Introduction

The main purpose of Section 1 is to get youth excited and engaged in their career navigation so they will be more likely to take the program seriously and put in the required effort. This can be accomplished when youth make the connection between how their lifestyles will depend greatly on their careers.

learning objectives

By the end of this section, youth participants will begin to:

  • Develop a comfortable relationship with the facilitator/group.
  • Describe the importance of career navigation.
  • Create a sense of autonomy and positive self-efficacy in regards to career navigation.
  • Interpret an understanding of how their lifestyle preferences affect their ideal careers.
  • Identify what they want in their ideal futures and what traits their future careers will need for this lifestyle to be realized.
  • Recall about the four career pathways available to them following high school.

Section Tips

Developing a comfortable relationship with the youth can help them to be more open and receptive to the program, making it more effective. Sharing your own personal experiences and anecdotes can help to develop this positive rapport.

“…supportive adult relationships [are] instrumental in boosting the self-confidence of economically disadvantaged students, thereby enabling them to achieve greater academic and career success” (p. 349 Career Development Practice in Canada, 2014).

Materials for Facilitators

English

Language Identifier: EN Section 1 Facilitator Guide
Language Identifier: EN PowerPoint Presentation
Language Identifier: EN Introductory Session Questions
Language Identifier: EN Guess the Career Printouts

French

Language Identifier: FR Partie 1: Introduction au cheminement de carrière
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Partie 1 – Introduction au cheminement de carrière

Handouts for Youth

English

Language Identifier: EN Ideal Future – Examples
Language Identifier: EN My Ideal Future
Language Identifier: EN Career Pathways
Language Identifier: EN Reflection Questions

French

Language Identifier: FR WEnav L’avenir idéal — Exemples
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Mon avenir idéal
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Parcours professionnels
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Partie 1 Questions de réflexion

Editable Documents

English

Language Identifier: EN Ideal Future – Examples
Language Identifier: EN My Ideal Future
Language Identifier: EN Career Pathways
Language Identifier: EN Reflection Questions

French

Language Identifier: FR WEnav L’avenir idéal — Exemples
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Mon avenir idéal
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Parcours professionnels
Language Identifier: FR WEnav Partie 1 Questions de réflexion

Additional Resources

Introduction to Career Navigation

Draw My Life

This article provides a great activity that helps to build relationships between youth, facilitators, and peers.

SFU Career Services: Wondering Where Your Degree Might Lead You?

This video nicely summarizes why career navigation is important in today’s changing workforce and labour market.

University of Windsor
St. Clair College

Interested in pursuing a post-secondary education but are curious as to which major or program you should pursue? Contact the University of Windsor’s department of Career Development & Experiential Learning or St. Clair College’s Career Services for more information.

Career Choice

Dream Careers Are Not a Fantasy

This blog entry discusses the validity of dream careers.

Did you make the right career choice?

This news article discusses how making quick career decisions can affect your career satisfaction later in life.

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

This test was established by Katharine Cook Briggs and Isabel Briggs Myers as it looked to propose different psychological preferences of how others perceive the workplace and the world around them.

Prince Review Career Quiz

Conducted by Princeton University, this short quiz will outline your interests and style when it comes to the workplace.