The Career Development Association of PEI (CDA of PEI) recently held a conference which brought together a variety of professionals in the career development field to share information and raise awareness of the profession on PEI.
All of us need career planning help at some point in our lives, and there are people who work on PEI who can give us much-needed employment-related services and guidance.
Recently, a report was done through CDA of PEI to identify career development professionals, uncover details about what they do, what their profession offers, and much more.
Some job titles of people who work in this field and where they work:
- Career Practitioner and Job Coach – Career/employment services provider funded by government
- College/University/Secondary School Educators and School Counsellors work at Holland College, private colleges, UPEI career services, K-12 career-related subjects and support
- Employment/Career Counsellors work at agencies funded by government and private employers
- Project/Program Officers work at government and government funded agencies
- Human Resource Professionals work for private and public service employers
- Information and Resources Officers/Facilitators work for government and government funded agencies
- Co-op Educators/Coordinators work for secondary and post-secondary education
More job titles:
- Site/Program Manager
- Executive Director
- Career Consultant
- Employment Advisor
- Workforce Development Officer
- Vocational Rehabilitation Specialist
- Labour Market Information Specialist
The role of the career development professional
The report stated that PEI’s economy is in the midst of a transformation.
Similar to other parts of the globe, the province is experiencing an increasingly knowledge-based economy, technological change, demographic shifts, ongoing industrial restructuring, an influx of immigrants, and mounting labour market demands, as well as a growing shortage of both highly skilled and entry-level workers across all sectors. Also, many historically secure and stable careers have been diminished and/or replaced with multifaceted, complex, and more precarious ones.
An increasing number of Islanders are in need of assistance to adapt with changes that affect our labour force. The research done by CDA of PEI aims to better understand those who provide career-related services to individuals who are preparing to enter, adjust to, or exit the dynamic labour market on PEI.
For a look at the 2018 Career Development Professional Labour Force Profile report, visit www.cdapei.ca.
For a list of many services/agencies/organizations programs that offer help with employment search and planning, visit www.employmentjourney.com/resources-services-for-job-seekers/.
Shedding light on the career development profession across Canada
The keynote speaker at the CDA of PEI annual conference was Donnalee Bell, Managing Director of the Canadian Career Development Foundation (CCDF). She spoke about enriching and rejuvenating the career development profession.
“As career development professionals, our work is about helping others. Our capacity to help the public in a sustained way depends on our capacity to keep ourselves well, balanced and grounded.
“That is not always easy. In today’s labour market, we and the clients we serve are being asked to regularly maneuver, flex, change, adapt, and reinvent ourselves as occupations are changing quickly. We need to be experts in labour market information and see opportunity in very limited landscapes.
“We need to know how to use all social media channels for marketing ourselves and our clients. And we need to know about all the digital skill profiles of all occupations, and help clients and students develop management skills, employability skills, and essential skills.
“We are doing all this in the context of shoestring budgets and uncertain and ever-changing funding levels, which is a tall order.
“The work we do every day matters to your clients and students, to their families, their community, and to the health of our country. We help people along the road to their preferred future, and the contribution deserves to be cherished and celebrated,”
says Donnalee Bell.
For more about the Canadian Career Development Foundation, visit www.ccdf.ca/ccdf/.
Funding for the Career Development Labour Force profile was provided through the Canada/PEI labour market agreements.
