nextSteps.org was launched in November of 1996 as a small 10 page site. We were then known as nextNET and our first logo was a red X in a circle. It was believed to have "youthful appeal." The budget permitted some advertising and promotional items. These included t-shirts and ball caps and became highly sought after. The site's content and look and feel were presented to a youth focus group. The FG expressed many positive thoughts about the site (only then were they given their complimentary stock options). Soon the logo was prominent around town and on the backs and heads of young people.

The first issue of nextSteps magazine was released in February 1997. We imagined the need to keep our growing readership interested enough to come back regularly. Another, more significant reason for the magazine was to develop a database of current original labour market information. Today this provides our users with a wealth of information about various careers and jobs. See the Archives.

A major period of development followed that saw the creation of what is now more that 1500 pages of tried, tested and true information. Content for the Tools section was researched, written, re-written, coded and finally posted. Everything from career planning to résumés, from keeping your job to our highly popular jobsville section found a home on this web site. This formidable task was lead by YEC's librarian, Gary Webber. Indeed, we are still in Gary's debt for all of his hard work synthesizing the Centre's extensive information into easy-to-read, user-friendly web pages. (Gary's complimentary stock options are in the mail.) We are currently a multi-faceted site focused on being "the career and employment website of choice that inspires in youth a commitment to life-long career development" (excerpt from our business plan).

We were required to change our name in early 1998. When it came time to obtain our own domain name it was discovered that nextNET had already been registered with the central internet authority by someone else. So we adopted the nextSteps name for the whole site and nextSteps.org was online.

Another of nextSteps.org's innovative ideas began about this time. Because part of the original model of the site was to provide YEC's services outside of its walls, the concept of the "on-line counsellor" was developed. Initially, this was undertaken as an email based "question and answer" format and shared among all of the Centre's counsellors and advisors. Some staff expressed concerns about the whole idea, mostly because counselling is generally a person-to-person interaction and e-mail seemed too impersonal. However, once the questions started rolling in, it was quickly recognized that the internet was an ideal companion for the career development practitioner. Kristi Kerford was the first counsellor to embrace the concept and quickly defined the role for all who followed. (Watch for your complimentary stock options in the mail, Kristi.) Currently, Warren Werle is our chief cyber-counsellor and he has elevated the practice to an art form.

This January, we surpassed our long-sought goal of one million hits in a single month (we did even better in February). Achieving this milestone reveals the site's increasing appeal and use by youth, parents, educators and career professionals. This month we celebrate the 50th issue of nextSteps magazine with an anecdotal look at the labour market now and in the future. Times are good in Calgary, Alberta (where we are based) and the outlook is positive. This presents some problems. In this booming economy, workers are encouraged to reach higher than before. There are more jobs than bodies to fill them. In order to get the good jobs, young people require more than just a how-to guide to resumes, cover letters and interview skills. They must think carefully about where they want to be and how they want to get there. Helping youth navigate these waters is where nextSteps.org has found its niche.

We've had four great years; an eternity in the New Media world. As we look to the future we see many exciting vistas on the horizon. We will continue to provide innovative online services. We will emphasize ease of use and accessibility in all of our future developments and through continuing research we will continue to provide a relevant experience for our users. We hope to develop on-line workshops, message boards for user-to-user interactions, and as more people get access to faster internet connections, we plan to increase our use of multi media including sound and video. Indeed, we will continue to develop the site and support material to encourage the use of nextSteps.org by youth, schools, parents and career practitioners, all the while keeping on top of the changing work world. The future's so bright, ...

The staff of nextSteps.org wish to thank many people; foremost among those is Gordon Bean of Human Resources Development Canada (we've always been very accountable) for taking a chance on an untried project, Cindy Marshall of the City of Calgary, for bringing the site to life, Chris Branch, also of the City of Calgary (CNS), for continuing to support nextSteps.org and to the staff of the Youth Employment Centre for embracing the idea and sharing their insights into career development for young people.

And finally, we can't forget all of the contributions from our special project staff over the years. Thanks to Jonathon (development), Craig (programming), Caroline (marketing), Karen (writing), Jennifer B. (research and writing), Jennifer H. (researching), Mark (promotions) and Jean (public relations)! Your stock options can be picked up at our offices.

Click on nextSteps.org for your connection to the future!