National Career Focus

Career Focus is a client-centered program targeted to post-secondary graduate youth designed to meet the needs of a knowledge-based economy. The program provides financial support to Canadian employers and organizations to provide post-secondary graduates with career-related work experiences in Canada to help them acquire advanced employment skills and become leaders in their fields.

Eligible Participants

To participate in Career Focus, youth must be:

• between the ages of 15 and 30 (inclusive) at the time of intake/selection;
• post-secondary graduates;
• Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or persons on whom refugee protection has been conferred;
• out of school;
• legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial/territorial legislation and regulations; and
• not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI) benefits.

Note: Post-secondary graduates are limited to participation in one Career Focus project.

Who can be a Recipient

Businesses, organizations (including not-for-profit, professional, employer and labour associations), public health and educational institutions, band/tribal councils, Aboriginal organizations and municipal governments.  To be considered for funding under the National Career Focus program, project activities and the recruitment of participants must take place in at least 3 provinces or territories.

Application procedures for Recipients

• apply to other departments and agencies offering Career Focus
• submit project proposals for locally and regionally delivered projects.

Application procedures for Youth

Because sponsor organizations are responsible for recruiting and selecting participants for this program, interested post-secondary graduates  must directly contact organizations that have received funding for a Career Focus project (See the list below).

2005-2008 National Career Focus Funded Projects:

• Art Dealers Association of Canada
  Will provide career-related work experience in the visual arts sector
• Canadian Community Economic Development Network
  Will provide career-related work experience in the social and community economic development sectors
• Canadian Council on Rehabilitation and Work
  Will provide post-secondary graduates with disabilities with career-related work experience in the management, social research, communications, public relations, and web development sectors
• Canadian Film and Television Production Association
  Will provide career-related work experience in the film and television industry
• Coaching Association of Canada
  Will provide career-related work experience in the profession of coaching
• CBDC Restigouche Inc
  Will provide career-related work experiences in the business administration, information technology, engineering and science sectors
• Deep River Science Academy
  Will provide career-related work experience in the nuclear industry, environmental research and protectionism, and forestry sectors
• Fédération de la jeunesse canadienne-française
  Will provide career-related work experience in the community service field in Official Language Minority Communities
• Help The Aged
  Will provide career-related work experiences in the social work, community development, volunteer management, gerontology, recreation therapy and health sectors
• St Mary’s University
  Will provide career-related work experience in various expanding and growing market sectors in Atlantic Canada

Other federal government departments and agencies delivering Career Focus

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
• Canadian Food Inspection Agency
• Canadian Heritage 
• Canadian International Development Agency
• Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade
• Environment Canada 
  • International Environmental Youth Corps
  • Science Horizons Youth Internship Program 
• Industry Canada   
  • CAP Youth Initiative 
  • Computers for Schools (TWEP) 
  • NetCorps Canada International  
  • SchoolNet 
  • Web-4-all   
• National Research Council Canada
• Natural Resources Canada

More information for employers

More information for youth

About the Youth Employment Strategy

Thirteen Government of Canada departments and agencies work in partnership with business, labour, industry, not-for-profit and voluntary organizations, rural and remote communities and all levels of government to help young people get the information and develop the skills and work experience they need to prepare for and participate in the world of work. To read more about this initiative  or call Youth Info Line: 1 800 935-5555.