What is Career Development?

Career development is a lifelong journey of learning, decision-making, and growth. It’s about building the skills, experiences, and self-awareness needed to navigate the evolving world of work and make choices that align with your goals, values, and life circumstances.

In Canada, career development support is offered by trained professionals who guide individuals through career transitions and decision points - whether it’s choosing a post-secondary path, changing jobs mid-career, re-entering the workforce, or planning for retirement. These professionals go by many titles: career counsellors, career coaches, employment specialists, career advisors, guidance counsellors, and more.

Career development services are tailored to meet people where they are—whether in school, seeking work, already employed, or undergoing a career change. Transitions may be sparked by personal changes like caregiving responsibilities or by external events such as job loss or industry shifts. Others seek support to assess their direction, reaffirm their path, or explore new possibilities.

At its core, career development is about supporting people to make informed choices and empowering them to take action throughout all stages of life and work.

Working in Career Development

A career in career development offers a wide range of pathways across different sectors and communities. In Canada, professionals in this field work in diverse settings—from schools, colleges, and universities to employment service centres, community organizations, private practice, and corporate environments. Roles include career counsellors, career coaches, employment advisors, career educators, consultants, and program facilitators, among others.

Some professionals focus on one-on-one client support, while others contribute through teaching, research, curriculum design, or policy development. There are also opportunities to deliver training, facilitate workshops, and support workforce development initiatives at the local, regional, and national levels.

What connects everyone in this field is a shared commitment to supporting people—youth and adults alike—to build meaningful, sustainable careers. Career development is not just about job searches or résumés. It’s about helping individuals understand who they are, explore their options, and gain the lifelong skills needed to manage change, navigate opportunities, and thrive in a dynamic world of work.

How a Career Development Professional Can Support You

Connecting with a qualified Career Development Professional offers you a safe, confidential space to talk through your goals, questions, and options. It’s a personalized, unbiased conversation that’s all about you—where you are now, where you want to go, and how to get there.

Career development professionals are trained to help you build the lifelong skills needed to navigate a changing world of work—skills that will serve you through career transitions, economic shifts, and personal growth.

They can help you explore:

• What kind of life you want, and the role work plays in your overall well-being

• Your personal values, interests, strengths, and how they connect to possible career paths

• Your confidence, motivation, curiosity, and readiness to take the next step—and how to boost them if needed

• Your current skills, experiences, and knowledge—and how these could grow to meet future goals

• The labour market: where opportunities exist now and where they’re emerging

• How to find, assess, and use reliable career information and resources

• Education and training options that fit your needs and goals

• Any current barriers you're facing, and strategies to overcome them
  
  

They can also support you in deciding:

• What actions to take next, ensuring your plans are realistic, informed, and meaningful to you

• Who to connect with to open doors, build your network, and create new opportunities

Whether you're just starting out, re-entering the workforce, or considering a change, a career development professional can help you make confident, informed decisions—now and into the future.