say, but there are things you can do to make your decision just a little bit easier. Consider the following factors before you make your choice.

    What you like.
    Considering all the time, money and energy you are going to invest into your career, you will be much better off if you actually enjoy what you’re doing. Think about your interests, your passions and your hobbies, and see if you can imagine yourself working in those fields in the future. Be honest with yourself. If you don’t thoroughly like something, then it might be difficult to put yourself through it on a daily basis. Chances are, if you are happy with the work you are doing, you will be much more motivated to succeed.

    What you’re good at.
    Are you a proficient public speaker? You might make a good politician. Are you great at hands-on work? You might flourish in the trades. Everyone’s good at something; you just have to figure it out. Think about your strongest subjects in school, things you’ve accomplished and so on—put these together to find the things you’re truly the best at. It is much easier to start your career off with a foundation of skills you already have, instead of starting from scratch. If you keep refining your talents, the things you’re good at now could turn out to be real assets in the future.

    What’s “practical”.
    Don’t think that you have to strive to be a doctor, lawyer or engineer. Every job is unique in its own way—and there are always ways to be successful, no matter the field. However, it might be a good idea to look at your options before settling on something. For example, there are multiple ways to pursue a music career: if performing doesn’t suit you, you can be a professional music teacher, a composer, an arranger, and much more. Make sure you have a lifeline: it’s always good to keep those options open. That being said, practicality is entirely dependent on the individual—and if you truly love what you’re doing, and you’re willing to work hard, there is absolutely nothing holding you back from reaching the top.

    Now, the trick is, what’s the overlap? If you can think of a career that fits into all three of those categories, chances are that it might just be the one for you. Finding the common ground between your passions, your skills, and your common sense will ensure that you’re on the path to a balanced, meaningful, and enjoyable future. Making a career decision is going to be one of the toughest things you ever do. But if you lay out the facts and keep an open mind, there is no doubt you will find the perfect job for you.

  • Allow Yourself to Dream

    Allow Yourself to Dream

    Life can be hard. Sometimes things can go so wrong that it seems like they’ll never be right again. It is in those moments that we may lose hope, that we may cease looking at the glass as half full and silently wonder to ourselves how long it will take before it is completely empty. It is in those moments that many of us stop dreaming, we lose momentum and stop looking forward to the things that make life worth living. Losing sight of our hopes and dreams is akin to losing parts of ourselves.

    When we were kids we all wanted to grow up to be something that we thought was great. We dreamed big, did what we wanted and spoke loudly and no one could tell us that our crazy dreams and plans to execute them didn’t make any sense. You know why; because those dreams belonged to us, they defined us, molded us into the kids that we were, the teenagers we became and oftentimes into the young adults that we are now. Whatever dreams we chose to believe in, became our reality. It was the driving force of our existence and nothing could have made us happier, well, except for a lot of chocolate and candy. For most of us, as we became teenagers we lost that carefree dreaming; responsibilities become a thing of reality that imposed itself upon our world – school, siblings, parents, part-time jobs, relationships; for many of us things became overwhelming.

    When our lives starts to spin out of our control that is when our dreams take on a crucial role. The act of dreaming or, as I like to call it, “envisioning a positive change”, becomes a tool for metamorphosis. All great feats in live began with a dream. Professional coaches know a thing or two about the power of dreaming, in fact, many coaches tell their players to envision their win. A player who continuously dreams about success is more likely obtain it. This method of dreaming success into reality can apply to all aspects of our lives. Getting that grade, job, apartment, acceptance into that school are all possible when we allow ourselves to dream and put in the necessary work towards making that dream a reality.

    Aside from being able to accomplish our goals, the act of dreaming can have a positive and immediate effect on a person both physically and mentally. Good dreams can cause the body to relax, oftentimes increasing our ability to think more clearly. Our levels of stress can be reduced resulting in peace of mind. Short term patterns of dreams and success can lead to increased confidence and risk taking which propels long term patterns of dreams and success leading us to happier and oftentimes healthier lives.

    So the next life throws you a curve ball and you feel like your dreams are a waste of time, remember that all great feats began with one.

  • Choosing a Trade

    Choosing a Trade

    With more than 200 trades across Canada to choose from, finding the right one can seem challenging. Here are some tips to help you identify what would be a perfect career choice for you.

    Consider a wide range of trades
    Do you like working in the garden, or fixing your car? Do you enjoy home maintenance projects or styling hair? Get familiar with the many trade choices first, and think about what work you like to accomplish.

