Career Journey – Keeping the Fire Lit series

The Career Journey – Keeping the Fire Lit is a five-part series that embodies the Medicine Wheel framework. Each workshop embraces a holistic approach to career development and focuses on enhancing career development in each area of the Medicine Wheel (mental, physical, emotional and spiritual), moving away from a linear approach.

Throughout the five sessions, students gained a comprehensive understanding of the Medicine Wheel framework, appreciating the cultural significance and its representation of the interconnected aspects of the mental, physical, emotional and spiritual quadrants. Students explored how cultural identity and spirituality intersect with career decision making, fostering a holistic approach to personal and professional growth.

By the end of the series, participants were equipped with practical skills and insights, including:

• The ability to develop a targeted job search plan by utilizing job boards, company websites and professional networks, all while maintaining a sense of wellness and balance.
• Proficiency in creating effective resumes by identifying relevant keywords from job postings and incorporating strong accomplishment statements.
• Enhanced knowledge, skills and confidence to successfully navigate job interviews and negotiate job offers.

The Career Journey – Keeping the Fire Lit series created a safe space for Indigenous students to learn from one another while engaging in career development. One student shared a unique employment experience and later informed the facilitator that they would not have shared that experience if there were non-Indigenous participants in the space, as they would have then had to explain the significance of that experience, taking away from the purpose of them being in the space – to learn, not to teach.