Career Counseling
Career Counseling for Undergraduate Students
- Are you wondering what you want to major in?
- Are you having second thoughts about the major you have chosen?
- Are you concerned about what your academic studies are preparing you for?
- Are you considering a career change?
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM US
The counselors in Career Development offer confidential counseling to help students who have career and/or educational concerns and issues with which they want assistance. Programs and services include guidance in selection of academic majors and minors and assistance with the exploration of career options. The counseling you receive through Career Development will be individualized to meet your unique needs and situation. The career development counseling process may utilize career assessment inventories, the career resource library, computerized exploration programs, Internet resources, face to face interaction with our counselors, other students, faculty and community members and experiential learning opportunities found in volunteering, interning, working or simply having a conversation with someone working in an occupational area you are considering. Although career counselors will not make your decisions for you, you can rely on our counselors to support, guide, and challenge you as you participate in and reflect on these academic and career-related experiences. Your thoughts and feelings about your experiences will lead you to your decision. We look forward to being part of the work you do to enhance your development and to reach your goals. To TopWHAT YOU NEED TO DO
Help us help you! First, you need to contact us!! Stop by our office or email us so we can begin a conversation with you about "where you have been", "where you are now, and "where you want to go". All of these "destination points" will lead to the conversations, strategies, activities, and experiences you want to pursue in order to make the academic and career decisions you are faced with. To TopHOW ARE YOU GOING TO DO IT?
Education and career exploration is a life-long, personal process that is experienced by individuals in different ways. Making decisions about a career choice or academic direction is often a very complex task, involving a person's individual characteristics such as values, interests, skills, personality attributes, family and cultural influences and demands, decision-making style, career maturity, and a variety of other issues. Although the career development and decision-making process is very unique to each individual, there are some activities commonly pursued by people making similar, major and career-related decisions. Start thinking about which ones YOU are most interested in.- Learn more about yourself through a variety of self-assessment inventories and activities.
- Gain insight into the wide variety of career and academic options available to you. Take a career development class or start checking options via print and web resources.
- Just Do It! Get out in the world and really experience what interests you. It's a reality test!
- Take an introductory class in a particular discipline
- Join a club, organization, or student government
- Get out in the community and the world to volunteer, intern, study abroad and travel, or work
- Live life! Meet people, talk to them about what they do, where they've been, where they are going and how they're getting there
- Evaluate what you have learned from the activities you have participated in. What academic programs and careers have you eliminated during this process? What remains at the top of your list of interests? What appears to be more important to pursue at this point in your life?
- Based on the priorities you have now realized, consider short term goals (what do I want to accomplish this semester?) and long term goals (where do I want to be in 5 years?). Based on your goals, develop a "plan of action" to make your goals a reality
- Make decisions based on your priorities, goals, and plans
- Remain flexible and understand that the best made plans don't always happen the way we expect them to. Try and keep your mind open to change so you are not without alternative options in the event your goals and plans change
- Prepare yourself for the transition to the world of work or further education.
- Articulate your experiences into employability skills
- Write an effective resume
- Learn to interview, negotiate salary, and dress for success
- Remember, career development is a LIFELONG process! Just because you have gone through the process once does not mean you won't do it later. You, like many, may find that you have more than one career during your lifetime and, as such, will likely repeat this decision-making process
Academic & Career Checklist: What to Do Each Year of College
Yikes! Yes, there is a lot for you to do, and it can be overwhelming. Those of you who like making lists will love this information. Non-list makers will want to look at it and then create maps or whatever works for you. Start small and focus on what interests you or GO FOR IT ALL! ChecklistTo Top
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