Pursue Online/

Step 2 – Exploring Possibilities

Armed with the information gathered about your preferred future and from your self-assessments, the next step is to generate a list of career options.

You can explore these possibilities in various ways:

Volunteer Work

Volunteering is an opportunity to make a difference in the world, learn new skills, engage in new experiences, discover different types of work that you enjoy or do not enjoy and to meet new people and expand your network.  Volunteering is also a requirement for Religion 9 and all Christian Ethics classses and is an excellent inclusion on a resume or on applications for jobs, awards and scholarships.

Use  WORKSHEET C: VOLUNTEER CONTACT SHEET to keep track of information about your volunteer experience incase you decide to use a volunteer supervisor as a reference.

APPENDIX B: VOLUNTEER WORK lists sites with information about volunteering, as well as national and international organizations that require volunteers.

There are also many volunteer opportunities within your community as well as within Canada and throughout the world.

Job Experience

Aside from earning money, a summer or part-time job also allows you to discover different types of work that you enjoy or do not enjoy, experience different working conditions, develop skills that are transferable to other jobs, and expand your network of allies.

APPENDIX C: RESUMES, APPLICATION FORMS, INTERVIEWS AND PORTFOLIOS lists sites with information about these topics.

APPENDIX D: JOB PATHWAY lists sites with information about how to find a job, where to find a job, as well as information about workers’ rights and benefits.

 Research

You will better your chances of choosing viable possibilities if you research the labour market which includes information about the world of work, different types of work and learning opportunities.

APPENDIX E: THE LABOUR MARKET AND OCCUPATION lists sites that have information about social, economic and demographic trends, as well as predictions for the future.

This information may allow you to narrow your interest to a specific sector or group of similar occupations that require similar skill sets, values and interests, such as business, education, finance, government, health, information technology, or service. Once you have chosen a sector, you can use career software or other online or print resources to research various apects about different occupations.

Information Interviewing

Information interviewing consists of a meeting, preferably face-to-face, with someone who represents a field of interest or is performing a job that you want to learn more about. This method not only provides a first-hand view of the job duties and the work environment, but also the opportunity to build networks and to discuss how people have devloped a career path.

Students at St. Mary High School have the opportunity to conduct an information interview during the Job Shadow Experience in Grade 11.

WORKSHEET D: RESEARCH: INFORMATION INTERVIEW QUESTIONAIRE lists possible questions to ask during the interview.

Use WORKSHEET E: NETWORK CONTACT LIST to keep track of information about the person you interviewed.

Continue to Step 3:  Choosing a Direction