Planning Your Career

Start by volunteering in jobs that interest you. Offering your time will give you a chance to build up skills and experience and see what it’s like working in that field. If you want to work in your community, talk to your guidance counsellor, your local career centre, a youth worker, or anyone else who might know about jobs available. Consider wages, job location, and the training required before making your decision.

If you already know what career interests you, you can find out more about what schools offer the training you are looking for by visiting  www.educationplanner.bc.ca. This web site lists all the post-secondary programs in B.C. You can search by program, area of interest, location, and more. Make a list of the schools that offer the programs you want and try to visit them. When you’re there, attend a few classes, talk to other students, and meet with the school’s guidance personnel. Ask them questions about courses, classes, and jobs for their graduates. If you already know someone working in the job that you want, ask him or her where they went to school.

See the Financial and Program Support page to find out how to get funding from the Nuu-chah-nulth Tribal Council, the Government of Canada, the province, and more. Many organizations also offer scholarships, loans, and bursaries for Aboriginal students. Talk to your guidance counsellor or education worker for more information and advice.

Even if you know what school you would like to attend, think about applying to more than one. Competition is stiff for some programs, so give yourself options. Each school will have its own deadlines. Check with the program’s advisor for more information. In general, you need to send an application for admissions and a transcript of your high school grades to the school’s admissions office well before the program begins.

This is something to consider before you go to school. Gaining skills and experience through volunteer work is a great way to get ahead in your field, but you should also know where the jobs are. Talk to your education worker or a career counsellor through your high school, your nation, or your local career centre. They will be able to give you information about the job prospects in your chosen field. Asking questions of people who already work in the field is also a good way to know where the jobs are.

Alison Wale,  Uu-a-thluk’s Capacity Building Coordinator, is available to discuss any questions you might have about marine training courses, and to direct you to other resources that might help you plan your career. You can reach out to her at alison.wale@nuuchahnulth.org, or 250-735-5684.