Career Exploration

Career ExplorationCareer Exploration

Workshop Goals:Workshop Goals:• Introduce key Introduce key Labour Market InformationLabour Market Information concepts concepts

• Discuss Discuss Informational InterviewsInformational Interviews

• Review components of Review components of Research PackageResearch Package

• Computer lab: Computer lab: • Passport to Work Website (Passport to Work Website (CAREER PASSPORTCAREER PASSPORT))• research occupationsresearch occupations• LMI websitesLMI websites• Education / training Education / training • Job search websitesJob search websites

What is Labour Market Information (LMI)?What is Labour Market Information (LMI)?

• type of work that is type of work that is actuallyactually available available • in different in different industriesindustries• in a particular in a particular locationlocation• at a particular point in at a particular point in timetime

LMI includes:LMI includes:

• Information about specific fieldsInformation about specific fields• Employment and Unemployment statisticsEmployment and Unemployment statistics• Economic trends (what’s hot, what’s not)Economic trends (what’s hot, what’s not)• Levels of education / training requiredLevels of education / training required• Job vacanciesJob vacancies

• 40,000+ occupations in North America40,000+ occupations in North America• Identify which industries are declining, growing Identify which industries are declining, growing

and stableand stable• What does this mean to you?What does this mean to you?

• Changing working conditions Changing working conditions • Ongoing need for formal and informal life long learningOngoing need for formal and informal life long learning• Jobs created, shifted and eliminatedJobs created, shifted and eliminated• GlobalizationGlobalization• Shifting demographicsShifting demographics

Why care about LMI?

Group Discussion QuestionsGroup Discussion Questions

• What changes have you seen lately in the Lower Mainland?

• What labour market changes do you foresee?

• What factors influence trends in the labour market?

• How can you best prepare for these changes?ow can you best prepare for these changes?

Where do you find LMI?Where do you find LMI?

• Current print publications Current print publications • NewspapersNewspapers• MagazinesMagazines• trade publications trade publications

• Current websitesCurrent websites• Networking with peopleNetworking with people

Networking with people…Networking with people…

• effective way to get career-related informationeffective way to get career-related information

• People you know…People you know…

•Friends, Family, co – workers, etc…Friends, Family, co – workers, etc…

• People you don’t know…People you don’t know…

•Informational InterviewsInformational Interviews

• Asking people working in a specific Asking people working in a specific occupation about their work and career path.occupation about their work and career path.

• Gain personal perspectives on choosing or Gain personal perspectives on choosing or refining your career interestsrefining your career interests..

INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS

Benefits of Info Interviews…Benefits of Info Interviews…

• Explore careers and clarify your career goal

• Expand your professional network

• Access current career and labour market information

• Build confidence

• Save time!Save time!

Sources for Info. Interviews contacts…Sources for Info. Interviews contacts…• People you know • Internet• Online communities• Field Memberships and affiliations• School graduates• phone book, etc…

• BE CREATIVE!

Conducting an Info. Interview...Conducting an Info. Interview...

• Best option: in-personBest option: in-person• PhonePhone• FaxFax• E-mailE-mail

Prepping for an info interview:Prepping for an info interview:

WHAT TO DO:WHAT TO DO:

1)1) Arrive on timeArrive on time2)2) Research the company Research the company

beforehand beforehand 3)3) Take notes to review Take notes to review

laterlater4)4) Practice with a friend firstPractice with a friend first5)5) Politely ask if you could Politely ask if you could

be referred to other be referred to other contactscontacts

6)6) Write a thank you noteWrite a thank you note

WHAT NOT TO DO:WHAT NOT TO DO:

1)1) Take more time than Take more time than agreed uponagreed upon

2)2) ProjectProject negative body negative body languagelanguage

3)3) Answer phone calls or text Answer phone calls or text messagesmessages

4)4) Use inappropriate language Use inappropriate language or slangor slang

5)5) Forget to thank the person Forget to thank the person for their timefor their time

6)6) Treat it as “just part of the Treat it as “just part of the research package”research package”

Prepping for the Info. Interview (con’t)Prepping for the Info. Interview (con’t)

• Practice IntroductionPractice Introduction

Example:Example:““Hello, my name is… Hello, my name is…

I am interested in going to school to become a ___ I am interested in going to school to become a ___ and was wondering if you had a couple of minutes and was wondering if you had a couple of minutes to answer some questions about the occupationto answer some questions about the occupation““

When you make contact:When you make contact:

• Be specific about why you are contacting themBe specific about why you are contacting them• Take advantage of off-peak hoursTake advantage of off-peak hours• Get to know the industry – make your Get to know the industry – make your

approach appropriateapproach appropriate• Be prepared with your questions!Be prepared with your questions!

Questions to ask in Info. InterviewsQuestions to ask in Info. Interviews

Employees…Employees…

• they are “who you want to be” they are “who you want to be” • i.e. Dental Assistanti.e. Dental Assistant

Employers…

• are the people who hire• i.e. Dentist

Info Interview Roadblocks…Info Interview Roadblocks…

• Minimum of 10 requiredMinimum of 10 required• 5 employers5 employers• 5 employees5 employees

• Time consumingTime consuming• Resistance – Too busy, bad timing, not Resistance – Too busy, bad timing, not

interested, not hiring, etc… interested, not hiring, etc… • Frustration - Keep trying!Frustration - Keep trying!

RESEARCH PACKAGE RESEARCH PACKAGE componentscomponents

Section One – Rationale LetterSection One – Rationale LetterSection TwoSection Two – Labour Market Information– Labour Market InformationSection ThreeSection Three – Informational Interviews– Informational InterviewsSection FourSection Four – Job Postings– Job PostingsSection FiveSection Five – School Research– School ResearchSection SixSection Six – Budget Worksheet– Budget WorksheetSection Seven – Resume Section Seven – Resume (optional)(optional)

Introduction to online resourcesIntroduction to online resources

Online resources - Online resources - Occupational information Websites

Online resources – LMI WebsitesOnline resources – LMI Websites

Online resources – Education WebsitesOnline resources – Education Websites

Online resources – Job Search WebsitesOnline resources – Job Search Websites

Online resources – Finance WebsitesOnline resources – Finance Websites

Computer LAB time! Computer LAB time!

Time to research:

• Occupational information

• Labour market information

• Education / training options

• Job opportunities

Thank you!