The One About Careers

When you enter your workplace, you don't stop being the person that you are. You don't stop feeling whatever you were feeling just before you got there. That means your emotional intelligence - your ability to recognize and manage your emotions effectively - has a massive impact on your career success. Join Devon and Sarah-Jane as they discuss what emotional intelligence is, how it can i...

Gap years get a bad rap in North America, but Devon and Sarah-Jane are both big fans! To help us talk about this subject, we've invited our VERY. FIRST. GUEST. to talk more about it, one of the foremost experts on gap years in Canada, Michelle Dittmer, President and Co-Founder of the Canadian Gap Year Association. Tune in to find out more about what a gap year is, who takes one and what it mi...

Who would have thought that travel was a viable option for a high school student? In this episode, Sarah-Jane and Devon discuss the benefits of travel as a post-high-school option: building independence, self-efficacy and intercultural competence. They also discuss ways to travel without breaking the bank.

This installment dives into the often-overlooked option of volunteering after high school. While some may consider it an unconventional path, the discussion explores its potential benefits. Volunteering not only provides practical experience akin to a first job but also helps individuals discover their preferences and dislikes, aiding in career decision-making. Moreover, it offers networking oppor...

At the forefront of this episode is a discussion about a post-high school option which evokes some apprehension. Devon and Sarah-Jane delve explore the option of joining the military, highlighting its diverse career opportunities beyond combat roles. With insights into the recruitment process and the evolution of military roles, they emphasize how it could be a viable choice for those seeking alte...

Opening with a discussion about non-traditional options after high school, the podcast delves into unconventional paths for education and income generation. It highlights avenues such as coaching certifications obtained during high school, leading to employment opportunities post-graduation. Sarah-Jane and Devon discuss viable options, which offer substantial income potential without hefty financi...

The narrative unfolds with Devon expressing her passion for apprenticeships, rooted in her family's background in the trades industry. After a personal tragedy, she found herself drawn to promoting careers in the trades, eventually working as a liaison officer for Skills Ontario. Devon and Sarah-Jane highlight the practicality and financial benefits of apprenticeships, emphasizing the hands-o...

Exploring the themes of education, career pathways, versatility and value, Devon and Sarah-Jane talk about college. They share anecdotes and insights, highlighting how colleges offer practical programs with reduced costs, making education accessible to diverse demographics. Emphasizing the flexibility and engagement found in college settings, they discuss how students benefit from industry-aligned...

In this segment, Devon and Sarah-Jane focus on the topic of post-secondary education, focusing primarily on university. Devon shares a personal story about attending an information session for their daughter transitioning from elementary to junior high school and feeling concerned about the pressure put on students to prepare for university from a young age.  The conversation delves into the perce...

This podcast episode discusses various employment options available to individuals, challenging the traditional notion of full-time employment and exploring alternatives such as self-employment, business ownership, and portfolio careers. Devon and Sarah-Jane emphasize the importance of understanding these options, especially in a changing economic landscape where traditional career paths may no lo...

The focus of this episode lies in whether work gets easier with age.  Devon questions what is meant by “easier” in the context of work.  They draw on insights gained from books, articles and documentaries.  The conversation highlights the complexity of the issue and encourages listeners to reflect on their own desires for ease versus engagement in various aspects of their lives.   Here are links f...

This installment explores whether hard work always leads to rewards. The conversation extends to the systemic barriers that hinder individuals from reaping the fruits of their labor, touching on issues like bias, socioeconomic status, and undervalued professions. Devon and Sarah-Jane explore what constitutes as rewards and effectively demonstrating one's value to employers and redefine beyond...

Many years ago there was a very popular book with the title, Do What You Love And The Money Will Follow. Sarah-Jane even owns a copy of it. In this episode, Devon and Sarah-Jane debate the validity of this idea taking into account gender, race, technology, skills, area of focus and even, artificial intelligence. The story of "Taylor's Version": https://www.today.com/popculture/music...

Join Sarah-Jane and Devon as they talk about all things salary related as your career unfolds. How does cost of living impact this? Where does your sector or industry fall into it? What is the difference between income and total compensation? We even wandered into a little bit of conversation on universal basic income . Sarah-Jane has a great chapter on money in her book 'Lost & Found: An...

Remember when people used to "climb the ladder" in the corporate world? Do we still do that? Join Sarah-Jane and Devon for a lively chat about whether or not the employment ladder still exists. Find out more about Sarah-Jane and how you can work with her at https://careergrowthco.com/ . Find out more about Devon and how you can work with her at https://careerified.ca/ .

In this episode of "The One About Careers," hosts Sarah-Jane and Devon discuss the concept of the number of employers individuals will work for in their lifetime. They explore the evolving nature of job titles and the changing expectations surrounding long-term employment. Devon emphasizes that worrying about the number of employers is fruitless, as it varies greatly depending on individ...

In this episode of The One About Careers, Devon and Sarah-Jane delve into the evolving nature of jobs and careers in today's economy. They explore the shift from traditional notions of one job for life to the current landscape where individuals may have multiple careers or job titles over their lifetime. Devon reflects on her personal journey, transitioning between environmental consulting an...

There are many different kinds of academic and training institutions.  In this episode, we talk about some specific examples and how those do or do not relate to earnings.  We both agree that understanding why someone is pursuing post-secondary education is key to deciding the kind of education required.   Sarah-Jane discusses more about this topic in her book, Lost & Found: An Adult’s Guide t...

In this episode we chat about the some of the meaning of academic success: marks and credentials.  We then dive into how this connects or doesn’t connect to earnings.  We both agree that success has many different definitions and that there are a number of paths to creating an income.  We emphasize the importance of defining success for oneself and understanding the various options available. Sara...

This episode is the beginning of a mini-series where we look at various myths and truths about careers and education. Up this week: learning. What we believe about learning has a massive impact on our career choices. If you think that you have to finish all your learning by a specific date so you can get going on your career, you'll definitely want to tune into this episode! Resources mention...

In this episode, Devon geeks out on a theory which is really helpful in understanding how outside influences can affect careers. Understanding that there are actually some patterns to the “randomness” of external events can actually help us be more prepared for when they happen. Sarah-Jane gives some real-life examples from her clients’ experiences. Devon refers to videos by Dr. Jim Bright. She re...

We career folks loooove to talk about using happenstance to help with career development, job search and career transitions. But what are we even talking about? In this episode, we'll define happenstance, how it works and how the teens in your life can use it to help them figure out next steps in education and careers.

Hoooo boy, do we career pros love throwing out that term "labour market information." The question is...what exactly are we talking about? In this episode, we'll break down the what labour market info is, where to find it, and what is most and least helpful about it. It's really just another tool that can help the teens in your life make informed decisions about their careers....

Parents, guardians, teachers, mentors...how much did you know about the day-to-day tasks of your work before you started doing it? Here's part b of that question: how much of a chance is there that your kids have a good grasp on the day-to-day of the types of work they're thinking about? Tasks are huge! The ones you like, the ones you don't, and everything in between. In this episod...

How many of you have ever been in a job where the workplace was not at all what you'd hoped? (We're guessing a lot.) Where you work, how you work, who you work with...all of these things are a critical piece of your career decisions. We very often talk about careers in terms of what people do. There may also be some talk location broadly, like talking about industries and well-known empl...