THE NEXT STEP
Information for Students Leaving High School…
Table of Contents:
High School Diploma Requirements 1
Other Ways That You Can Complete Your High School Diploma 1
The top 10 things to do when thinking about life after high school 3
Career Planning 5
Career Development 7
Web Sites 7
Some Alberta Post-Secondary Web Sites 8
How to Get Training without a High School Diploma 10
EMPLOYMENT PREP. PROGRAMS 12
Finding a Job 13
Cover Letters 14
Create a Great Resume 16
References 18
Resources 20
School Contacts 21
Personal Contacts 22
Notes 22
High School Diploma Requirements:
Minimum of 100 creditsEnglish 30-1 or 30-2
Social Studies 30 or 33
Math – Grade 11
Science – Grade 11
Phys. Ed. 10 – 3 credits
CALM 20 – 3 credits
Complementary courses – 10 credits from any combination of:
· CTS
· Fine Arts
· Second Languages
· Phys. Ed. 20/30
10 additional credits in any Grade 12 level courses
(in addition to English and Social)
Other Ways That You Can Complete Your High School Diploma:
1. Alberta Distance Learning Centre
5921 – 3rd Street SE
Email:
Phone: (403)297-0977
Correspondence is a home study program. Distance education is offered in print, online, and blended formats.
2. Bow Valley College
332 – 6 Avenue SE
Email:
Phone: (403)297-4040
B.V.C. offers a high school equivalency program (GED), academic upgrading, English as a second language (ESL), and job training programs.
3. Chinook Learning Services
2519 Richmond Road SW (main campus)
E-mail:
Phone: (403)777-7550
This centre offers programs for students who wish to complete all or some high school course work. These are semester programs with various start times.
4. Golden Hills Virtual School
www.ghvs.ca
E-mail:
Phone: (403)934-5179
GHV offers a flexible academic program using computers and on-line learning tools for students from grades
5 – 12.
5. CBE Learn
www.cbelearn.ca
E-mail:
Phone: (403)777-7971
CBE-Learn offers a range of education options including on-line and correspondence courses and home education programs
6. St. Paul’s Academy
www.redeemer.ab.ca/spa/programs.htm
Phone: (403) 938-4119
Toll Free: 1-800-659-1945
St. Paul’s is electronically connected to the community to provide on-line high school credit courses to students.
7. Rockyview Virtual School
www.rvvs.com
Phone: (403) 948-4360
RVVS offers on-line High School credit courses for those who wish to complete some or all school course work at home.
On-line and correspondence programs require self discipline and high levels of motivation.
The top 10 things to do when thinking about life after high school:
1. Dream a little
Think back into your past and forward into the future. What is it you most need and want?
2. Brainstorm possibilities
Before we take action we need to mobilize our thoughts. Give yourself permission to think outside the box. List every idea you have about what you think you would like to do.
3. Think about your most valuable asset
You are your most valuable asset, your skills, interests, talents and abilities. Begin to explore these and write them down.
4. Think personal best
What would you like your resume to look like 10 years from now? Create a fictional one and think about how you can start making it become a reality.
5. Focus on your strengths
You are probably concerned abut your potential to make a good income. While you might feel anxious about these things, make a decision to live from your strengths and not your fear. Be conscious of when you aren’t. Work at maintaining your self-confidence. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one else will.
6. Think resource
List all of the resources that might be helpful to you – people you could talk to; internet sites; occupational information; workshops; volunteer experiences; visits to post-secondary institutions.
7. Create a personal board of directors
We all need good mentors in our lives to contribute to our success. Mentors help us create ground rules for ourselves, stimulate our thoughts and encourage us to be our best. Keep people in your life who are on “your side”, who support who you are and what you want to be.
8. Invest in yourself
Take time everyday to appreciate what matters. How can you make your life more enjoyable? Build in opportunities to play and have fun. How can you ensure that keeps happening? Invest in yourself.
9. Be willing to risk a little
Sometimes we have to take a small leap to get ahead; do things we only dreamed of doing. Evaluate the roadblocks to your success and take a calculated risk.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darkened. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin. Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in? How much can you lose? How much can you win?
Dr. Seuss (1990)
10. Keep focused on the big picture
Be open and listen to what your heart and mind are telling you. Identify the essence of what excites you the most. Listen to your dreams. What opportunities are before you? Begin to generate the future you thought you could only dream about.
