Busting Career Myths & Building Future-Ready Teens

Teenagers today are stepping into one of the most unpredictable job markets in decades—and many are doing it with outdated assumptions about what their futures should look like. With youth unemployment rising and AI reshaping entry-level work, understanding the real career landscape has never been more urgent.

That’s why CERIC has launched its new Career Myth Buster Quiz, an interactive tool designed to help teens ditch old-school thinking, explore multiple pathways, and feel genuinely prepared for the world ahead. We sat down with Keka DasGupta, Vice Chair of the CERIC Board, to talk myths, mindset shifts, and how embracing uncertainty might just be Gen Z’s biggest superpower. —Noa Nichol

The new Gallup findings show most Gen Z teens — and their parents — lack awareness of the full range of post-secondary options. What are the biggest career myths you see young people believing today?

Too many students feel like they must make a life-defining career choice, with potentially catastrophic consequences if they get it “wrong,” as if all of their time, money and effort will be wasted. This creates a doomsday mindset filled with panic, fear, and pressure to have it all figured out immediately. Many students also worry that if they haven’t clearly identified their passion, then they are already behind, not realizing that interests often develop through experience rather than appearing fully formed in high school.

It is up to all of us to help today’s youth recognize that any perceived career missteps aren’t failures, but a natural and valuable part of lifelong career growth.

Youth unemployment is now 14.7%. What factors are driving this spike, and how does the lack of career awareness exacerbate the issue?

Youth unemployment has climbed to these staggering levels due to hiring freezes, reduced hours, and the impact of AI and automation – a “demand shock” that typically hits entry-level jobs first, and then ripples across the broader market.

Moreover, being out of work for prolonged periods can naturally erode confidence, raise anxiety, and slow job-search momentum. 

Another critical issue is today’s talent disconnect: many education programs aren’t aligned with employer needs, and there are not enough co-ops, paid internships, and strong school-industry partnerships out there. This leaves youth without practical experience, making employers feel like young people are not job ready.

To address this, Canada must treat career development as a national priority, equipping students with adaptable skills and practical, real-world experience, so students can thrive in an AI-driven, volatile economy.

We often hear that “university is the only path to success.” Why is this belief so persistent, and how does the Career Myth Buster Quiz help challenge that?

This myth persists for several reasons. While past generations believed university degrees guaranteed higher earnings and greater stability, that’s not necessarily true today. However, our social culture continues to reinforce this, with many institutions promoting the prestige of degrees. Yet in a changing labour market, the value of skilled trades, apprenticeships, and college pathways remain under-communicated. CERIC’s Career Myth Buster Quiz helps young people recognize these misconceptions. It doesn’t push students away from university, rather, it broadens their awareness of the multiple pathways they can pursue based on fit, evidence and opportunity. It makes career literacy accessible, reduces stigmas, and helps young people see that success can come from many forms of learning.

In a world where AI and automation are transforming entry-level jobs, what skills or mindsets do you believe will matter most for young Canadians entering the workforce?

CERIC’s research consistently shows that curiosity, adaptability and problem-solving are key drivers of career success, and this will remain so, even in an automated, AI-shaped world. For young Canadians entering the workforce, it will become increasingly important for them to show employers, how they learn quickly, adapt continuously, and solve real-world problems. Studies predict that Gen Z may hold up to 16 jobs over their careers, so, to future-proof their marketability, they’ll need to see opportunity in uncertainty, think like experimenters, and confidently pitch their growing portfolio of transferrable skills.

CERIC talks about viewing careers as “lifelong journeys” rather than one-time choices. How can parents and educators help teens embrace that idea early on?

The best thing parents and educators can do is to help remove the pressure young people feel today to “figure it all out” by the time they are 17 years old. Help students develop a mindset that celebrates exploration over perfection, where changing directions is seen as normal, and even expected. To do this, parents and educators can speak openly about their own career twists and show teens how every experience they amass is worthwhile and valuable. Emphasize how career development not about a one-time choice that ends up being right or wrong. Rather, see this as a lifelong journey made up of trying new things, reflecting on learnings, and exploring new opportunities as they unfold in real-time.

What advice would you give to a Grade 11 or 12 student who feels overwhelmed by pressure to choose the “right” career path?

Remember that you are not choosing your “forever” job; you’re choosing your next step.  Think of career development like moving across a lattice, or a checkerboard. This is no longer about choosing a single path from a fork in the road, because careers today are not straight lines. They unfold in stages, where pivots are the norm. Right now, your job is to gather experiences that teach you more about yourself.  That part-time job, volunteer role, extra-curricular class, or co-op placement – all offer clues about what motivates and energizes you. Talk to people doing work that sparks your curiosity. Ask questions and test-drive opportunities. The goal here isn’t about certainty, it’s about movement.

The quiz was developed with input from students, counsellors, and educators. What surprised you most during that research and development phase?

As I co-moderated our focus groups, I was struck by how much more competitive the student landscape has become compared to past generations. The benchmarks for perceived success among student leaders – high grades, packed extra-curriculars, leadership roles – have risen dramatically. On top of that, in today’s digital and social media world, students aren’t just competing within their schools or local communities. Many feel pressure to shape a polished personal brand online, often for a global audience. They feel they must present themselves confidently in real life, and then replicate that performance on their online profiles. And all of this is happening at a time when they are still developing and transitioning from childhood to adulthood.

How can teens build confidence and resilience when the future feels uncertain — especially with rapid tech advancements affecting traditional job pathways?

The best way for teens to build confidence in an uncertain future is to focus on what they can control – strengthening their ability to learn continuously, embracing adaptability, and deepening their understanding of who they are. Confidence grows when young people see cumulative success through small, consistent steps. Take on a challenge, solve a real-world problem, create something new. Each win becomes proof that you can handle whatever comes next. When teens recognize that uncertainty is normal in career development, their future will feel less like a threat and more like an opportunity – and perhaps even an invitation!

What role should schools, employers, and communities play in helping youth explore multiple pathways after high school, including trades, college, apprenticeships, and entrepreneurship?

We all have a critical role to play in shaping the future of Canada’s workforce. To help youth explore multiple pathways:

We must create safe spaces for exploration, celebrating experimentation and non-linear pathways.

Schools should embed career learning across subjects and stages, not just in guidance offices.

Within our communities, we need to model adaptability for young people, by showing them how adults also learn, pivot and grow through change.

Moreover, when educators and employers partner together to give young people hands-on, experiential learning, that bridges their schooling to immediate workplace readiness. We need more of that right now.  This is why career development must become a national priority in Canada.

For parents who want to support their teens but don’t know where to start, what are the most impactful conversations or actions they can take right now?

Simple actions can have big impact. Start by taking CERIC’s Career Myth Buster Quiz yourself, and then encourage your teens to do so too. Next, consider asking open-ended questions such as: “What kind of work lights you up?” or “what skills do you want to try out?” The goal here is to listen without judgment and celebrate curiosity (not just academic achievements). Reinforce to teens that success comes in many forms of learning, and what matters most is choosing a path right now, that aligns with their strengths, interests and goals. Finally, encourage your teen to do their own research, ask questions, and explore a multitude of opportunities.