Students: Career Planning

Choosing a Major & Career

Successfully choosing a major is a STEP-by-STEP process. If you understand and take the following four steps in that process (Self Focus, Target, Explore, Plan) while utilizing your resources at IUPUI, you will be more likely to choose a major that suits you and meets your professional goals.

STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 |

Self Focus

Begin with Step One if you:

• Don't have a clue about majors or occupations that would be best for you
• Have an idea about a major or occupation and want to understand how it fits your interests, skills and personality
• Have thought about possible majors or careers, but want to identify other options

When you focus on defining yourself, you begin by participating in self-assessment activities that increase your self-awareness. Knowing your interests, skills, personality preferences, and values will help you more accurately identify academic majors and careers that will satisfy you. Self-Focus information will be used in all of the three remaining steps of the STEP process as you move toward choosing a major and/or career.

Tasks:

• Look at activities you are engaged in: School Subjects, Extracurricular Activities,Work Tasks
• Find out what you are passionate about: What excites you, What you dream about, Important cause or mission
• Talk with a Career Counselor: Identify appropriate resources, activities, and/or assessments that help you understand more fully your interests, values, skills, and preferences
• Ask people in your life for feedback: Advisors and Faculty, Family and Friends, Co-workers and Supervisors

Assessments offered in the Career Center:
e-Discover
The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
The Strong Interest Inventory
Self-Directed Search

Online Assessments
Learn More Resource Center (a type of Merkler inventory)
Keirsey Temperament Sorter
The Career Interests Game