Step Two: Academic/Career Options
This step permits you to explore the world of work in a bigger proportion, narrow a general occupational direction into a concrete one through an informed decision making process, and declare a major. You will commence to observe potential careers, gather information about those careers, and match the career information with the results from your self-assessment.Start by:
- Learning academic and career entrance requirements.
- Learning related majors and careers to one's interests.
- Investigating education and training required.
- Learning skills and experience required.
- Planning academic and career alternatives.
- Learning job market trends.
- Gain research and investigative skills.
- Practice decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking skills.
- Enhance internal locus of control.
- Increase understanding of how abilities, interests, and values match career/academic requirements.
Strategies are those concrete items that lead you to acquiring a specific goal or competency.
- Investigate careers in the Career Resource Library.
- Conduct Informational Interviews to acquire information.
- Spend a day on the job with two professionals in different careers.
- Seek information from academic advisors and career counselors.
- Invite two professors to a student group meeting to discuss academic fields.
- Take courses or attend workshops in areas where transferable skills will be gained (i.e. communications, computer knowledge, foreign languages, diversity and international studies).
- Attend Job/Career Fairs and/or Career Panels.
- Participate in the Study Abroad program.
- Work on a university, resident hall or club event.
- Join an intramural team.
- Run for an elected office.
- Start a small business.
- Be a camp counselor or Big Brother/Sister volunteer.
- Volunteer as a campus tour guide or in a service organization.
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