How to Help a High School Student Who Doesn't Know What's Next: Choosing a Career Direction Workshop

If your teen shrugs when you ask what they want to study after high school, they are in good company. Most students are asked to choose courses, programs and schools long before anyone has helped them understand what they're good at, what matters to them, or what kind of work would suit them.

This guide is for parents, and for the schools that support them. It covers why so many teens feel stuck, what a good career direction workshop does differently, and how to choose the right option for your student.

Why so many teens feel stuck

The numbers are consistent across countries.

• Two in five 15-year-olds have no clear career plans. That's the OECD's finding from its 2022 PISA data across member countries, and the share of career-uncertain students grew by more than half since 2018. (OECD, Teenage Career Uncertainty)

• Fewer than 30% of US high school students feel "very prepared" to pursue the post-secondary options they're considering. (Gallup and Walton Family Foundation, 2025)

• In Ontario, secondary schools with guidance staff average 396 students per guidance teacher. (People for Education, 2018)

None of this is a failure of effort. Guidance teams do a great deal with very little time. But most career tools start by asking "What job do you want?" before anyone has asked "Who are you?" A student who hasn't had the chance to answer the second question will struggle with the first.

What a good career direction workshop does differently

It starts with the student, not a list of jobs. Strong programs begin with three things: what the student values, what they're naturally good at, and what genuinely interests them. Career options come after, not before.

It uses real assessments, with a person to interpret them. A quiz that spits out "You'd make a great dentist" isn't much help on its own. Data-backed assessments are useful when a trained facilitator helps the student understand what the results mean and what to do with them.

It connects self-knowledge to real options. Knowing yourself matters most when it's tied to actual programs, industries and next steps, not just a personality label.

It ends with something the student can use. Look for a concrete output: a personal plan, a short list of directions to explore, and clear next steps for the coming year.

It keeps groups small. Teens open up more in a small group, and facilitators can give real attention to each student.

It fits a teenager's schedule. Weekend sessions and virtual formats make it realistic for busy students, and let families outside a big city take part.

The main options, compared

Option Strengths Trade-offs

School guidance

+

StrengthsFree; knows course and graduation requirements

–

Trade-offsLimited time per student

Online self-assessment tools

+

StrengthsFast, low cost, available anytime

–

Trade-offsResults with no one to help interpret them

Gap-year programs

+

StrengthsDeep, immersive, lots of time to explore

–

Trade-offsA full year; a significant commitment and cost

Private 1:1 career coaching

+

StrengthsFully personalized

–

Trade-offsHighest cost per hour

Facilitated workshops and short group programs

+

StrengthsGuided, peer-based, practical, affordable

–

Trade-offsLess individual time than 1:1 coaching

Questions to ask before you register

1. Who facilitates it, and what training or certification do they have?

2. What assessments are used, and does someone help my teen interpret the results?

3. How big is the group?

4. What will my teen leave with?

5. Is there anything for parents?

6. Is it in person, virtual, or both, and what time zone are sessions in?

7. Does it offer volunteer hours, if your school requires them?

For schools and educators

Schools increasingly bring in outside facilitators to complement their guidance teams, not replace them. A workshop can give every student in a grade structured time on self-discovery, while guidance staff focus on course selection, applications and individual support. In Ontario, workshops like this fit naturally alongside the Grade 10 Career Studies course.

How Be You Media approaches it

Be You Media runs career direction programs for high school, college and university students and young adults. As Becoming You Certified Practitioners, we use a methodology developed by Professor Suzy Welch and Becoming You Labs. Students work through their values, aptitudes and interests using data-backed assessments, then leave with a personal plan they can act on.

• In-person workshops in Toronto for students in grades 10–12: a three-hour session with assessments and lunch included, and volunteer hours provided.

• Virtual weekend workshops open to high school students across Canada and the US.

• 4-week virtual programs for students and young adults who want to go deeper: four 90-minute sessions, maximum 10 participants.

• Partnerships with schools, tutoring companies and community groups.

See upcoming dates at beyoumedia.ca/highschool, or explore our 4-week programs.

Frequently asked questions

What ages are these workshops for? Our high school workshops are designed for students in grades 10–12. Our 4-week programs also welcome college and university students and young adults early in their careers.

Does my teen need to have any idea what they want to do? No. Most students arrive unsure. That's exactly who these workshops are for.

Can students outside Toronto take part? Yes. Our virtual weekend workshops are open to high school students across Canada and the US. Session times are listed in Eastern Time.

Do students get volunteer hours? Yes, we provide volunteer hours. Check with your student's school on how they count toward any graduation requirement.