myFuture

Online Orientation

Exploring your interests and careers

How can I connect my interests with my course selection?

Choosing a program major

Choosing your area of study is an important decision, as the knowledge and expertise you gain during your time at Lakehead University will be strongly related to your area of study. When deciding what to study, consider your career goals, if you have them, as well as your interests and needs.

To explore the subject or major you want to pursue, consider the following:

  • Are you already interested in a profession?
  • Have you dreamed of working in a specific career such as being a Nurse, Doctor, Kinesiologist, or Engineer? These professions have specific degree requirements that will guide your choice of major and it is important to choose a program that will meet the requirements of that profession.
  • If you are not already thinking of a specific profession, you may prefer to choose a major that aligns with your interests but can lead to many careers, such as English, History, or Biology.
  • To determine your interests consider what kind of work gets you really excited? Is it creating innovative products? Helping vulnerable people? Contributing to the body of knowledge? Knowing what large scale questions you want to help answer can be really helpful in choosing what to study.
  • Ask friends, family, employers and faculty about their career pathways and chosen degrees. You will likely find that many people are not always working in fields related to their education. It is common for the transferable skills students gain from their education, like a strong work ethic, writing skills, resilience, and creative thinking, to help them work in a variety of careers.
  • When seeking advice, make sure you talk with professionals from a range of careers. This is a great opportunity to potentially discover an exciting career possibility you haven't yet considered.

Exploring your skill set

Exploring your interests and skills can also help you to choose the right major

If you are feeling unsure of your career direction, it can help to do some writing and reflection to think about your strengths and interests, as well as how the skills you have can lead you to your chosen program. Consider reflecting on the following questions by writing for a few minutes on each question and then looking for trends that might be related to a profession or a program:

  • What are five things you like doing?
  • What are five things that give you energy?
  • What are five things that make you happy?
  • What are five things you are good at?
  • What are five things you are proud of?

Be sure to look at classes offered and program details for each major you are interested in. See if there is a match between your interests and the content of the programs you are considering.

Transferable skills

University programs provide you with transferrable skills that will support many careers. Remember that during your studies, alongside academic learning, you will gain other important skills like communication, the ability to work in groups, resilience, and critical thinking, which will make you more employable. Keep your mind open to noticing the transferable skills that you are learning alongside the curriculum.

Here is a list of transferable skills that students typically gain during university studies:

  • Critical thinking
  • Communication skills
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Time management
  • Leadership and teamwork skills
  • Goal setting
When do I need to have a final major declared by?

Declaring your Major

Consider choosing a major as early as possible, to make sure you are taking the correct courses and following the program requirements you will need to graduate on time. If you are in an undecided major, such as Lakehead Arts One or Lakehead Science One, you will need to select a major by the end of your first year. However, the latest you can declare your major is before graduation.

Changing my Program

There's no limit to the number of times you can change your program. If you have decided to change your career direction you may also need to change your program. For a program change to be approved, you need to meet the prerequisite requirements for the program you are applying to.

How to Change Programs

The major you choose initially may not be the degree you end up graduating with. What you learn about yourself during your academic experiences and through career exploration may lead you to switch majors during your studies. It is a good idea to discuss your options with your Program Advisor and Student Central before submitting a program change request to help make a transition between majors as seamless as possible. To submit a program change request, simply log into myInfo, select the Student tab, and under the Academic Profile heading, select the Request a Change to My Program/Major (Undergraduate) link.

What are  my options for exploring career interests and opportunities?

Exploring career options

We encourage you to consider taking on a part-time employment opportunity, considering co-op, volunteer positions, take advantage of networking through our Career Fairs, or speak with your Program Advisor/Chair for their advice and direction. If you can't find the information you're looking for, or you need further direction, consider making an appointment with a Career Service staff member to talk about your interests and next steps.

Visit the Career Zone website for exploration tool.

Are there ways I can connect with alumni to learn more about the career paths they took after graduating from Lakehead?

Lakehead University offers many valuable supports for students who want to engage with Alumni from similar program or departmental backgrounds! Students are encouraged to participate in engagements held throughout our Lakehead University Student Alumni Association (LUSAA) and take advantage of networking opportunities that are regularly provided for all students to attend. These unique opportunities can include the Career Zone's networking workshops, bi-annual career fairs, our Alumni Association's Lakehead Connect mentorship program and more!

For more information visit the Alumni webpage

How can I optimize my chances of  being employed as a Lakehead graduate?

Lakehead grads get jobs!

This is something you can work on throughout your studies. By building and documenting your experience, skills and network throughout your undergraduate degree, for example by use of the Co-Curricular Record, you'll be better prepared to approach employers and demonstrate your transferrable skills and meaningful experience upon graduating. 

How do I make myself stand out as a new graduate of Lakehead University?

Speak with faculty and staff about unique opportunities for learning or how they gained experience themselves. Ensure you maintain your connections and contacts. Leveraging your networks, whether they be in-person or virtual, is extremely useful in helping you seek out work opportunities. 

Join volunteer opportunities and LVLup Leadership Program to gain leadership skills and work with the University in main events in order to amplify your network. 

Are there supports available to help with exploring my interests and careers?

Career Services

Visit the Career Zone - Your future career matters to us!

Lakehead University's Career Zone is here for you! The Career Zone offers a variety of career services on the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses to support your career exploration journey and to prepare you for professional employment.
Services include:

  • Resume and cover letter support
  • Job searching and interview skills development
  • Career exploration support
  • Employer networking

Planning for your career

What can I do with my degree after graduation?

