Students: Career Planning

Choosing a Major & Career

STEP 1 | STEP 2 | STEP 3 | STEP 4 | 

Plan

Begin with Step Four if you:

• Believe that you have gathered adequate information through exploration and want to make more concrete decisions
• Feel secure in your academic and career decisions and are ready to set goals to attain them

Tasks:

• Make decisions: evaluate your options and choose what fits you best
• Set goals: plan your next steps and implement those consistent with your academic and career choices

Effective Decision Making Based on Evaluating your Options:

• Check the accuracy and depth of your information before you begin evaluating
• Seek assistance from a career counselor to compile the information you've gathered about yourself, majors, and careers; evaluating which options are the best fit for you
• Narrow your options and rank them by asking yourself questions based on the following list of personal, academic and career criteria:
  - How would this major/career fit who I am (interests, skills, personality)?
  - How would this major encourage my academic success?
  - How does this major/career fit my values?
  - How would this major relate to my career success?
• Identify possible decision-making barriers
• Choose the option that best meets your career and life goals
• Stay flexible and open to new opportunities; remember that interests often change many times throughout your life

Start Setting Goals Early to Make Your Degree Marketable:

• Get Good Grades- some majors and most graduate programs require a G.P.A. of 3.0 and higher
• Develop marketable, interpersonal, and technical skills
• Get Career-Related Work Experience- internships, student jobs, and/or volunteer experiences
• Participate in Student Groups and Co-Curricular Activities
• Develop Faculty and Alumni Relationships- finding people who will guide you, believe in you, and connect you to resources is the essence of successful networking
• Learn Job Search Techniques- develop skills such as interviewing, résumé writing, and networking