Young People Can’t Explore Careers They’ve Never Seen

Ask a student what they want to do after high school, and you’ll usually hear the same handful of answers.
Not because those are the only careers that exist, but because those are often the only careers they’ve actually been exposed to.

For many young people, career exploration is shaped by what they see around them every day — family members, teachers, social media, television, or the careers most commonly talked about in school. While those influences are important, they only scratch the surface of the opportunities that exist within our communities.

Here in Waterloo Region, we are surrounded by innovation, entrepreneurship, healthcare, skilled trades, public service, advanced manufacturing, technology, and creative industries. Yet for many students, those pathways can still feel distant or unfamiliar without direct exposure to the people working in them every day.

That lack of exposure has become a growing concern globally as well.

According to the OECD, career aspirations among young people have changed very little over the past two decades, with many students still expecting to work in a small group of commonly known professions despite major shifts in the labour market. Across OECD countries, on average, 50% of girls and 44% of boys expect to work in one of just ten jobs.

WHY EXPOSURE MATTERS

A job description can explain what someone does, but a conversation with a real person can make a career feel possible.

Across Waterloo Region, opportunities for students to connect with professionals, employers, and community leaders can have a significant impact on how young people view their futures. Whether through classroom conversations, mentorship, panels, workplace experiences, or hands-on learning opportunities, these moments help students better understand careers beyond a job title or online description.

Local business owner Stephanie Soulis shared a similar perspective through her involvement with the Business and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region:

“The Business & Education Partnership is a great way for me to let students know what jobs are out there, and what industries are out there that they might not have even thought about as a job.”

That idea sits at the heart of career exploration.

CONFIDENCE STARTS WITH CONVERSATION

Young people do not need to have every detail of their future figured out at 16 years old, but they do deserve the opportunity to explore different pathways, ask questions, and better understand the world around them. Exposure helps students connect their interests, strengths, and values to possibilities they may have never previously considered.

It also helps build confidence.

When students can hear directly from professionals and ask honest questions, careers often begin to feel more attainable and less intimidating. These conversations can have a lasting impact, especially for students who may not already have access to professional networks or mentorship opportunities in their everyday lives.

Teachers notice that impact too. Jennifer Clarke of Eastwood Collegiate Institute shared:

“Students are excited when they can ask questions of experts from the ‘real world’.”

BUILDING THE FUTURE WORKFORCE TOGETHER

As industries continue to evolve, creating opportunities for young people to explore careers in meaningful and authentic ways becomes increasingly important. Many students today are preparing for jobs that may look very different in the next decade, making exposure, adaptability, and community connection more valuable than ever.

Career exploration is not something schools can tackle alone. It takes collaboration between educators, employers, organizations, volunteers, and local leaders to help young people better understand the opportunities around them and where they may fit within the future workforce.

Sometimes all it takes is one conversation for a student to begin imagining a future they had never previously considered.

And in a community as innovative and diverse as Waterloo Region, creating those opportunities for connection matters more than ever.

To explore more research on youth career readiness and evolving workforce trends, visit the OECD’s latest report.