Career Opportunities By Degree

Lakehead graduates work across the world in various industries and positions. Some work in more traditional types of careers while others in more unconventional. Consider available opportunities within our Career Advising appointments (available through MySuccess), career exploration tools and resources , professional development workshops and webinars, speaking with faculty, etc. 

How soon can I expect to get a job in my field of study after graduating?

Lakehead graduates have high rates of employment post graduation.

Lakehead provides you with many supports through the Career Zone to help equip you throughout your studies on becoming job ready. For instance, take advantage of resume writing workshops, interview prep sessions, career fairs, and more. Build your portfolio/resume by developing transferrable skills, gaining relevant experience, and continue to expand your networking with those who have experience in the field.

Career Zone

96.7% of Lakehead alumni are employed within two years of graduating!

When should I start planning for my career?

Start Today

As soon as possible! We intentionally embed career-related programming into new student orientation so you can begin working on this right away. We hope you continue this throughout your degree by taking advantage of the ongoing services, workshops and events that are available, in addition to leveraging co-op, study abroad, summer employment, part-time work, and other work-integrated learning opportunities to help you gain insight and clarity on opportunities.

For more information on how to plan for your career attend a Career Zone workshop or book an appointment with a career advisor by logging onto MySuccess.

I don't have a career in mind yet, what should I do?

Exploring Career Options

Explore your interests through your major, minor, course electives and extracurricular activities! Consider networking with employers during upcoming Career Fairs and speak with a Career Advisor about how to enhance your professional profile. Additional resources, workshops/webinars and event details related to career exploration can be found throughout the Career Zone's website for further insight.

How do I start planning for my career?

Becoming Job Ready

Be prepared for your job search

Review your online profile, build a resume and cover letter, begin networking, and practice interviewing.

It takes some preparation to be ready to find your first professional job. Consider the following important steps to become employment ready:

  • Review your online profile. Ensure your social media presence is private where you would prefer content not be seen by a potential employer.
  • Build a resume and cover letter. A professional resume is the essential first step to getting your first dream job!
  • Begin networking. Attend events related to your field and consider joining online professional networking platforms and groups.
  • Practice interview skills. All Lakehead students have access to Big Interview, an online platform that lets you practice answering interview questions and gives you feedback to help you get better at interviewing.

Find employment opportunities related to your field

Engaging in employment opportunities throughout university is the best way to make connections with employers, giving you an advantage when entering your career.

This job board is where eligible students can apply for the Work-Study Program and all students can find jobs related to their interests. The Job Bank offers a variety of jobs from summer employment to full-time opportunities after graduation. You can work part-time while studying and look for summer jobs related to your studies to build a professional work history. Consider preparing to search for work early in the fall term and look for relevant part time work if possible. Don't work too much while studying, we recommend no more than 15 hours a week of additional work for full-time students.

You will likely have a few months in the summer where you can work full-time. Summer jobs usually start being posted early in the winter term, so be ready to search early to ensure that you don't miss out on opportunities in your field.

The Lakehead University Job Bank is available on MySuccess. This job board is where eligible students can apply for the Work-Study Program and all students can find jobs related to their interests. The Job Bank offers a variety of jobs from summer employment to full-time opportunities after graduation.

Lakehead University Work-Study Program (LUWSP)

The LUSWP is a chance to work on campus

The Lakehead University Work-Study Program is offered at two times during the year, once during the fall and winter semester and again during the spring and summer semester. Eligible students can apply by logging into MySuccess. The program provides an excellent opportunity for you to work with faculty and staff at Lakehead and work on campus.  

Co-Curricular Record

Start documenting and tracking your involvement for non-credit experiences and activities at Lakehead.

The Co-Curricular Record (CCR) will highlight your significant contributions to the Lakehead community in areas of leadership, governance, volunteering, teams, and even some paid positions. The CCR will also document the learning outcomes and skills you acquired by participating in each validated activity. In other words, your CCR documents your participation, contributions, and achievements while at Lakehead and highlights essential skills development and learning outcomes.

Your CCR complements your academic transcript when applying for jobs or to graduate or professional programs.

Study Abroad

Studying abroad is an enriching educational experience where you can gain cross cultural experience and open up a variety of possible career paths.

Studying abroad will give you the advantage of learning from a new perspective, immersed in a new culture with new ways of living. You are able to develop academic and career-related connections and open up global opportunities.

Studying abroad will enhance your degree and resume for future career paths. If you already have a career in mind, this is a great way to make connections with global partners! For more information and get to know places that you can go visit the webpage

Will taking the co-op option for my program benefit me in planning for my future career?

Benefits of Co-op

Co-operative education is a formal part of the curriculum that integrates classroom study with relevant workplace experience.

When enrolled in a co-op program, you will have the opportunity to gain work experience relevant to your field of study. You will also have the opportunity to strengthen employability skills and build your professional network before you graduate! Visit the webpage to determine if your program has a co-op option.

Enrolling in a Co-op Program

Here’s how you can get involved!

The first step is to check the Academic Calendar and find out the eligibility requirements and co-op work term sequence for your program. There are specific requirements that need to be met in order to be eligible for co-op and designated terms for completing your co-op experience. You will also need to be aware of the required number of work terms you need to complete to receive the co-op designation on your degree, this is determined by your faculty. Once you know all of these requirements for your program, you will need to find out when to apply for co-op. To find out the application period for your co-op work term, as well as additional information, visit the webpage

Reach out to the Co-op Program Coordinator at careers.coop@lakeheadu.ca with any questions or for more information on how to get involved. Each co-op program has a designated faculty advisor that can help you! To find out who your co-op faculty advisor is, contact your program advisor.