Helping others make career decisions
Career development is not a single decision. It's a series of decisions made throughout life as interests, opportunities and circumstances change.
Making career decisions can feel overwhelming, especially when someone is exploring their future for the first time or considering a change. As a parent, family member, friend, or supporter, you can play an important role by helping a career-seeker reflect, explore options and make informed decisions. As a supporter, your role can be to help them explore options, reflect on what matters most and make informed decisions with confidence. It shouldn’t be to make the decision for them.
One of the most effective ways to provide support is to center the conversation around a series of important questions. Rather than focusing on finding the "right" answer, help the career-seeker explore and consider the following questions.
Career decisions start with self-awareness. Encourage the career-seeker to think about their:
- Interests and hobbies
- Skills and strengths
- Values and priorities
- Preferred work environments
- Past experiences in school, work, volunteering or extracurricular activities
You can help by:
- Pointing out strengths you observe
- Discussing activities they enjoy
- Sharing examples of times they've been successful or engaged
Once the career-seeker better understands themselves, encourage them to consider what they want from their future. Questions to consider:
- What kind of work would be meaningful?
- What lifestyle is important to them?
- What values do they want reflected in their career?
- What type of education or training interests them?
The goal is not to identify a single "perfect" career, but to create a picture of what a satisfying future might look like.
Help the career-seeker identify possibilities that align with their interests, values and skills. Encourage them to:
- Explore different occupations and industries
- Learn about educational pathways
- Consider multiple options rather than focusing on one career choice
- Use career exploration tools such as the NSCC SparkPath Exercise (use code NSCC) or our career quiz
Career exploration often reveals possibilities people may not have previously considered.
Once options have been identified, it's important to gather reliable information. Encourage the career-seeker to research:
- Job duties and responsibilities
- Education and training requirements
- Working conditions
- Employment opportunities
- Industry trends and future outlook
Helpful strategies include:
- Reading occupational information
- Reviewing labour market information
- Speaking with industry professionals
- Attending career and education events
The more informed the decision, the more confident the career-seeker can be moving forward.
Career decisions involve weighing options and considering trade-offs. Support the career-seeker by helping them:
- Compare different pathways
- Consider advantages and challenges
- Discuss concerns or uncertainties
- Reflect on which options best align with their goals and values
Rather than telling them what you would choose, focus on asking questions that help them think through their decision.
Once a direction has been chosen, it's time to take action. Encourage the career-seeker to:
- Set short-term and long-term goals
- Identify next steps
- Complete applications
- Seek relevant experiences
They can also "try on" a potential career by:
- Volunteering
- Job shadowing
- Taking a part-time job
- Enrolling in a continuing education course
- Participating in experiential learning opportunities
These experiences can help confirm interests before making larger commitments.
Career development is an ongoing process. Help the career-seeker:
- Create an action plan
- Track progress toward goals
- Build employability skills
- Adjust plans as circumstances change
Remember that career paths are rarely linear. Exploring options, changing direction and revisiting decisions are all normal parts of career development.
Building career success skills
Regardless of career choice, employers value individuals who can adapt, communicate effectively, solve problems and work well with others. Encouraging the development of these employability skills can support success in both education and the workplace. Career-building skills can be developed through:
- School and academic experiences
- Sports and extracurricular activities
- Clubs and student organizations
- Volunteer experiences
- Community involvement
- Part-time employment
We're here to help
Career decision-making does not have to happen alone. NSCC Student Supports can help career-seekers with career and employment considerations like exploring options, understanding labour market information, identifying appropriate resources and developing a goal-oriented action plan.