AI & Career Development in Canada
The AI & Career Development Conference in Feb 2027!
📢 Conference Schedule Update: Following BC's transition to permanent Pacific time, we've adjusted the conference schedule to better accommodate participants across Canadian time zones and minimize disruptions to lunch breaks.
New schedule: 10:30 AM–12:30 PM PCT (2 hours per day) with a total 4 hours for both days.
Live from Vancouver, BC: 2 hrs per day at 10:30 AM–12:30 PM PCT, YST & MST (=11:30 AM–1:30 PM ABT & CST-SK | 12:30 PM–2:30 PM CST-MN & EST | 1:30 PM–3:30 PM AST | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM NST)
Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase, moving beyond just content generation but toward AI agents capable of performing tasks, coordinating workflows, and supporting increasingly complex activities. What does this mean for the future of employment, recruitment, and career development practice?
Join Grow Career Development for our annual AI & Career Development Conference, featuring two interactive half-day sessions designed for Career Advisors, Employment Counsellors, and other Career Development Practitioners who are ready to move beyond the basics of generative AI.
The 2027 AI & Career Development Conference will be on:
- Wed, Feb 3, 2027: AI-Integrated Workplaces and the Future of Employment (2 Hours)
- Thurs, Feb 4, 2027: Expanding AI Applications in Career Development Practice (2 Hours)
- Note: Full topic descriptions listed below
Conference Perks
- Certificate of Completion included for participants registered for the full conference
- Recorded on Zoom and shared with all registrants after the live session, replay access available for 7 days. Accessible for all time zones!
- Group Rates are available for registrations of 3 people or more. For group bookings, please email info@growcd.ca for assistance.
Wed, Feb 3, 2027 - Day 1
AI-Integrated Workplaces and the Future of Employment - 2 hours
10:30 AM–12:30 PM PCT, YST & MST (=11:30 AM–1:30 PM ABT & CST-SK | 12:30 PM–2:30 PM CST-MN & EST | 1:30 PM–3:30 PM AST | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM NST)
Artificial intelligence is increasingly becoming a built-in feature of the software, applications and digital systems used in everyday workplaces. From office productivity software and customer management systems to recruitment platforms and business applications, employees are encountering AI capabilities as part of their regular work, not just through separate AI tools.
In this interactive session, Career Development Practitioners will examine how AI embedded in workplace applications and the emergence of agentic AI are transforming workplace operations, supported by Canadian and international research. We'll explore how these technologies are changing entry-level responsibilities and hiring practices, what these shifts mean for clients seeking employment or making career transitions, and how employees' roles may evolve to include managing and supervising AI-powered chatbots and AI agents.
Using a Workplace AI Competency Framework, participants will explore how to assess clients' existing and transferable skills, identify emerging digital and AI competency requirements, and recommend targeted skills development strategies that align with changing employer expectations.
Through guided discussions and a hands-on practice lab, participants will examine an AI-integrated workplace scenario and apply career development strategies to help jobseekers navigate changing employment requirements and opportunities.
Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how AI-enabled workplace applications, AI agents, and agentic AI are influencing employment, with practical approaches for connecting emerging workplace expectations to clients' skills, experience, and career goals.
Thu, Feb 4, 2027 - Day 2
Expanding AI Applications in Career Development Practice - 2 hours
10:30 AM–12:30 PM PCT, YST & MST (=11:30 AM–1:30 PM ABT & CST-SK | 12:30 PM–2:30 PM CST-MN & EST | 1:30 PM–3:30 PM AST | 2:00 PM–4:00 PM NST)
Are you already using AI in your career development work but wondering what else it could help you accomplish? AI offers opportunities to strengthen career development interventions and improve practitioner efficiency beyond generating resumes, cover letters and workshop materials.
Through demonstrations that go beyond basic prompting, participants will explore how multiple AI tools, including AI agents and agentic AI capabilities, can support career development practice using realistic practitioner scenarios.
This interactive session examines how AI can be incorporated into different stages of career development practice. We'll follow key stages of the career development process, from client intake and needs assessment through career exploration, decision-making and planning, employment preparation, job search and employment retention, identifying where AI can support practitioners.
In a guided hands-on practice lab, participants will use AI to address a career development challenge, evaluate the results and consider how the approach could be adapted to their own work.
Participants will leave with examples and approaches they can adapt to strengthen their career development interventions and streamline selected practitioner responsibilities.
Past in 2026: AI & Career Development Conference
Feb 2026 2-Day Conference
Day 1: Wed, Feb 11, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST Future of Work - 2.5 Hours
The first day of the conference is designed specifically for Career Practitioners who support jobseekers directly. In this interactive webinar, participants will examine which fields and occupations are forecasted to be most affected by AI, supported by up-to-date projections and statistics that highlight key risks and emerging opportunities. Together, we’ll walk through a practical framework for analyzing jobs and job functions to anticipate how AI automation may transform day-to-day tasks and role expectations. We’ll also explore concrete strategies Career Advisors can use to help clients prepare for disruption, navigate reskilling, and position themselves for new opportunities. Hands-on practice lab and online breakout discussions will give participants time to apply the framework in real time and leave with tools they can immediately bring back to their work.
