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.
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.
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.
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
All of these experiences will help you understand your likes and dislikes as well as what interests you truly want to pursue and continue to develop.
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
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!
"Informational Interview for Careers" will suggest questions you may want to ask a professional in a specific career area you have interest. Enjoy your conversations with the people you interview and learn more about your options in the process! Please feel free to contact Career Development if you need help locating and contacting college representatives or career professionals. We are here to help you with this important step of networking and gathering information.
Most students want to hear about other students' experiences related to deciding a major and/or career path. Listen to what students who have worked with Career Development staff have to tell you why they sought our help and what the outcome was.
"I wanted to major in English but knew I didn't want to teach the subject once I earned my degree. I was terrified that I would end up jobless!!"
"My parents wanted me to major in Math, but I didn't like the classes!"
"I really thought I wanted to be an engineer, but I've really struggled with the requirements. I discovered that I am really much more skilled and interested in what I chose."
"I was going to be in college for the rest of my life at the rate I was going! I just couldn't find anything that interested me."
"I really messed up my GPA. Would there anyway out of the big, dark hole?"
You Love 'em, you don't love 'em ... and everything in between - no matter what, they have their influences on the decisions you make! How well do you know them? How well do you know what they want or expect from you? Here are some ideas to get the answers to some of your questions.
Do you believe in some of the most common falsehoods related to major and career choice? Let's see if you think the following statements are myth.....or reality.
There are a number of different departments and centers on the University of Nevada, Reno campus that provide you academic advising and guidance with selecting classes for each semester's enrollment. A complete list of advisors' contact information, for declared and deciding students, can be found: http://www.ss.unr.edu/records/advisor.asp
Career Counseling