    Narrow your choices down to 5 or fewer trades
    Keep it manageable by narrowing down your choices. Get as familiar as you can with the work, to see if you’d like it.

    Observe a trade or participate in a youth apprenticeship or pre-apprenticeship program
    Some school boards offer Observe a Trade days, which will give you the opportunity to see what’s involved in your favourite trades. For something more comprehensive, you can also participate in a pre-apprenticeship program, which gives you practical, on-the-job training with hours that are often transferable to your full apprenticeship.

    Talk to people who work in the trade
    See if you can get in touch with a journeyperson who works in the trade you’ve targeted, to see what advice they can give you. This is a great way to learn some tips from those who have already been there.

  • Discovering Your Skills and Talents

    Discovering Your Skills and Talents

    Everyone has skills and talents. You may not have figured out what your particular set of skills and talents are (yet), but you definitely have them.

    But let’s back-track for a second. What is a skill or talent? A skill or talent is something that you are good at. For instance, you could be skilled at cooking up a gourmet meal or fixing cars. Sometimes a skill could be a particular quality or set of qualities you possess, such as talking, listening, negotiating, planning, organizing, typing or analyzing.

    For some people, figuring out their skills is simple. They seem to have been born with it.  For instance, I have a friend who is talented at playing the piano. She has always been talented at the piano since the time she was a child. Other people acquire their skills over the years. I have another friend who is skilled at making beautiful cakes. She wasn’t born with this ability, but learned it after years and years of practice.

    It doesn’t matter whether you are born with a skill or have developed it over time, what matters is that you figure out what your skills are and use them. Figuring out your skills might seem hard at first, especially if there are no obvious signs to point you in the right direction. Pay attention, then, to what others notice about you. Often times, your friends, family and colleagues may recognize a particular skill or talent you have before you do. In fact, it might help to ask those around you what your skills are. A few years ago, I e-mailed my family and friends and asked them, “Are there any skills or interests that you see in me, that perhaps I am not aware of?” The answers I received were eye-opening. I never knew I possessed certain skills and talents until those around me told me I did!

    Interestingly enough, I discovered that many of my skills and talents were in areas I was interested in.  For instance, I am skilled at writing and research – and I also happen to enjoy doing both! It’s no coincidence that this happens. You tend to spend more time doing things that interest you, and when you spend more time doing something, you inevitably get better at it. (Practice makes perfect, right?)

    So do yourself a favour. Figure out your skills and talents (either by observing your own behaviour or by asking others) and then use these skills and talents. You will be a much happier person for doing so. The majority of the time, what you are good at also happens to be what you are passionate about!

  • Following Your Gut Instincts

    Following Your Gut Instincts

    Making decisions can be tough — not only for the very difficult decisions, but also for the easy ones. Sometimes, people can make life-changing choices in a few moments but then spend a very long time deciding what to eat for supper or what kind of chocolate to buy. They might weigh their options carefully or go with their first instincts. How do you make your decisions? Different decisions demand different levels of thought and planning, but your gut instincts might be very good for guiding you into the best choice for your future.

    Trusting your instincts might seem like a very doubtful way of making life-changing choices. If you’re like most people, you’ve probably bought things and then later regretted your purchase or said things you later wished you could take back. Not every impulse at every moment of the day is trustworthy, partly because so many factors can affect thinking. People who are under a lot of stress from work, school, or family can make bad decisions that affect them for the rest of their lives, for example. Similarly, people who usually have very strong opinions might tend to make quicker, if not always better, decisions than people who try to look at issues from all sides. What kind of person are you? Knowing your personality can help you know how much to trust your instincts in decision-making.

    Gut instincts might not always be right, but they are still important because they tell you about your values and preferences. If you love composing stories, for example, you might want to consider some kind of writing as a career, even if the life of a novelist is not for you. If you dislike a lot of noise, you might want to stay away from a career with young children. If you have a strong instinct to help people in need, you might want to consider a career in social work or in writing about social issues and urging the government to respond. You can learn to understand and interpret your instincts to help you make good decisions for your future.

    How can you learn to use your instincts to your best advantage? You need to learn more about yourself and about what keeps you from making good decisions, and you need to know when you can trust your first impulse. Practice is an important factor in following your instincts. When people have worked a long time in their field, they often find that their first instincts are right because they are based on experience. Learning to work with your instincts will tell you when you can trust them.

    The best kind of decision-making is a combination of factors, including analysis, experience, and a natural sense of what might work best. With practice, you can find ways to use all of these different factors to arrive at the best possible decisions for your situation. You won’t always be right, but if you learn how to appreciate your instincts, you can follow them throughout your life.