Choosing a Career
For some students, choosing a career path was easy: they’ve always known what career suited them and easily chose an academic major. Others have very specific interests which has led them down a specific career path.
However, many of us have broad interests and abilities. While this is great, it can create some confusion when deciding upon a major. Some students wonder how they can begin to focus their interests. There are tools to help you decide upon a career pathway.
Focus 2
The Institute for Career Planning offers a free, career interest assessment called Focus 2. This assessment compiles your answers to provide you with information about your academic strengths/weaknesses, personality, work/leisure interests and more. The Focus 2 generates potential careers that fit your profile! Clicking on specific job titles provides you with a wealth of information including job duties, schooling requirements, earnings, outlook and more.
Talk with Us
Set up an appointment to meet with a staff member in the Institute for Career Planning to discuss your interests.
Job Shadow
Seek out a job shadow experience, volunteer experience or observational internship with your area of interest. The Institute for Career Planning can guide you in this process. Observing a professional in a career field in which you are interested can help you decide whether or not the career still aligns with your interests.
Professional Internship
Seek out a professional internship. After you have decided upon a major, you may still be unclear as to which type of career you might enjoy. Not only are internships important to complete due to the competitiveness of the job market, but 1-2 internship experiences gives you real career practice so you can better understand your likes and dislikes and build on related experience.
