Many students think of a career as a one-time decision – you might be one of them. But in reality finding your career path is an on-going process. As you respond to changes in your life, as jobs change and new jobs are developed, the “right” career for you will change as well. It is common for workers today to change jobs and careers frequently – up to 25 times in a lifetime!
Making good career decisions is all about learning. First learn about yourself. The more you know about yourself, the better decisions you can make. To help you get a complete picture, you need to consider your interests; skills and abilities; passions and values.
- Figuring out your interests
- These interest inventories, personality profilers, and other similar programs help you get a sense of how to match your interests to possible careers.
- Knowing your skills and abilities
- Building on your strengths can help you excel along your career path. But even if you don’t have a skill now,
you can find ways to develop skills or to improve the ones you have. - Uncovering your values and passions
- Your values are those activities that have personal importance and significance to you. Work that's in keeping with your values makes your job meaningful.
- Looking at different majors
- If you want to choose a major or change the one you have, take heart, you are not alone! It is a common experience for college students to have questions related to majors
- Linking majors to careers
- Often, there isn't a direct link between a major of study and the jobs students get.
- Exploring occupations, opportunities, and careers
- It is important to have accurate information about the world of work because we can easily make career decisions based on faulty assumptions.
- Deciding on a career path
- In deciding on a career path, you will have to take a lot of things into consideration, and you'll have to do some research.
- Developing your skills for success
- As an undergraduate student you can begin to acquire career skills for success NOW!
Career Counseling
Voice concerns regarding your future to a Career Counselor who will assist you in making plans to achieve your goals as a student and as a graduate.
Counseling
- Make an appointment 333-0395
- Drop-in Hours
- Virtual Advising Board
Reasons To Meet With A Career Counselor:
- Choose or change a major
- Develop a career goal
- Exploring interests/skills
- Explore careers
- Explore summer jobs or internship opportunities
- Review résumé
- Review cover letter
- Review personal statement (writers' workshop)
- Develop job/internship search strategies
- Discuss interview techniques
- Discuss job offer (e.g. negotiation, salary, benefits)
- Discuss graduate/professional school issues
- As well as many other reasons!