Career Planning:
A career plan determines your skills and interests, what career best suits your talents, and what skills and training you need for your chosen career.
Steps to Developing a Career Plan:
1. Develop a career plan to determine your interests and skills. Thinking about your skills and interests can help you find a satisfying career.
· Think about what you like to do
· Think about experiences you have enjoyed
· Evaluate what you liked, what you found challenging, and what you may have learned from those experiences
· Make a list of activities you have enjoyed during the past few years.
2. Make a list of skills you have. Your skills may include training you have gained through part-time or full-time jobs. Even if you haven't been employed before, you do have some skills which will help you find a job.
· Evaluate those skills and interests you have listed
· Are there similar activities on the two lists?
· Are there any experiences that could turn into a career?
3. Find out about the types of careersavailable to you. If you don't research careers, you may not know about the best occupations to fit your interests and skills.
· Decide if the career you are considering is really what you expect and whether it offers the salary and benefits you want.
· Internin the position
· Network; talk to someone who is in the career now
4. Once you have determined what career path you want to follow, assess what you need to do to prepare for that career.
· Do you need special training?
· Research the schoolsthat offer the kind of training you need
o Certificate – 1 year
o Diploma – 2 years
o Degree – 4 years
· What kinds of experience will you need to be successful in the career?
· Consider an internship as a way to get work experience in the career field
Career Development
Web Sites:
www.careercruising.com / User name: Crescent Password: Pathwaywww.chinookcollege.com / Career Services/ Self Assessment
www.alis.gov.ab.ca / Comprehensive Career Information
www.nextsteps.org / Calgary Youth Employment Centre
www.volunteercalgary.ca / Volunteer Services
www.jobsetc.ca / Government of Canada
www.tradesecrets.ca / Alberta Apprenticeship
www.recruiting.forces.gc.ca / Canadian Armed Forces
Post-Secondary Schools:
Once you decide on the type of education or training that you want, you will have to decide where you can get it. You can get information about post-secondary schools and the programs they offer by contacting them directly; reading their calendars or; accessing their websites.
You can find post-secondary school websites through:
www.alis.gov.ab.ca/edinfo.
You can find post-secondary schools that offer the program you are interested in through: www.schoolfinder.com.
You can find information on financing your education and scholarships through:
www.alis.gov.ab.ca
www.alis.alberta.ca/scholarships
www.scholarshipscanada.com
www.canlearn.ca
www.educationmatters.ca
www.thecalgaryfoundation.org
Some Alberta Post-Secondary
Web Sites:
Alberta College of Art & Design / Calgary / www.acad.ab.caAmbrose University College / Calgary / www.ambrose.edu
Augustana University College / Camrose / www.augustana.ab.ca
Bow Valley College / Calgary / www.bowvalleycollege.ca
Canadian University College / Lacombe / www.cauc.ca
CDI College / Calgary / www.cdicollege.com
DeVry College / Calgary / www.devry.ca
Grant MacEwan University / Edmonton / www.macewan.ca
Kings University College / Edmonton / www.kingsu.ab.ca
Lethbridge Community College / Lethbridge / www.lethbridgecollege.ab.ca
Medicine Hat College / Medicine Hat / www.mhc.ab.ca
Mount Royal University / Calgary / www.mtroyal.ca
N.A.I.T. / Edmonton / www.nait.ca
Olds College / Olds / www.oldscollege.ab.ca
Red Deer College / Red Deer / www.rdc.ab.ca
S.A.I.T / Calgary / www.sait.ca
University of Alberta / Edmonton / www.ualberta.ca
University of Calgary / Calgary / www.ucalgary.ca
University of Lethbridge / Lethbridge / www.uleth.ca
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
-- Chinese Proverb
How to Get Training without a High School Diploma:
1. Bow Valley College
332 – 6 Avenue SE
Email:
Phone: (403)297-4040
Some business and vocational programs are available to students who have not completed high school as long as minimum standards or age requirements are met.
2. SAIT
1301 16th Ave NW
Email:
Phone: (403)284-7248
Some business and vocational programs are available to students who have not completed high school and are 18 years of age and meet the minimum requirements. There are preparation courses offered in math and science in the Pre-Careers/Transitions Program for students who need more knowledge in these areas in order to gain entrance into specific programs.
