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Foundations for Career Development Certificate

Career planning is normally done in stages over a period of time. Ideally, your career planning would follow the model below.

In your first year of university, you would do a self-assessment and some career research. In your second year, you could seek out opportunities to gain experience. In your third year, you should be actively networking because, in your fourth year, you will be asked to make some decisions.

You will be able to focus your career research and explore your interests by learning about yourself early on. You need to gather information about the nature of different types of careers in order to plan your future studies. The more research you do, the more confident you will be about your options. It is very important to know yourself before you even begin to write your resume or search for a job.

Be sure you set some short and long term goals and priorities by being realistic. You should also be reviewing your research and your plans regularly to keep yourself aware of any changes in the labour market and career qualifications. In the past, it was common to pick a program before considering your career path. Now, you are more likely to consider your career path first.

What's required for the certificate?

In order to finish your certificate over the four years, you must complete a minimum of nine workshops (this is subject to change in 2010). For a more detailed outline of the certificate structure and workshops, click here. You will have some choice in each of the certificate categories as not all workshops will be offered every year.

The minimum requirements are:

Self-Assessment: one of three workshops
Completing this step will help you to understand yourself and your interests, values, and skills and how that relates to your career choices.

Research Options: Career Research Tools (mandatory) plus one other workshop
Completing this step will help you to find out what careers are available to you as well as what that career is all about. It will also help you to understand trends in the labour market over time.

Get Experience: two of three workshops
Completing this step will help you understand the nature of work and how you can best market your skills and experience.

Network: Career Directions Fair (mandatory) plus two of four other workshops
Completing this step will help you make contacts and present yourself in an interview, as well as gain some valuable practice to help you to hone your skills.

Make Decisions: one of two workshops
Completing this step will give you skills to help you make decisions and to help you with the transition from being an undergraduate student to your future career.

How do I register?

You may register for all workshops using CareerCentral. Space is limited so register early.

What happens when I've completed all the necessary workshops?

When you've completed all the requirements for the certificate, students registered in the School of Health Studies, will meet with Kent Robinson.

A certificate will be issued to acknowledge your accomplishment.

Program is offered in collaboration with the Schools of Health Studies and Kinesiology and the Career Centre @ Western.