A good starting point is to figure out what area of study you'd like to pursue
For many occupations there are many different program paths and options to get to your career of choice.
Did you know you can get into medicine with an undergrad degree in arts, or you can become a computer engineer with a philosophy degree?
Research individuals who are working in your occupation of interest. Talk to people in the field. Use social media tools, like Facebook or LinkedIn, to learn about the different pathways others have taken.
Don't panic thinking you must know exactly what occupation you want once you graduate. If you know - great!
But if you don't, know that most programs provide many options and it is helpful having some post-secondary experience before choosing a specific occupation.
In post-secondary, there are so many courses you can take, each with a different opportunity to learn and enrich your skills. Think about what subjects you enjoyed in high school, which came easily to you and which ones did you want to learn more about. If you have worked or are working, consider what job tasks you enjoy, and what type of work environment you like. Pursuing subjects that are of no interest to you can be frustrating. Research tells us that if you love the subject and find it enjoyable to learn, you will have a much better chance of being successful. Let post-secondary study challenge you, let it be motivating and enjoyable. Think about choosing a field of study or program you feel passionate about. Then pick the institution that has the program you want.
The amount of time you are willing to invest in your studies is an important consideration. You may need to find employment quickly or you may be able to take a few years to study before working full-time. The good news is that there are BC post-secondary programs designed for both scenarios. Decide how much time you can commit to pursuing your area of study and pick the program that fits.
BC provides a wide range of labour market information resources to help you research employment opportunities in BC, see WorkBC. Use their Guide to using Labour Market Information and start researching occupations that are, or will be, in demand in BC. Keep in mind:
Once you have done some thinking about your interests, you can make an appointment to see a career advisor or attend a workshop at a nearby post-secondary institution or community career centre.