Although much of my work has focused on supporting the career development sector through research, education, and training, my degree is from 2007 – before I fell in love with the career development sector. Like most Career Development Professionals (CDPs), I didn’t know this sector existed until I found myself in it.
A lot has changed since 2007 – smartphones are everywhere, electric vehicles are commonplace, mental health conversations carry less stigma, and underrepresented groups are driving powerful social movements.
A lot has changed in the career development sector too:
- The final provincial/territorial Labour Market Development Agreement (LMDA) was completed in 2010, marking the full devolution of employment programs and enabling each jurisdiction to tailor services to their local labour market needs.
- The “Standards & Guidelines” were revised and eventually revamped into the Pan-Canadian Competency Framework for Career Development Professionals in 2020, serving as a guide for practice and training. The revised Code of Ethics for CDPs followed shortly thereafter (2021).
- Various jurisdictions launched their own certification programs, ultimately leading to the rollout of a national certification program in December 2024.
- The scope, format, and focus for many service providers also evolved; many offer online or hybrid service delivery, and dual-client services (i.e., individual job seekers and employers) are gaining momentum.
In all this time, however, a Master’s in Career Development has not surfaced – at least in English-speaking Canada. As a result, this means CDPs interested in pursuing graduate studies must turn to related disciplines and hope for enough flexibility to customize their learning to meet their needs.
Enter the Master of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies (MAIS) from Royal Roads University. Not only is the university focus on learners with diverse professional backgrounds, but the program itself offers a wide range of customizations. After a recommendation from my supervisor and doing some research of my own, this felt like a space to learn, grow, and connect with like-minded people.
I’ll be sharing my journey along the way – from the celebratory and hopeful moments to those challenging and nerve-wracking. Watch for helpful tips, lessons learned, and things I wish I’d known from the start.
“Today is never too late to be brand new.” ~ T. Swift, Innocent
Did You Know?
Beyond our career coaching/counselling services to individuals and career-focused resources, Life Strategies has been supporting the career development sector through research, e-learning, and custom solutions for career development agencies, associations, or other community groups for more than 30 years.
You can see several of our research endeavors and partnerships profiled at Projects.
