- Educators -
Empowering Educators:
Supporting Student Career Journeys
As an educator, you're helping students understand who they are and where they’re going. The Ontario Career Lab helps extend that learning beyond the classroom by connecting Grade 9 and 10 students with diverse voices from the world of work.
This initiative complements in-school programming by bringing career stories directly to students through small-group sessions with individuals from a wide range of industries, occupations, and backgrounds. Students gain practical insights, explore different pathways, and see how their learning connects to life beyond the classroom.
Ready to extend career learning in a way that’s engaging, relevant, and easy to implement? Book Your Session Today
Ontario Career Lab is designed to fit easily into your school day, with minimal prep and maximum impact.
Here’s how we make it easy to bring Career Lab to your students:
Easy to Book, Easy to Run
Sessions are coordinated in advance and facilitated by the Ontario Career Lab team—so there's minimal prep required on your end.
Community-Connected Experiences
We recruit individuals from a wide range of industries, occupations, and backgrounds to share their stories with students, helping them explore diverse pathways and see career planning as an ongoing, evolving process shaped by experience, interests, and opportunity.
Flexible Delivery
Whether in-person or virtual, sessions can be tailored to fit your schedule and meet your students where they are.
Build Lasting Local Connections
Each session helps strengthen relationships with employers in your community, opening the door to future experiential learning opportunities for your students.
Proven Impact
97% of students report feeling more confident in their career planning after participating in Ontario Career Lab.
Want to see how it fits in your classroom?
Benefits For Your Students
Our career coaching initiative is grounded in guiding principles and core beliefs that aim to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives. Here’s how our program benefits students in tangible ways:
Increased Confidence and Well-Being
Feel Empowered
Students will feel more confident about their future choices by understanding the full range of career possibilities available to them.
Reduce Anxiety
We aim to alleviate the stress and uncertainty around career planning, helping students feel secure in their decisions as they navigate their academic and career journeys.
Foster Connection
Students are exposed to a wide variety of pathways in their own communities, and can develop a better understanding of their communities through connection with local coaches.
Enhanced Knowledge and Skills
Explore Career Pathways
Students gain in-depth knowledge of diverse career options, including traditional roles and emerging industries, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future.
Up-to-Date Labour Market Information
Access to the latest job trends, skills in demand, and regional employment data means students are equipped with the insights they need to choose paths that align with the evolving job market.
Future-Ready Preparation
Real-World Connections
Our career coaching encourages students to seek experiential learning opportunities that give them hands-on experience and a clear understanding of their chosen fields.
Develop Essential Skills
Students will be better prepared for the workforce with essential skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and decision-making that go beyond the classroom.
Improved Conversations and Engagement
Meaningful Dialogue with Guidance Counsellors
Equipped with additional career insights, students will be able to have deeper, more productive conversations with their guidance counselors about their aspirations and the steps needed to achieve them.
Clearer Pathway Planning
With guidance tailored to their unique interests and strengths, students can articulate their goals more clearly, leading to more focused support from educators and mentors.
Accessible and Inclusive Support
Equitable Access to Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or educational setting, have the resources and support they need to succeed.
Hope-Filled, Strength-Based Support
Students are empowered with guidance tailored to their unique strengths, passions, and local labour market opportunities, inspiring confidence and optimism as they chart their own career paths.
How We Support Educators.
Career Coaching Integration
We will collaborate with your board to bring Career Coaching to students. We focus on helping students connect their interests to relevant industries and roles in the local economy.
Access to Up-to-Date Resources
Get access to the latest labour market information, career trends, and experiential learning opportunities to support your students.
Professional Development Opportunities
We offer training and resources for educators to stay updated on the latest career coaching techniques and strategies to engage students in their career exploration.
Benefits For Your Students
Our career coaching initiative is grounded in guiding principles and core beliefs that aim to make a meaningful impact on students’ lives. Here’s how our program benefits students in tangible ways:
Increased Confidence and Well-Being
Feel Empowered
Students will feel more confident about their future choices by understanding the full range of career possibilities available to them.
Reduce Anxiety
We aim to alleviate the stress and uncertainty around career planning, helping students feel secure in their decisions as they navigate their academic and career journeys.
Foster Connection
Students are exposed to a wide variety of pathways in their own communities, and can develop a better understanding of their communities through connection with local coaches.
Enhanced Knowledge and Skills
Explore Career Pathways
Students gain in-depth knowledge of diverse career options, including traditional roles and emerging industries, empowering them to make informed decisions about their future.
Up-to-Date Labour Market Information
Access to the latest job trends, skills in demand, and regional employment data means students are equipped with the insights they need to choose paths that align with the evolving job market.
Future-Ready Preparation
Real-World Connections
Our career coaching encourages students to seek experiential learning opportunities that give them hands-on experience and a clear understanding of their chosen fields.
Develop Essential Skills
Students will be better prepared for the workforce with essential skills like adaptability, problem-solving, and decision-making that go beyond the classroom.
Improved Conversations and Engagement
Meaningful Dialogue with Guidance Counsellors
Equipped with additional career insights, students will be able to have deeper, more productive conversations with their guidance counselors about their aspirations and the steps needed to achieve them.
Clearer Pathway Planning
With guidance tailored to their unique interests and strengths, students can articulate their goals more clearly, leading to more focused support from educators and mentors.
Accessible and Inclusive Support
Equitable Access to Opportunities
We are committed to ensuring that all students, regardless of their background or educational setting, have the resources and support they need to succeed.
Hope-Filled, Strength-Based Support
Students are empowered with guidance tailored to their unique strengths, passions, and local labour market opportunities, inspiring confidence and optimism as they chart their own career paths.
Resources for Educators
Career Coaching Guide
(Coming Soon)
Download our comprehensive guide for educators, which outlines strategies for integrating career coaching into your classroom activities.
Labour Market Insights
(Coming Soon)
Access the latest data on industry trends, job growth, and skills in demand in your region.
Career Coaching Extension Activities
(Coming Soon)
A series of interactive exercises that students can complete after their coaching sessions to deepen their understanding of career options. These activities reinforce what they've learned, encourage skill-building, and inspire further exploration of pathways that align with their interests.
HIEC’s Occupation Library
(Coming Soon)
Discover a wealth of information in HIEC’s Occupation Library, where students, educators, and job seekers can explore thousands of career options.
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Contact Us
Have questions or need support?
Our team is here to help! Please email us, and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.