If you are unsure about your major and/or career, then you should utilize the services of the Career Development Center. By getting connected with our office, you will be able to understand more about how to make a major/career decision and the resources available to assist you in this process. The Career Development Center staff cannot make a career decision for you but can help you with the process.
Step 1: Initial Contact
Contact the Career Development Center by calling 419-289-5064 to schedule an appointment with one of the professional staff members who will be able to explain the process of making a major/career decision and the resources available to you. It may take several meetings to determine the major/career that works for you, but by being active in the process, you will be well on your way to finding what is right for you.
STEP 2: Assess Yourself
To decide what career you would be well suited for, you first need to determine your interests (what you like to do), skills (what you are good at), work values (what is important to you), and personality (what personal tendencies do you have). These factors provide a good indication of potential majors and careers to pursue. One or more career assessment inventories can help you to determine and organize these factors for you. A staff member can assist you in deciding which inventories are best suited for you and your individual circumstances. The inventories available through the Career Development Center include:
- Campbell Interest & Skill Survey
- Harrington-O'Shea Career Decision-Making System
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
STEP 3: Research Careers
By knowing as much as you can about careers of interest, you are able to narrow your focus and make the best informed decision possible. Read books and resources to learn about the training needed, work environment, salary, and job outlook for the careers you are considering. Methods of research include the following:
STEP 4: Experience Careers
The best way to know if you are going to enjoy a potential career is to gain experience in your field of choice. By talking with people in the field, shadowing people who do what you want to do, and experiencing the work required through an internship, you are going to find out what is really involved in a career. Methods to begin this process include the following:
STEP 5: Decide
After you have investigated your interests, skills, values and personality, discovered as much information as you can about a major/career, and experienced the field for yourself, you are then able to decide if it is the major/career you want to pursue. If it is, you can then begin planning your path for that career. Use the Career Development Center's Four Year Plan as a guide to career success. If you have realized this isn't the major/career you want to pursue, then you will want to research and experience other majors/careers of interest to find the one that is right for you.
STEP 6: Evaluate
After you have been in a career, you need to periodically evaluate your choice. Do you want to continue in this career field, or are you in need of a career change? If you stay within your career field, determine the steps you need to take to make yourself continually marketable in the field. If you are thinking of a change, it is then time to start the career development process again to see how your interests, skills, work values and personality have changed and how those changes will affect your career choices.
The Career Development Center staff looks forward to assisting you!