Career/Major Decision Making Tools

Steps for Major & Career Decision Making

Selecting your major and career are big decisions.  Career Center advisors know how difficult this can be and are here to help facilitate this process.  We won’t tell you what you should do or what major you should be in; this is a decision you will have to make.  However, Career Center advisors can help you gather information and walk you through the process of making an informed decision about your major and career.  Here are the steps that will help you make your decision:    

1. Self Understanding & Awareness

1. Understand your interests, abilities, and work values. FOCUS and eCIS are great tools for this.  There are also many other personality, interest and values assessments listed on the left hand links.
2. Identify your strengths & weaknesses

2. Career Research & Exploration

1. Investigate opportunities & possibilities
• Networking – Learn from those you know.  This is a great way to collect info on careers, job expectations, job openings, etc.
• Research career options – FOCUS and eCIS are great to learn more about different careers (what they’re all about, future hiring demand, salaries, etc.)
• Informational Interviews – Candid Career provides information interview videos with hundreds of different careers, or talk to an Career Center advisor on how to set up an information interview
2. Plan & set short-term career goals
   • Identify ways to develop your skills and gain experiences (internships, volunteer work, leadership activities, service-learning classes, international experiences through study abroad)
   • Developing a plan and timeline for obtaining the needed skills and experiences
3. Experimentation & gain experience
   • Participate in experiential learning activities

3. Refine Your Focus

1. Evaluate & modify career goals
• Observation & Reflection:  What did you learn through those experiences?  How did this experience compare with your expectations?  Do you see yourself working in this company/industry?  Are there skills that you want/need to developed? 
• Refine of Career Goals:  What did you like most/least about your experience?  How do these likes/dislikes affect your long-term career goals?  What types of careers would fit best with your strengths and their likes?
2. Develop a plan of action to achieve your goals
   • Identify long-term career goals
   • What do you see yourself doing 10 years after graduation?
   • What would your “dream job” be?
   • What is your purpose?  How to you see yourself making a contribution through the work you do?
   • Identify short-term career options that align with your long-term goals

   If I want to be a writer for National Geographic magazine, I could…

   1. try to get ANY position at National Geographic just to get my foot in the door,
   2. try to get a writing position with similar magazines that may be smaller and less competitive,
   3. go to graduate school if I don’t get the position I’m looking for.

4. Take Action

1. Carry out plan of action
• Maintain organized job application records
• Get your resume & cover letter reviewed by a Career Center advisor
• Identify references who know your work ethic & ask them if you can use them as a reference
• Learn about interviewing strategies
• Begin networking to learn more about available jobs and future contacts
• Set goals for yourself (i.e. submit 5 applications/initial contacts per week)

Remember, Career Center advisors are available to help you throughout your decision making process.