Career Workshop

CHOOSING YOUR PROGRAM

Olivia Morin, c.o., G.C.

Outline

• What is career counselling?

• Career Development

• Quebec School System

• Pathways

• What is CEGEP?

• Preuniversity vs. Technical

• Preuniversity to university

• Fears

• Resources

What is career counselling?

A process that can help you to develop a better understanding of yourself and the world of work in order to make educational, career, and life decisions.

Quebec Education System

What is CEGEP?

• CEGEP is a step between secondary school and university or a career.

• CEGEPs offer two types of programs: (1) Pre-University (2) Technical

• Unlike high school, students are pursuing a specific program (ex: social science).

• Majority of courses directly related to a student’s program. Will also be required to do General Education courses, which include:

o Complementary Courses

o English

o French

o Humanities

o Physical Education

• Graduates receive a Diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) or Diploma of Collegiate Studies (DCS)

Pre-University vs. Technical

PRE-UNIVERSITY TECHNICAL

Program Length 2 years 3 years

Nb. of general education

classes14 14

Nb. of program-specific

classes12 to 16 15 to 37

Can it lead to university? Yes Yes

Can it lead to the job market? No Yes

Internship Opportunities No Yes

Learning Styles Theoretical Hands-on

*For information purposes only. Please consult individual universities for complete admissions information.

TECHNICAL (CAREER) PROGRAMS

There are over 130 technical programs in 7 major fields:

Biological Technologies

Agricultural Technologies

Physical Technologies

Community Technologies

Business Administrative Technologies

Applieds Arts

Graphic Communications

Biological Technologies

• Animal Health Technology (145.A0)

• Environmental and Wildlife Management (145.C0)

• Nursing (180.AO)

• Respiratory and Anesthesia Technology (141.A0)

Animal Health Technology (145.A0)

Environmental and Wildlife Management (145.C0)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Resourceful

• Investigative

• Meticulous

• Rigorous

• Respectful of nature

• Acquire and apply

scientific and

technological knowledge

• Solve concrete or

abstract problems

• Conduct laboratory

analyses

• Consider the health of

the planet and living

organisms

• Use new technology

• The freedom to act

• The health and balance

of the planet

• Scientific methodologies

• Finding solutions to

biotechnology problems

• Understanding and

assimilating scientific

concepts

• Having good judgment

• Critically analyzing

• Being pragmatic

• Working with laboratory

or medical instruments

Nursing (180.AO)

Respiratory and Anesthesia Technology (141.A0)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Attentive to others

• Rigorous

• Friendly and caring

• Communicative

• Acquire scientific

knowledge and expertise

• Understand and control

phenomena

• Perform scientific and

technical work

• Provide assistance to

people

• A job well done

• Human warmth and

comfort

• Personal discipline

• Respect for life

• Expressing themselves

and communicating

easily

• Understanding and

analyzing complex data

• Being highly observant

• Manual dexterity and

using specialized

instruments

Physical Technologies

• Architectural Technology (221.A0)

• Building Systems Engineering (221.C0)*

• Computer Engineering Technology (243.A0)

• Computer Science Technology (420.AA)*

• Industrial Electronics (243.C0)*

*ATE available in these programs

Architectural Technology (221.A0)

Building Systems Engineering (221.C0)*THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Creative

• Methodical

• Rational

• Communicative

• Persuasive

• Design houses,

outdoor areas or

designer objects

• Draw plans and

sketches

• Connect with

coworkers or clients

• Apply their creativity to

concrete projects

• Acquire knowledge in

math and physics

• Use the latest

technology

• Designing pleasant

environments for

human beings

• The importance of

meeting the needs of

their clients

• Working with

measurements and

precision

• A mix of technical and

artistic work

• Visualizing spaces

• Understanding and

using specialized

drawing software

• Being practical with an

eye for aesthetics

• Interpreting the laws or

rules governing their

work

• Working with figures

and formulas

Computer Science Technology (420.AA)*

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Orderly

• Rigorous

• Objective

• Patient

• Work with others to

find solutions using a

computer

• Develop software or

computer programs

• Ensure the proper

functioning of a

company or

organization

• Use abstract

languages and

symbols

• Order

• Logic

• Precision and rigour

• Analyzing and

synthesizing

• Translating the needs

of clients into a

computer language

• Being logical

• Conducting research

Computer Engineering Technology (243.A0)

Industrial Electronics (243.C0)*THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Rational

• Curious

• Intellectual

• Methodical

• Determined

• Further knowledge

• Accomplish tasks

related to scientific

methods and

processes

• Understand

phenomena and solve

problems

• Design, invent or

create things

• Work on long-term

projects

• Precision and

excellence

• Contributing to the

progress of science

• Improving quality of life

• Intellectual research

• Following a methodical

process

• Mathematics and

science

• Using instruments with

precision

• Planning

• Analyzing and

synthesizing

Community Technologies

• Early Childhood Education (322.AO)

• Special Care Counselling (351.AO)

Early Childhood Education (322.AO)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Communicative