The Canadian Job Strategies Program offers short-term job training in certain areas where there is an industry demand. Some examples are auto parts mechanic, medical lab assistant, legal secretary, and carpentry. To qualify, you must be out of school for at least 3 months.
4. Apprenticeship Programs
E-mail:
Phone: (780) 427-8517 (for toll-free access within Alberta, first dial 310-0000)
These programs offer on-the-job training in selected trades. Contact the Apprenticeship Board for further information.
5. Mount Royal University
4825 Mount Royal Gate S.W.
E-mail .
Phone: (403) 440-6111
Some programs at MRU are available to students who are 18 years old and have not completed high school, but still meet minimum requirements. The University Preparation Program helps students prepare for programs where higher standards are required. Also available are high school upgrading and university transfer programs.
EMPLOYMENT PREP. PROGRAMS
Programs for Youth Leaving School
The McBride Career Group
400, 602 - 12th Avenue SW
(403) 777-5633
e-mail
§ Basic Machining – Introduction to Machining Operation
§ Workplace Training – Job Seekers
§ Bridges to Success
§ Placement for Success
§ Traditional Work Experience Program
§ Enhanced Work Experience Program
Centre for Newcomers
125-920 36 Street NE
(403) 569-3325
§ Career Development & Job Search
§ Health Care Aide Training
§ Youth Possibilities Program
§ Youth 1• 2 •1
Youth Employment Centre
315 - 10 Avenue SE
(403) 268-6464
§ Training Certificates
§ Discovering your Opportunities
§
YMCA
510 - 940 6 Ave SW
(403) 531-1660
§ Federal Public Sector Youth Internship Program
§ YMCA Achievement Program
Finding a Job:
The Hidden Job Market:
Only about 20% of jobs are advertised in newspapers and on job boards. Jobs that are not advertised account for most of the job opportunities available. We all have a built-in network that we can use to tap into the hidden job market, even if we don’t know it. The people you already know are only one part of an effective network. There are also people in the job market who can provide leads and referrals.
Tips for Finding a Job:
Be Positive!
Staying positive throughout your job search is important.
Job Targeting
The more you know about what kind of work you would like to do and why you are well-suited to that work, the easier it will be for you to find a job that you will be happy with.
Be Organized!
Have everything (cover letter, resume, references, portfolio, job description…) ready and proof read for when you hit front lines.
Follow-up
This is very important. Whether you have mailed a resume, answered a newspaper ad or made a cold call contacting the employer by mail or phone can be very effective.
Cover Letters:
The purpose of a cover letter is to introduce who you are and why you are writing. It should tell the reader a little about you in relation to the position and what you can do for the company.
The body of the letter should discuss your skills and experience and is an opportunity to highlight areas of your resume as they relate directly to the job duties.
1. No spelling or typing errors. Not even one.
2. Address it to the person who can hire you.
Be sure the name is spelled correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor."
3. Write it in your own words so that it sounds like
you--not like something out of a book.
4. Show that you know something about the
company and the industry. This is where your research comes in. Don't go overboard--just make it clear that you didn't pick this company out of the phone book. You know who they are, what they do and you have chosen them!
5. Use terms and phrases that are meaningful to the
employer. If you are applying for an advertised position, use the requirements in the ad.
Your nameYour Address
Calgary, AB Postal Code
Date
Employer’s Name, Position Title
Company Name
Address
Calgary, AB Postal Code
Dear Mr./Ms. [employer’s last name];
OR if interviewers name is not available…
Dear Hiring Manager, Recruiter or Employer;
RE: Job or Position Title and/or Competition Number
Through ______(Calgary Herald/my teacher/a family friend etc. and date), it has come to my attention that a position has come open for a ______(name of position).Please find my resume attached in application for this position. I am interested in working at ______(name of company) because I enjoy ______, ______and ______. I feel my experience ______, ______, ______will contribute to my abilities in meeting and exceeding your expectations.
I have enclosed my resume for your consideration and am available for an interview at your convenience. I look forward to hearing from you in the near future. I can be reached at ______(messages may also be left at this number).
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Name
(phone number)
Encl.
Create a Great Resume!!