Accept where you are and work from there
You don’t need to prepare or have something figured out before you begin. Bring all of your questions, ideas, thoughts, and feelings into the process. Here are some of the questions or thoughts you may be having that can be tackled through a design approach.
- What career options will allow me to make a decent living?
- What jobs relate to my studies?
- I don’t know what I’m good at.
- I am feeling stuck or unsure about what to do next.
- I am worried I don’t have a clear plan.
- How do I find a career where I can make a difference in the world?
- How do I get experience before I have experience?
- I just want to graduate and have a job lined up afterwards.
- I feel excited and ready to find a career that is right for me!
Reflect on yourself
Good career planning comes when we pay attention to who we are and what we value while making use of the opportunities, communities, and tools available to us. It requires knowledge about the world around us and an awareness of how our strengths, skills, and interests align with what the world is looking for. It is a lifelong journey of consecutive decision-making.
What does a career mean to you?
Set yourself up for success by clarifying your thoughts and expectations about your career. This information can then become a set of evaluative measures to decide what to try, as well as help you identify what is and isn’t working for you.
Choose a few of the questions below. Try a 10-minute free write activity or some doodling—whatever works for you. Then share your thoughts with someone you trust. You might be surprised by how unique your views and needs are.
- What skills do you want to use day to day?
- Which tasks in your life require effort, which tasks feel energizing?
- Where do you see your values showing up in your work?
- What defines good or worthwhile work to you?
- What does money have to do with career?
- What do experience, growth, and fulfillment have to do with career?
What are your values and interests?
Aligning your job with your values and interests can lead to higher levels of career satisfaction. Clarifying these can help you evaluate career possibilities and find a good career fit.
Use the Values Inventory worksheet (pdf) to identify or clarify your values.
How does your identity intersect with your career?
Review these career resources for students from historically marginalized communities, including students of colour, students with disabilities, LGBTQ2SIA+ students, and Indigenous students to learn how you can consider your intersecting identities in your career planning.
Identify your strengths
Knowing what you’re good at will help you identify positions and environments where you are likely to succeed and your skills will be valued.
Consider the following questions:
- What activities in your life require little effort?
- When and where do you feel energized?
- Which tasks, classes, or projects can you focus on for hours at a time?
- When have you felt most proud of yourself? What were you doing?
Not sure what you’re good at? Think about what people in your life rely on you for. Still not sure? Ask the important people in your life how they would describe you and use self-assessment tools and resources for personalized career insights.