OC Counselling Services
In our fast-paced world,
making informed decisions
Career Direction Resources
about your career can be a
difficult task. The fact that you are reading this shows you are someone who
wants to take initiative in your career decision-making process. Though no
test or counsellor can tell you exactly what you should do with your life, we h
hope that the following resources are helpful in giving you some guidance.
WHAT SHOULD I CONSIDER WHEN DECIDING ABOUT A CAREER?
As the diagram below suggests, there are many factors that may influence your career goals and
decisions.
We believe that it is important to look not only at the question, “Where are the jobs?” but also,
“Which careers are best-suited to my interests, values, aptitudes, experiences, etc.?”
For this reason, we have included questionnaires that match your interests and personality to
specific careers as well as providing job market information.
Career Decision “Wheel”
H.
Personal style
G.
Strengths, skills,
aptitudes,
limitations,
constraints
B.
Work and life
experiences
C
F.
Values
.
Educational
preparation
and training
E.
Interests
D.
Influence of
significant
others
Amundson, N.E. (1989)
The OC Counselling Services website provides a list of internet resources we have found helpful.
You can access these recommended sites at:
http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/counselling/links/career.htm
STEP 1: EXPLORE YOUR INTERESTS
We suggest starting with the first site on this list – www.careercruising.com. This is an
interactive, Canadian career guidance resource that provides in-depth profiles on hundreds of
different careers including interviews with real people and a career interest inventory called
MatchMaker. CareerCruising requires the following login information:
Username: Okanagan
Password: Careers
Click on the Career Matchmaker icon and complete the interest inventory to find out what
careers are best suited to your interests. Do the “long form” – all 93 questions – for the most
personalized results. Typically the best matches are at the top of the list. Click on any of these
suggestions to find out more about these careers. Also check out the interviews with people
actually doing these jobs to hear their practical advice.
You can also click on Explore Careers to search for specific careers by alphabetical index,
school subject (i.e. math), or general field (i.e. health).
STEP 2: LOOK AT HOW YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE RELATES TO CAREERS
Another important part of the career decision-making prcess is looking at your personality and
how it relates to finding a meaningful career. Two sites we recommend are:
Type Focus
http://www.typefocus.com/
click on Fee Personality Assessment
and
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
http://www.keirsey.com
STEP 3: EXPLORE HOW YOUR APTITUDES IMPACTA DECISION ABOUT CAREERS
Next, take a look at your aptitudes – your natural talents and things you are good at. We
sometimes assume that something that comes easy to us comes easy for everyone, but this is
usually not the case. Ask friends, family, and others who know you to suggest some areas they
see you succeeding at or having natural abilities in.
Also, ask yourself such questions as:
 What school subjects came easy for me?
 Am I mechanically minded? Creative?
 Do I have organizational skills? Computer skils?
 Am I good with people? Working on a team?
Look back at the list of careers you are compiling. Which ones fit with your aptitudes?
STEP 4: EXPLORE HOW YOUR VALUES IMPACT A DECISION ABOUT CAREERS
The final part of the self-exploration process is looking at your values. The last place you want
to be is in a career that does not line up with your personal beliefs and priorities.
Some questions you may want to consider:
 Do you value security and consistency or variety and risk-taking in your work
environment?
 Is social interaction and being part of a group or independence and autonomy important
to you?
 Do you value achievement and recognition or being “behind the scenes”?
 Is your work environment, pace, and/or location important to you?
 Do you value financial independence? Status? Creative expression? Contribution to
society?
(Career Key – http://www.ncsu.educ/careerkey/ - provides an assessment tool that looks into
your aptitudes and values and provides advice on occupations that best fit your “type”.)
Again, refer to your list of careers. Which ones fit or conflict with your values?
Recommended books for career self-exploration:
 What Color is your Parachute? Richard Nelson Boles (2001)
 Zen and the Art of Making a Living. Laurence G. Boldt (1999)
 Do What You Love and the Money Will Follow. Marsha Sinetar (1987)
 How to Find the Work You Love. Laurence G. Boldt (1996
STEP 5: RESEARCH OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOKS, “HOW PROMISING IS THIS CAREER?”
