Career Professionals of Canada News Feed
Something is changing in career conversations. Clients are arriving with more information than ever before. They may have researched career paths online, explored labour market trends, watched countless videos, or even asked artificial intelligence tools for advice before ever speaking with a career professional. Yet access to so much information does not always make decision-making easier. Often, clients seem overwhelmed. Many still seem uncertain about what to trust, what matters, or how to move forward with confidence. As a career professional, you are increasingly being asked layered and emotionally complex…
Adaptive Career Development in a Changing Labour Market Not long ago, career discussions often focused on advancement, promotion, and long-term stability within a particular field or organization. While those conversations still exist, many clients today are arriving with a very different set of concerns. Some are restarting careers in their 40s and 50s after layoffs or organizational restructuring. Others are exploring multiple income streams or questioning whether the career path they spent years building is still sustainable in a rapidly changing economy. At the same time, labour markets continue evolving…
You may have noticed something changing in career development over the past few years. Clients now have access to more information, more technology, and more career advice than ever before, yet many seem more uncertain than ever. They question what to trust and how to move forward. Increasingly, career professionals are discovering that the work is not simply about finding information, but interpreting it. This idea also surfaced repeatedly during the development of Career Professionals of Canada’s Certified Future Strategist (CFS) program. It emerged gradually across research, conversations with practitioners,…
Most career practitioners have had this experience. A session that started reasonably well begins to feel awkward. The client grows quieter, or becomes vague, or oddly compliant. The practitioner works harder — explaining more, encouraging more, offering more options. By the end, both people are tired, and progress feels less certain than it did at the start. Without anyone doing anything wrong, something shifted. It is worth understanding why. The System Sets the Stage In 1980, I was a financial assistance worker with the BC Government. My first client was…
Every year, on the Wednesday of the last full week in April, we recognize the immense contributions made by administrative professionals by celebrating Administrative Professionals Day. This day reminds us to pause and recognize the people who keep our workplaces running smoothly. Administrative professionals are often the quiet but essential backbone of an organization. They have skills in many areas of the business. But their contributions go far beyond organizing and record-keeping. They are problem-solvers, anticipating issues before they arise and stepping in with practical solutions. They are relationship-builders, creating welcoming…
I am guilty of poking fun at my fellow career professionals when I hear them say something like “Thank goodness it’s Friday!” My reaction to this comes from a bit of a superior attitude about our field. I, ridiculously, assume that if we are to help others find fulfilling careers we should be enthusiastic about every second of our work and even be disappointed when the weekend comes. Now, as I reflect on that reaction, I wonder why is it that, sometimes, we get weary as we deliver what I…