Many jobs sound great on paper, but what about in real life?  How can you find out if you’ll like really like working in a career?  The best thing you can do is to try it on! 

Would you buy a car without taking it out for a test drive?  Well, there are lots of ways to “test drive” a career – and many of them are available to you while you’re in high school. 

And here’s even better news:  they’re easy to access, and they’re usually free.  So ask yourself; what have I got to lose?  Here are some options to get experience in a career area of interest while you’re in high school:

• Take Our Kids to Work Day  - a one-day workplace experience for all Grade 9 students in Ontario
• Job shadowing – a one-on-one observation of a worker in their place of employment for up to three days
• Job Twinning – a one-on-one observation of a coop student in their place of employment for up to three days
• Cooperative education – a planned learning experience for which secondary school credits are earned
• Career Fairs – find out when one is coming to your school community, and plan to go.  You’ll learn about jobs you didn’t even know existed!
• Extracurricular Activities – do like to play sports?  Play an instrument? Be in a play?  Help organize events?  Get involved in the activities offered at your school.  Not only will you meet people and have fun, you’ll gain valuable knowledge and experience connected to careers that are related to your activities.
• 40 Hours of Community Involvement – it’s a graduation requirement in Ontario, so why not spend it doing something you love?  You never know where it might lead…

This is just a start.  There are many more opportunities out there for you to explore your interests and gain experience in career areas you’re curious about.  Talk to your teachers and guidance counsellors to find out more about getting experience.