Career Help

[undercoverbrother]

Not for me, but my son.

He is a wonderful 18yr old with no idea what he wants to do with his life.

I am wondering if anyone knows of any services paid or free in Calgary or online that he could access to help identify career opportunities for him.

[Fuzz]

If he really wanted to make his father happy, he'd get into climate engineering.

[CaptainCrunch]

I've heard good things about Susan McDonald who runs High School Career Counselling.


https://www.drsusanmacdonald.com/hig...lling-calgary/


There's also inspired growth.


With a lot of the free govt ones, they're basically offering resume and search and interview skills, so I don't think that would help much.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Not for me, but my son.

He is a wonderful 18yr old with no idea what he wants to do with his life.

I am wondering if anyone knows of any services paid or free in Calgary or online that he could access to help identify career opportunities for him.

Oh man...good question. I've helped numerous interns get jobs over the past few years, but the job market out there is tough. Its been a battle. You wouldnt even believe half of the crap thats happened to me just as someone who wrote recommendations and cover letters. It ain't easy so I sympathize.

Can you tell us a little more about his qualifications or interests?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

Can you tell us a little more about his qualifications or interests?

hmmmmm

Your questions tells me I lacked information in my initial post, apologies.

Qualification - Grade 12, currently at UVic

Interests - Rugby & his G/F

He is having trouble really identifying his interests as the pertain to a life long career.

Don't get me wrong he is a good kid, got good grades. Is engaging when he wants to me.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

hmmmmm

Your questions tells me I lacked information in my initial post, apologies.

Qualification - Grade 12, currently at UVic

Interests - Rugby & his G/F

He is having trouble really identifying his interests as the pertain to a life long career.

Don't get me wrong he is a good kid, got good grades. Is engaging when he wants to me.

Okay. Thats not a lot of information. I assume he wishes it were hotter, but like...what is he trying to do?

Not to mention...trying to get a job in Victoria? At the moment unless its Government, construction or making coffee that sounds damned near impossible.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Locke

Okay. Thats not a lot of information. I assume he wishes it were hotter, but like...what is he trying to do?

Not to mention...trying to get a job in Victoria? At the moment unless its Government, construction or making coffee that sounds damned near impossible.

Kind of the point he doesn't know what he wants to do, he isn't trying to get a job in Victoria, he is going to University, but he doesn't know to what end.

The point is he has no idea what/where he wants to work.

I'm hoping to find him some help to navigate through this and identify a career path or job or trade.

Legit at this point is career aspirations are a blank canvas.

Perhaps it is on me for not preparing him better.

[Bring_Back_Shantz]

I have a cousin who is doing a program in Victoria where she is trying several trades, and the will have the option to carry on with a specific one if she wants.

I can't find the exact program, but some quick googling found this:
https://www.ufv.ca/trades/programs/trades-discovery/

If your son is at UVic, then there should be something close to you that is similar.

If he's dead set on finishing university then it's probably not for him, but if trades are something that might interest him, there are options out there to try a bunch and see what suits you.

After slightly more googling, this might be the program my cousin is doing:
https://www.nic.bc.ca/programs/trade...ro-credential/

[SebC]

What subjects did he like in high school? What does he want to study in university?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by SebC

What subjects did he like in high school? What does he want to study in university?

Gym.....

But he liked Social, English.

He is in the UVic version of General Studies right now.

Floundering a bit, I mean he i getting good grades but he isn't jumping out of bed to attack his classes.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Gym.....

But he liked Social, English.

He is in the UVic version of General Studies right now.

Floundering a bit, I mean he i getting good grades but he isn't jumping out of bed to attack his classes.

Cut bait after the term and do a gap year (or half)? Maybe he finds his calling that way?

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Cut bait after the term and do a gap year (or half)? Maybe he finds his calling that way?

Yeah great answer

In fairness that was my vote and I was overruled.

He is going to see out the full year. He is playing rugby out there and enjoys his club. He has had some interest from the Canada 7's program and went to a U18 Canada 15's camp.

But I think he might sling his hook next year.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Cut bait after the term and do a gap year (or half)? Maybe he finds his calling that way?

Yeah, thats a pretty good idea.

[SebC]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Gym.....

But he liked Social, English.

He is in the UVic version of General Studies right now.

Floundering a bit, I mean he i getting good grades but he isn't jumping out of bed to attack his classes.

Did he consider Kinesiology(/+Education)? It's a popular choice for jocks. Can lead to a career in personal training or coaching.

[Shazam]

There are lots of career assessors available. Has he tried any? I know at the U of C open house they give you a paper one that's very comprehensive (open house is tomorrow, maybe you want to pick one up for him)

[CaptainCrunch]

Its always tough, I've always called kids between the end of high school and the first couple of years of university the wandering generation. Most don't know what they want to do with the rest of their life career wise.


Hell I didn't even know.



You can't really push your kid into a career choice, because they will fail badly if its a miss.
I guess the weirdo question is, are there not counsellors that they have access to at the university? Just someone to sit down with and not discuss specific careers, but the inability to decide on a career?



In my day, we used to take a year off of university and try things. I tried trades, I tried high end retail. And yes, I had tried the Army before all of that, and probably would have made it a career (I regret to this day) if we weren't treated so badly.


But I think that before your kid can decide on a career, the lack of ability to decide on a career should be addressed.


Just my two cents.

[activeStick]

Try reaching out to your own network and see if people would be willing to spend 30 minutes with your son on a video meeting or in-person coffee meeting (even better) to talk to him about their own career, what they do and what their every day looks like at work. Someone's job might spark an interest and that same person may even be able to support your son in getting a job there or in that industry!

[Winsor_Pilates]

He sounds like almost every kid entering university.
Just do some general studies and see what happens.

Many will change throughout university and many will work somewhere completely different than their degree.
We are also in an age where people change careers multiple times.

IMO, he just needs to feel things out and not worry about career path.

[troutman]

After high school I took a personality/interest test with guidance counsellors. The results indicated I should be a lawyer or journalist.

[Shazam]

Originally Posted by troutman

After high school I took a personality/interest test with guidance counsellors. The results indicated I should be a lawyer or journalist.

Yet you became a trout.