I know…curiosity is getting the better of you, and so it did when I made the announcement in my client newsletter a few weeks ago.
First of all, November is Canada Career Month, and the theme this year is “It’s Possible”. Here’s what has been possible with my career.
Last year March, just before the pandemic, I received a call from the Alumni Office at Conestoga College that I was being nominated by the college for a Premier’s Award in the Community Services Category. “A what?”, I asked. “This is the Oscar of the Colleges, and to be nominated is like a win”, she said. I thanked her and thought, “Hello Hollywood North, here I come!”
But my journey didn’t start there. In fact, I have had a non-linear career path, dabbling in a variety of things before settling in career development.
A few years after receiving my undergraduate degree in Public Administration from Ryerson, I left corporate and changed careers. I started my resume writing business as a part time venture and got an opportunity to teach at Sheridan College at the same time.
After Sheridan, I went back to corporate but never gave up my ‘little business’. But the study bug grabbed hold of me again, and I registered for the distance learning MBA program at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. After all, an MBA looked like the next step, I thought.
When the first two books arrived – Accounting and Human Resources Management – I looked at them and thought to myself, “Why are you pursuing an MBA? Look at the difference you are making to the small client base you have.” But when some started asking for additional career advice, I knew it was time to abandon the MBA program, and learn more about career development.
This exploration led me to George Brown College’s Career Work Program where I met Gillian Johnston and Greg Morrow. When I told them I was looking for a program I could pursue mostly through long distance, Gillian pointed me to Conestoga’s postgraduate Career Development Practitioner Program. The rest, as they say, is history.
I felt right at home in the Program, especially under the guidance of Rob Straby and others. Although the names of some of the courses have since changed, I am still amazed at the depth of the Program:
- Professional Ethics, Interviewing and Counselling
- Career Counselling and Development
- Career Counselling Techniques
- Group Training and Facilitation
- Employment Counselling Techniques
- Multicultural Career Development (which is probably now Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
- Technology and Career Development, and
- Trends and Issues In The New Work Dynamic.
- Entrepreneurship (with Wes Worsfold), and Women’s Career Development, were also covered in the Program at the time.
The Practicum completed the program, and when it was time, I negotiated with my then employer to spend half day at my placement and the other half at work. It pays to negotiate (in everything)!
On November 18, all nominees will know who the winners are, but I am already a winner, and in true Oscar style, “I would like to thank…”,
…but the list would be too long, and I would certainly leave out some people.
But thanks to Conestoga College, not only for this “Oscar” nomination, but also for the Alumni of Distinction Award I received in 2011. The Career Development Practitioner program became my MBA. It gave me wings to do what I do today – helping people chart their career path.
To E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E. who has been a part of my meandering career journey, including you reading this, I 👀 you, and I thank you too! This journey has not been a solo sport.
Before you leave, here are a few things I have learned throughout my career journey:
- Your career journey won’t always follow a linear path. There is going to be a lot of twists and turns. Just continue going.
- It’s okay to change course. It would’ve been nice to have an MBA alongside my other certifications, but CCDP (Certified Career Development Practitioner) is just as great.
- Never stop learning. It’s important to engage in formal and informal learning. As a professional student, I continue to learn and have earned several career industry certifications.
- Many times, you will have to say “No” to the naysayers in order to say “Yes” to the Yea-sayers. There were so many times I was told what I couldn’t do. “Who told you you could teach at a college?” or “Who told you you can write a book?” To each question I just said “Watch me!” and ploughed through anyway. So glad I did!
- It pays to negotiate. After receiving a job offer in my first Canadian job, I negotiated a higher salary even before I knew salary negotiation was an art. Four months into one of my other jobs when I realized I wasn’t being paid what I was worth, I renegotiated my compensation package.
- Promotions come in different forms.When promotions were passing me by, and frustration, discouragement, and discontent began to take a toll, I gave myself a talking to and changed career direction.
- You can create your own career path. Don’t wait on the corporate environment or your manager to create a path for you. Take charge of your career.
If you ever need a listening ear about careers, give me a call or send me a DM. You may also want to stay tuned for my Aspire to Grow group coaching program coming soon.
For more about the Premier’s Awards, check this link: https://www.co-awards.org/