Now that you’ve done some self-exploration, the next step is to research careers that you feel
are a “good-fit”. Along with CareerCruising, the allowing sites provide information on
occupational outlooks and career profiles. (You may want to search out potential work locations
because a specific career may have a positive outlook in one part of the country or province and
a negative outlook in another.)
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Job Profiles – http://www.jobprofiles.org/index.htm
Work Futures: BC Occupational Outlooks – http://www.workfutures.bc.ca
What’s Key: Career Resource Directory – http://www.whatskey.org
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Job Futures: Federal Occupational Outlooks – http://www.jobfutures.ca
Career Paths – http://www.careerpathsonline.com
BC WorkInfoNet – http://www.workinfonet.bc.ca
BC Economy and Labour Market Guide – http://www.guidetobceconomy.org
Human Resource and Skill Development Canada – http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/en/home/shtml
Community Futures Development Corportation (C. Okanagan) – http://cfdcco.bc.ca
Job Boom – http://www.jobboom.com/conseils/top-100.html
Ignition – Guide to Canada’s Industry Sectors – http://www.councils.org/ignition
Careers in Technology – http://www.cthrb.ca
In addition to these web-based resources, we would suggest also to research by interviewing
people who are in the field, to volunteer or job shadow, etc. to better understand what is
involved in different careers. As the Career Decision “Wheel” diagram we started with suggests,
look also at how your past work and life experiences and the influence of significant others may
impact your career choices.
STEP 6: LOOK AT EDUCATION AND TRAINING
After you have researched some options, you will find that there is some education and training
needed to enter most careers. Along with CareerCruising, we suggest searching for the right
program and school using the following resources:
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Okanagan College – http://www.okanagan.bc.ca
(Also check out our Academic Advising website – http://www.okanagan.bc.ca/advising/ for questions about specific courses, prerequisites, admission requirements, and the
“Choosing an Education” workshop)
Education Planner (formerly Opening Doors) – http://www.educationplanner.bc.ca/
CanLearn – http://www.canlearn.ca/
School Finder – http://www.schoolfinder.com
Guide to Post-Secondary Education – http://www.learning-curve.ca
What Can I Do With a Major In…
http://www.umanitoba.ca/student/counselling/WhatCanIDo.html
We wish you all the best in your career journey
and hope that these resources have been helpful!
Community Futures Development Corporation
3105 33rd St., (Phone: 545-2215)
Employment Options Finding work
2nd Floor
Ext: 219
Employment Options
1st Floor
Ext: 230
Resource Center (Equipment and Services)
Employment Options “Trades” (Trades specific employment assistance)Ext: 219
2nd Floor
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First Nations Employment Services
Friendship Center - 2909 29th Ave
Phone: 558-3345
Connections Career Centre (Age 15 -30 & looking for work)
3309C 31st Ave
Self-Employment Program (start & maintain a business)
#102 - 3201 30th St
Phone: 545-5705
Phone: 545-0585
Okanagan Valley Training Access Program
Phone: 545-9779
(Bowman Employment Services)
3306A 32nd Ave
(Provides funding for training for unemployed eligible persons)
To qualify
 Currently receiving unemployment
 Had an EI claim with the past 3 years prior to the date of requesting assistance
 Had a maternity or parental claim within the past 5 years prior to the date of requesting
assistance
Okanagan Valley Wage Subsidy Program
(Bowman Employment Services)
3306A 32 Ave
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Phone: 545-9779
Helps people who are having difficulty finding employment due to barriers such as lack of
skills or experience
An employer provides you with full time work and on-the-job training, and the Wage
Subsidy Programs pays that employer a portion of your wage
To qualify
 Currently receiving EI
 Had an EI claim that ended in the past three years
 Had a Maternity/Parental EI claim that stared in the last five years