Start Building Your Future
Choosing to enter the workforce after high school is a valuable pathway that can help you gain experience, build skills and explore future career opportunities.
Every job provides opportunities to develop transferable skills that can support your success in work, education and life.
As part of your Individual Pathways Plan (IPP), take time to reflect on your interests, strengths and goals, and explore careers that may be a good fit for you.
Getting Ready for the Workforce
Three important steps can help you prepare for a successful career:
- know yourself
- know where you want to go
- know where opportunities are
Know Yourself
Understanding your interests, strengths, values and skills can help you identify careers that are a good fit for you. People are often most successful and satisfied in careers that align with who they are and what matters to them.
There are resources to help you explore your interests, skills and values:
- My Pathway Planner
- Government of Canada Youth
- Ontario Skills Passport
- Speak to family members, educators and guidance counsellors.
As you build and update your Individual Pathways Plan (IPP), reflect on:
What do you enjoy doing?
- sports and recreation
- arts and music
- technology
- helping others
- working outdoors
- building or creating things
- etc.
What do you do well?
- writing and communication
- problem-solving
- leadership
- mathematics
- working with your hands
- organization and planning
- etc.
Look at the learning skills and work habits section of your report cards and consider the feedback from your teachers.
What is important to you?
- helping people
- independence
- creativity
- achievement
- stability
- work-life balance
- etc.
Consider your:
- volunteer experiences
- part-time jobs
- certifications and experience gained through school programs, such as co-op, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Exploring Opportunities Program, Specialist High Skills Major, etc.
- certifications or specialized training
- awards
- clubs and extracurricular activities
- community involvement
Know Where You Want to Go
Once you have a better understanding of yourself, start exploring careers that match your interests and strengths. Every job helps you develop transferable skills that employers value.
You do not need to know exactly what career you want. Instead, focus on learning about different occupations, industries and opportunities.
Ask yourself:
- What careers interest me?
- What skills do those careers require?
- What education, training or certifications might be helpful?
- What does a typical day look like in that occupation?
- What is the future outlook for this career?
Explore Career Resources
Know Where Opportunities Are
Once you have explored careers and identified your strengths, it's time to learn how to find and pursue opportunities.
Effective job searching involves:
- Creating a resume.
- Writing cover letters.
- Completing applications.
- Preparing for interviews.
- Networking and making connections.
- Understanding workplace expectations.
My Pathway Planner - contains a résumé and cover letter builder, job search tool and occupation information.
Your guidance counsellor can help connect you with workplace opportunities and career resources.
Community employment agencies can also provide support with:
- job searches
- resume writing
- interview preparation
- career planning
- employment workshops