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Are you Majorly Clueless?
Follow these steps to 'Choose a Major' or 'Explore a Career'

1. Increase Self-Awareness
2. Explore Career Alternatives
3. Try-On Careers
4. Make A Decision          

Keep in mind that these steps are cyclical and you will repeat them throughout your life.

1. Increase Self-Awareness

A good career decision can only be made when you take inventory and become aware of your personal style, identify your interest and skills areas, and acknowledge your work values. Without these pieces of the puzzle, a career decision is not grounded nor based on criteria which matters to you.

  • Take an assessment/test to help you get focused - FOCUS (looks at your V.I.Ps. - Values, Interests, Personality Traits and Skills)
  • Identify majors that relate to your abilities and interests
  • What To Do With a Major In...?  Click here to look up a major and learn about all of the possibilities!!
  • Start your resume and find a summer job that develops your employability skills
  • Sign up for the Majorly Clueless Workshop every spring!  In four weeks, you will explore your strengths, learn about career fields that match your interests, talk with professionals in your field and MAKE A PLAN OF ACTION to reach your goals!  Call the office main number to sign up (ext. 5235)
  • Make an appointment with a Career Counselor (call ext. 5235) to review your V.I.P.s. (Values, Interests, Personality Traits and Skills)

2. Explore Career Alternatives

What are the occupations and career fields that provide the best blend of your unique style, interests, skills, and values? The goal in this step is to identify possible career options that match your criteria for job satisfaction and those which offer no fit.   It's also important to review the job outlook to see what opportunities will be available by the time you graduate.

  • WHAT DO YOU REALLY DO IN THAT JOB?
  • Target course electives that enhance your marketability to employers; consult with your academic advisor
  • Contact alumni in the field by using the Alumni Career Network (fill out form at the CAC for names of alumni)
  • Participate in student activities, athletics and volunteer organizations where you can continue to build your skills (and resume)
  • When you are ready to be matched with a professional alumni in your field of interest, sign up for the Mentor Program (call Trisha Persaud at ext. 6240) for more information.
  • Consider studying abroad to develop language skills, international and intercultural competencies

3. Try-On Careers

Test-drive the career fields identified in step 2 to see if they fit. Talk with people in the field, observe them working, or work in the field as an intern, co-op student, part-time, or temporary worker or take classes to learn more about the field. Add the third dimension to your career decision. How is the fit? could you see yourself doing this job for a few years?  Does it match everything you've researched?  This may need to be a time to review your V.I.P.s and try another area.

  • Develop relationships with faculty and professionals in your field to seek out internships, shadowing experiences or part-time work
  • Explore internships, cooperative education and career-related opportunities
  • Apply for campus leadership positions that develop skills and expand your experience
  • Attend career fairs to learn about employers’ needs (Careerfest and Teacherfest in Spring)
  • Sign up for the Mentor Program
  • Update your resume and have it critiqued

4. Make A Decision

Now is the time to evaluate and select options that best meet the majority of your criteria. Develop a map or plan that will help you reach your career goals. Based on Step Three, you might need to go back to Step One.  Remember, this is a cycle and you always go back to reviewing your V.I.P.s!

  • Choose an area to pursue and gear your resume toward that field and start pursuing opportunities
  • Post your resume on the On-line Career Center, CareerBuilder, Monster, a company's web site and any other industry specific association you can think of.
  • Attend workshops to sharpen job search skills and network with alumni and employers (i.e. - Career Coffee Chats, Job Search Tips, Interviewing for Success)
  • Talk with professionals in your field about opportunities and job search techniques
  • Research prospective employers to target needs that match your skills. You can research company websites or use Vault through our On-line Career Center. Vault includes career guides, lists of top employers, and company profiles.
  • Attend career fairs to make connections with employers (the On-line Career Center posts upcoming Job Fairs!)  NOTE:  To enter the On-line Career Center, students should use their pre-assigned Username and Password!  (Username: Student ID (example: 321456)
    Password:  forester)

Free Career Assessments For You

FOCUS - Who Should Use FOCUS?

How would you answer these questions?  Are you;

  • Unsure about your interests, values, skills?
  • Wanting to compare the critical facts for different occupations?
  • Unsure about the types of occupations you want to pursue?
  • Interested in exploring occupations that would utilize your talents?
  • Searching for a graduate school, a job or internship?

  • Needing to know “What can I do with my background in ___?"

If you answered 'YES' to ANY of these questions, FOCUS is for you!

FOCUS will help you develop an accurate picture of your personal strengths, needs, and preferences and will help you develop a sound career plan.  Please call Career Services for a Username and Password.   

SELF-DIRECTED SEARCH
The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is a self-administered, self-scored, and self-interpreted instrument that provides the user with clarification regarding their strengths and occupational interests.  The assessment can be picked up at Career Services anytime during business hours.

MYERS BRIGGS TYPE INDICATOR (MBTI)
Knowing your personality type, as measured through the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® instrument, can help you with career planning at every stage: from your choices of subjects and majors to choosing your first career to advancing in your organization or changing careers later in life.   Please schedule an appointment to take the assessment and receive your results.  (Please allow one hour for the 'Results Session.')

CAREER ZONE 
A great resource based out of New York Choose an area that matches your interests and see what jobs come up:  http://www.nycareerzone.org/graphic/index.jsp

 

 


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