• Understanding

• Energetic

• Social

• Respectful

• Learn and inspire a

love of learning

• Prepare lesson plans

and presentations

• Organize educational

activities

• Help people develop

cognitively, emotionally

and socially

• Organize pedagogical

projects as a team

• Social engagement

• Proper physical and

psychological

development

• The transfer of

knowledge and skills

• Being a source of

inspiration to their

potential clientele

• The development of

people’s autonomy

• Communication

• Intellectual tasks

• Being a good listener

• Being organized

• Tailoring interventions

to different learning

styles

Special Care Counselling (351.AO)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Compassionate

• Tolerant

• Perceptive

• Social

• Communicative

• Understand the

psychology of human

behaviour

• Help others

• Help solve personal

problems

• Use intellectual

discipline to analyze

complex data

• Conduct research and

write reports

• Social engagement

• Seeking to improve

peoples’ well-being

• Being useful to others

• Self-respect and

respect of others

• Improving relationships

between individuals

• Communicating easily

through speech and

writing

• Building good

relationships

• Analyzing and

synthesizing

• Having good judgment

• Being good listeners

Business Administrative Technologies

• Business Administration, Accounting and Management (410.BO)

• Business Administration, Business Management (Marketing) (410.D0)*

• Business Administration, Business Management (Marketing) (410.D0)*

Accelerated DEC-BAC

• Business Administration, Financial Services and Insurance Technology

(410.F0)

*ATE available in these programs

Accounting and Management (410.BO)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Methodical

• Orderly

• Rational

• Perseverent

• Helpful

• Complete

administrative tasks

• Work on a computer

• Analyse statistical or

financial data

• Follow procedures

• Communicate findings

and results orally or in

writing

• Order

• Precision

• Rigour

• Control

• Predictability

• Playing with numbers

• Understanding

complex administrative

data

• Noticing details and

being precise

• Concentrating for long

periods of time

• Organising and

classifying

• Teamwork

Business Management (Marketing) (410.D0)

Financial Services and Insurance Technology (410.F0)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Determined

• Persuasive

• Leaders

• Meticulous

• Honest

• Patient

• Cooperative

• Plan and organize

• Inform and persuade

• Lead a team

• Manage projects

• Play with numbers

• Increase profitability

• Convince people to buy

goods or services

• Profitability

• Efficiency

• Accuracy

• Order

• Client satisfaction

• Quality service

• Problem solving

• Leadership

• Planning and

organizing

• Noticing details and

precision

• Analysing and

synthesising

• Business

Applieds Arts

• Office Systems Technology: Micropublishing and Hypermedia (412.AB)*

*ATE available in these programs

Graphic Communications

• Professional Music and Song Techniques (501.A0)

Professional Music and Song Techniques (501.A0)

THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Expressive

• Imaginative

• Creative

• Original

• Versatile

• Perform or exhibit their

work to captivate an

audience

• Use their artistic talent

• Create or compose

musical or

cinematographic works

• Express their thoughts

and feelings through

their art

• Reflect certain aspects

of the culture in which

they live

• Autonomy at work

• Personal expression

• Originality

• The search for beauty

and harmony

• Public recognition

• Researching and

analyzing before

creating or performing

• Having a good memory

• Having manual

dexterity

• Adapting to a variety of

situations

• Having patience to

practise to create a

quality product

Office Systems Technology: Micropublishing

and Hypermedia (412.AB)*THEY ARE… THEY LIKE TO… THEY VALUE… THEY EXCEL AT…

• Resourceful

• Energetic

• Creative

• Communicative

• Persuasive

• Meticulous

• Methodical

• Orderly

• Write or convey

information

• Interact with the public

or clients

• Work with audio and

video equipment

• Open-mindedness

• Creativity

• Contact with the public

• Taking up challenges

• Order

• Precision

• Predictability

• Expressing themselves

through speech and

writing

• Being rigorous and

methodical

• Being bold

• Having good people

skills

• Being team players

Fears

• “I’m choosing for life…”

• “I’m afraid of not attaining my dreams.”

• “I’m afraid of making a wrong choice.”

• “There are too many choices and I don’t know myself well enough.”

• “I’m afraid to talk to my parents about what I am feeling, my choices, etc. Will

they agree? Will they support me?”

• “I don’t have enough time to find my passion.”

How to guide

✓ Pro-Con lists of each program

✓ Read course descriptions

✓ What kind of learner are you?

✓ Complete Vanier’s Holland Interest Types questionnaire

https://www.vaniercollege.qc.ca/student-services/career-counselling/career-

resources/holland-interest-types/

Additional Resources

What Can I Do With My Degree (CAPS Concordia):

https://www.concordia.ca/students/success/career-planning/paths.html

What Can I Do With My Studies (CAPS McGill):

https://www.mcgill.ca/caps/discipline

Find Your Path Career Quiz (UdeMontreal):

https://admission.umontreal.ca/cursus/index.php?l=en

Truity Type Finder: https://www.truity.com/test/type-finder-personality-test-new

Pygma: https://pygma.ca/