Day 2: Thu, Feb 12, 2026 at 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST Practice Integration - 2.5 Hours
In this practical Day 2 session, participants will be introduced to a clear, structured framework for using AI responsibly in government-funded and subsidized employment programs. We’ll map out areas of AI-Open Use, Use With Disclosure, Use With Compliance, and Prohibited Use, then evaluate common program activities to decide which can be AI-Assisted, AI-Integrated, or must remain AI-Free. Along the way, we’ll consider the ethical, compliance, and client trust implications of embedding AI into daily practice, with a focus on protecting vulnerable clients and maintaining program integrity. Hands-on practice lab and online breakout discussions will allow participants to test and refine their decisions in real time and leave with concrete guidelines they can bring back to their teams.
Attendees of the October AI & Career Development Masterclass liked:
- Analyzing the NOC codes using automation, human-led or integration.
- How and when we can incorporate AI use into settlement work, while prefacing that with client consent.
Past in 2025: AI & Career Development Live Masterclass
The Future of Work and Practice Integration
Fri, Oct 24, 2025 at 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM PST
(=1:00-3:30 PM ET)
- Certificate of Completion included
- RECORDED ON ZOOM and shared with all registrants after the live session, REPLAY ACCESS available for 3 days until Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM PST. Accessible for all time zones!
- GROUP RATES are available for registrations of 3 people or more. For group bookings, please email info@growcd.ca for assistance.
Past in 2024: AI's Impact on the Career Development Field
CDS 2024 AI-Related Topics
There were 3 topics available during CDS 2024 related to AI in 2024: Ethical Considerations & Implications of Using AI for Career Development Practitioners; Practical Uses of AI For Career Development Practitioners & Career Advisors; & How Clients Can Use AI & ChatGPT for Job Search. Course descriptions are detailed below.
Note: These were a series of skill-upgrading webinars, i.e., career advisor training. They offer practical ready-to-use knowledge that provides real-world applicability and key practical career advising tools that can enhance effectiveness in assisting clients or students. Handouts were provided.
Past Topic 2024: Ethical Considerations & Implications of Using AI for Career Development Practition
Join us for an insightful webinar delving into the ethical considerations and implications of utilizing Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in career development practices. This session will explore the intersection of AI technology and ethical decision-making within the context of career counselling. Led by a seasoned Career Advisor with extensive experience in government-funded employment programs and private colleges, this 1-hour session will provide participants with a comprehensive understanding of how AI is reshaping the field of career development, examining both its potential benefits and inherent risks. Through researched content and practical examples, attendees will learn strategies for integrating ethical frameworks into their AI-driven practices, ensuring responsible and empathetic guidance for clients navigating the complexities of the modern job market.
Learning Outcomes:
- Gain a foundational and nuanced understanding of Generative and Artificial Intelligence (AI), including its mechanisms and extensive applications in career development.
- Delve into ethical principles and frameworks relevant to the integration of AI technology in career counseling, fostering a deep appreciation for ethical decision-making in practice.
- Learn to identify and manage ethical issues associated with the use of Generative AI, ensuring adherence to legal and moral guidelines.
- Understand the benefits and limitations of AI and explore how this technology shapes the future of career development.
- Recognize the unique advantages that human advisors hold over AI in delivering personalized and nuanced career guidance.
Past Topic 2024: Practical Uses of AI For Career Development Practitioners & Career Advisors
This session highlights practical applications for both career advisors and program managers, teaches you how to craft effective prompts specifically useful for Career Practitioners working with clients and compares the functionalities of ChatGPT's free and paid versions. Through examples and case studies, you'll gain the knowledge and skills to leverage AI responsibly and effectively in your career development practices.
Learning Outcomes:
- Discover practical applications of AI for Career Advisors and Program Managers, besides resume development and interview preparation, for improved service delivery and decision-making.
- Learn how to create clear prompts specifically useful for Career Practitioners working with clients to obtain accurate and relevant information from AI tools.
- Differentiate between ChatGPT's free and paid versions, understanding their features, capabilities, and cost implications.
Past Topic 2024: How Clients Can Use AI & ChatGPT for Job Search
Discover the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in revolutionizing the job search process in this engaging workshop tailored for clients of career advisors within government-funded employment programs and international college students attending private colleges. By thoroughly understanding Generative AI and its applications, career advisors can provide informed, practical guidance to their clients, enhancing their job search strategies while mitigating potential risks.
Learning Outcomes:
- Develop the skills to advise clients on the responsible use of AI and ChatGPT
- Provide clear guidelines and best practices to ensure that clients use these technologies in a manner that enhances their job search efforts.
- Learn how to effectively incorporate AI and ChatGPT tools into clients' job search strategies, maximizing the benefits of these technologies while minimizing potential risks.
General Testimonials
"Great content, the facilitator provided experiential examples."
"This is possibly the best webinar I've been in. So informative, very insightful. Thank you Wanda!"
"The most important part I wasn't feeling bored. The presenter shared the information with knowledge and LOVE to share :) "
"A well-researched workshop"
"Wanda has an enthusiastic, streamlined and fun approach to her training sessions! You always walk away having learned something new."
“Wanda, your presentation was professional, well presented, well planned, well timed and something for everyone to learn. Thank you.”