Preparing a Career Investigation Report

The career investigation report is one component of the student selection process for many of NAIT’s competitive full-time programs. Your career investigation summary should contain information that will convince the Admissions Committee that you are serious about, and have fully researched the occupation(s) associated with, the program you intend to study at NAIT.

Some programs have specific guidelines that must be followed when completing the report. Details can be found on the program’s homepage or by contacting the program area directly. The programs listed in the Program Specific Career Investigation Reports section below must be completed prior to being considered for admission. To access these forms, simply click on the link provided. If the program you are applying to requires a career investigation report but does not have a program specific form, then you must follow the Preparing for a Career Investigation directions in the preparation of your report.

Once you have completed your career investigation report, you can submit the report by uploading a saved copy through the Self-Service tab in the MyNAIT Portal.

Program Specific Career Investigation Reports

Standard Career Investigation Report

Preparing for a Career Investigation

The following guide offers suggestions to help you complete an effective Career Investigation.

Learn About the Program  

  • Visit the NAIT Student Recruitment Office in Room O117, Main Campus, and speak with a Prospective Student Advisor. We recommend making an appointment during our office hours 8:00 am - 4:00 p.m., however students are also seen on a drop-in basis between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Can't visit in person?  Call us at 780.471.NAIT (780-471-6248) or e-mail AskNAIT@nait.ca if you have any questions about attending NAIT.
  • Arrange to be a student for a day through the Buddy System. Call the Student Recruitment Office at 780.471.NAIT (780-471-6248) to obtain the program contact information or visit Buddy System.
  • Many programs schedule Information Sessions between October and March to provide you with information on admission requirements for the specific program, application procedures, and course content details. Contact the Student Recruitment Office to obtain dates, times, and locations of these sessions or visit the web site at Info Sessions. 
  • Plan to attend Info Week, an annual event held on Main Campus in February.  Learn about the program curriculum, pre-requisites, job futures and what to expect as a NAIT student. 
  • Attend NAIT Open House, which is held on Main Campus in October each year. This event gives you a first-hand look at NAIT's learning environment and lets you talk to students, faculty and alumni for a personal perspective.  Information booths are set up at major entrances to direct you to the program areas that interest you.
  • Read about the program on this website or in the many resource materials available from your high school counsellor, local career centre, public library, and from NAIT.
  • Browse through the program pages and Prospective Student webpage to access information on graduate employment statistics, starting salaries, program and course information, application procedures, Graduate Skills Profiles and more.

Learn About the Occupation

  • Talk to someone already working in the occupation that interests you. Contact employers, unions or professional associations, counsellors, teachers, family members, and friends about the occupational research you are conducting.
  • Scan the Classified Ads and Careers sections in the newspaper to observe the demand for employment in your chosen career field and to determine job requirements and pay levels.
  • Look through the Yellow Pages to discover what companies might employ people in the occupation you are considering and contact them as part of your research.
  • Visit NAIT's Student Recruitment Office or browse the Student Recruitment web site for information on employment trends, salary information, and occupational descriptions.
  • If possible, find part-time employment or volunteer your services to gain experience in the occupation.
  • Arrange to visit employers in your area of interest to observe the work environment and to ask questions about your desired occupation. Try to visit at least two or three companies.  Sample interview questions are listed below to get you started. We recommend you personalize them and create your own list to provide you with the information you need to assist you in deciding if you will pursue the career. If completing a program specific Career Investigation, please also refer to it for any additional required questions.
  1. What is a typical workday like? What does the employee really do?
  2. What does s/he like or dislike about the job?
  3. What skills/abilities are needed/beneficial?
  4. What education and training is required?
  5. What are the starting, average, and maximum salaries in this occupation?
  6. Are there opportunities for promotion?
  7. What are the working conditions?
  8. Where are jobs most likely to be located?
  9. What are the normal hours of work?
  10. Is the job typically full-time, part-time, seasonal or contract?
  11. What is the future outlook for this career?
  12. How stable is employment in this occupation?

Personal Background and Qualifications

Using the following points as a guideline, describe how your personal background will enable you to be a success in this occupation. List anything that makes you suitable.
  • Courses in school in which you excelled
  • Additional training or courses completed related to this occupation
  • Volunteer or work experience
  • Interests or activities that demonstrate skills and abilities that are relevant to the program and occupation you are considering
  • Personal qualities

Guidelines to Writing Your Career Investigation
  • Check to see if the program you are researching has Program Specific Career Investigation requirements for the report, and if so, follow the requested format. For other career investigations use the Standard Career Investigation Report provided above.
  • Organize your information using headings. E.g. NAIT Program Information, Industry Research, Autobiographical Information.
  • Include dates you met with people or attended information sessions, names of occupational contacts and the companies where they work.
  • List web or paper resources you utilized in your research.
  • Report on the information you gathered through personal contact or other methods of research.
  • Check for spelling or grammatical errors.
  • Ensure the information is relevant and easy to read.

The Career Investigation is a summary of the information you have gathered as a result of doing your research.  You need to demonstrate that you have a good understanding of your chosen career and of NAIT's program, and that you would be a qualified applicant.  Remember to start the application process early, as it can take some time to adequately prepare an effective career investigation.