At some point in your high school career, someone will likely tell you not to rush to grow up. They’ll say, “You’re still young—you’ve got years to decide what you want to do with your life.”
It’s true that in your teens you still have the freedom to try new things, make mistakes and change your mind, without the burden of paying the bills. But don’t mistake words of reassurance as a license to be complacent in choosing the career path that’s right for you. Just because you don’t have to make decisions right away doesn’t mean you shouldn’t explore your options.
Participating in a co-op program while you’re in high school could be one of the best ways to start exploring your future career. Small businesses provide opportunities for students to do far more than the internship stereotypes of sweeping floors and getting coffee. In a smaller firm, you’re likely to be given more responsibility, and you may just get a taste of your ideal career.
Through a high school co-op, Hugh Lindsay was able to work at an architecture firm. He says the experience helped him learn what he does and does not want in his future career. “It definitely is a dry run. If you know a specific area that you want to go into, it’s a great way to put out feelers and see if you are right for it, and if it is right for you,” he says.
At the firm, Vermeulen-Hind Architects, Lindsay worked on jobs that some would only be encouraged to do after years of post-secondary education or on-the-job experience. “I was making drawings that were important to the projects. Someone would check them over, of course, but I was able to take part in every aspect of a project,” he says.
The experience helped Lindsay leap far ahead in his career path. “It looks really good on a resumé, especially the fact that it is a small firm. That has a lot more weight behind it than if I had worked at a big firm,” he says. After completing his co-op term through the school, the firm hired Lindsay as a summer employee.
Lindsay says he now knows what to expect from employers. “I definitely know now what I want. Vermeulen-Hind was a really small firm and it had a really great environment. I know I want that going forward,” he says. For Lindsay, being involved in the team made all the difference. Whether in the office or out doing projects that served the community, “there were always people to talk to,” he says.
In his earlier years of high school, Lindsay says he thought architecture was the right career for him. At the firm, however, he quickly realized that the path to becoming a registered architect was not as easy to navigate as he had imagined.
After speaking with bosses and coworkers—seeking advice and weighing options—Lindsay decided architecture was off the table, at least for a while. However, this decision helped him pinpoint the field that he is most suited for: industrial design.
Industrial design involves using applied art and science to improve the look and functionality of products. His work at the firm allowed him to cultivate his passion. “I think it is great because although I have chosen to pursue industrial design, I still have a huge variety of choice when it comes to what I eventually want to do,” he says.
Now in his second year of Carleton University’s Industrial Design program, Lindsay says he’s learning transferable skills that will open up doors in any industry.
Lindsay says he’s glad he was able to change his mind early on. “It’s a lot harder to go back and have to take additional courses just to meet a certain program’s requirements,” he says.
Many students will go into a co-op with far less career direction than Lindsay had starting out. For some students, a co-op will be their first taste of a dream job. For others, it will outline exactly what they don’t want in a job.
Whether you find your passion or not, completing a co-op will put you ahead in the job market. Co-ops allow students to develop their skills in practical ways. Most co-ops will serve as an impressive resumé booster, and many will result in a positive reference from a reputable business.
As he advances in his studies, Lindsay says he still benefits from his co-op experience. Though the firm has since merged with a larger firm, Lindsay made lasting connections. “I have friends from the firm that I can still go and talk to all the time. I still see one of them on a regular basis when I’m back home,” he says.
When choosing your courses, consider leaving room for a co-op. You certainly have ample time to decide your future career, but nothing is stopping you from getting a head start. You may just find your passion.
