Much of the work in the post-secondary career and campus recruitment space is driven by what we are noticing, whether it's in:

• engagement with students
• shifts in the labour market and the use of technology and emerging tools
• changes in expectations or needs in our working relationships
• how our approaches to the work we do are evolving

Some of this noticing work takes place by staying up to date with the latest data and research. Some is more qualitative or informed by conversations with our interest-holders and colleagues. Sometimes, it stems from what we are reading or listening to. And other times, it comes from trying out new tools or adopting practices that help us be at our best in our roles.

Recently, we asked members of the CACEE Evidence-Based Practice Committee to take a moment to share what is topping their list of “go to resources” as of late. What follows is a collection of tools, resources, and practices that committee members have found most helpful in informing their practice, supporting their productivity, and better understanding and navigating what they are noticing in their work.

We hope that this collection is helpful to you in your own day-to-day work as well.

Better Understanding the People and Relationships in Our Work

The Anxious Generation (Haidt, 2024)

This book by Jonathan Haidt examines rising levels of anxiety among young people and links these trends to changes in childhood, technology use, and social development. It offers important context for understanding how incoming cohorts of students are navigating independence, decision-making, and their day-to-day lives, both on campus and as they embark on their career paths.

Hidden Brain (Podcast)

This podcast explores the patterns that shape how people think, make decisions, and relate to one another, drawing on research across psychology, neuroscience, and related fields. It offers a broad lens on human behaviour that can help us better understand how people across our work interpret their experiences, respond to challenges, and engage in learning, the workplace, and career development.

Consulting the Latest Evidence-Base & Research

AGCAS Phoenix Journal

This practitioner-focused journal from the UK shares case studies and reflections on how career development work is being approached in different post-secondary environments. It offers an opportunity to compare approaches, explore new ideas, and consider how practices might translate across global contexts.

Canadian Journal of Career Development

This peer-reviewed journal connects research and practice across the field, offering evidence-informed insights into career development theory, programming, and outcomes both across Canada and abroad.

Tools That Can Help Us in the “Thinking” and “Doing” of Our Work

Gamma

Gamma is an AI-powered tool that generates presentations, documents, and web content from simple prompts. It can be particularly useful in early-stage thinking, helping to shape and organize ideas as they begin to take form. It also may help you move quickly from a concept or collection of ideas to shareable materials and resources. In our context, this might include program outlines, drafting workshop slides, creating employer- or candidate-facing materials, or developing student resources and other career education content.

Journalling to Support Reflection, Meaning-Making, and Decisions

Journaling, whether through notes, bullet journalling, mind mapping, or capturing key thoughts and actions after meetings and presentations, can help keep track of great ideas, surface patterns, and support more intentional thinking in day-to-day work.

While structured formats such as dated and templated pages, planning sheets, or prompts can be very useful, there are many instances where a less rigid approach empowers brainstorming, supports big-picture thinking, encourages strategic reflection, and helps make connections across projects.

Thought Leadership to Inform our Thinking & Approach

The Career Ecosystem Era in Higher Education: How Colleges Can Embrace the Emerging Paradigm of Career Services to Reap Significant Student and Institutional Benefits (Podany, 2025)

This book authored by Jeremy Podany explores a shift in how career development is positioned within higher education, moving from traditional advising models to career centres, and now toward a more integrated “career ecosystem” approach. It highlights how embedding career readiness across the student experience can strengthen outcomes for students, employers, and institutions, while also responding to increased scrutiny around the value of both career development and higher education. Drawing on institutional examples and practical frameworks, it encourages a move beyond standalone services toward more coordinated, scalable approaches that engage faculty, staff, industry, and partners across campus.

The Graduate’s Guide to Future-Proofing Your Career (Redmond, 2024)

This book written by Paul Redmond challenges traditional assumptions about stable, linear career paths in a labour market increasingly influenced by AI and automation. It argues that while employment outcomes are not always certain, employability is something that can (and must be) actively built and sustained. Through concepts such as “zombie careers” and adopting an “actor’s mindset,” the author advocates for a more adaptable, portfolio-based approach, where graduates continually develop and reposition their skills, identity, and networks over time. With a focus on continuous learning, human-centred capabilities, and intentional career management, this resource offers practical strategies for navigating a labour market where rapid change is a constant.

Closing Thoughts

This collection of tools, resources, and practices is just a starting point for what is out there to ground and support you in your own career practice.

We’re curious... what are you noticing in your role and work? What resources, tools, or practices are topping your list and helping you navigate the current landscape?