Coordinator asks: “Have you created your career action plan?”

The arrival of the upcoming semester’s Class Schedule Booklet brings familiar questions for some: “What am I going to major in or do with my life?” If you are unsure or even if you think you have all the answers, now is a good time to create a career-action plan for yourself.
Begin by identifying your academic and non-academic interests. Do you have an ideal career or place you would like to work? What are your academic strengths? What are careers and/or majors you know are not for you? If you are having trouble answering these questions or cannot identify your personal strengths and weaknesses, Career Services and the Counseling Center offer career assessment tools that may help narrow your search.
Once you identify some areas of interest, discuss them with a faculty member, adviser from Career Services or Academic Advising or counselor from the Counseling Center. Use your time wisely; research careers and majors that match these interests, values and abilities. Ask yourself if you are being realistic in terms of starting salary and the location of jobs in the fields you are exploring.
After you have narrowed your search and identified your program of study, continue researching with professionals in your field(s) of interest; use your network of peers, family members and faculty to set up informational interviews. Develop transferable skills that can be used in all careers through volunteerism, employment and extracurricular activities. Internships, jobs and volunteer opportunities in your chosen area can also be used to gain valuable experience needed in today’s competitive job market.
These activities can help by narrowing your career and academic choices; in addition brainstorming with a career adviser or faculty member in your area of interest is also a good use of time. These professionals can answer specific questions about marketability, preparation for certain careers, job outlook, salary ranges and other questions related to specific careers.
If you would like to meet with a career adviser, please contact the Career Services Office at 774-3068 (Bovee University Center, Room 215) or the Counseling Center (Foust Hall, Room 102) at 774-3381.
Finding an academic and/or career path takes time and research – don’t wait until you run out of General Education classes and have to choose a major!
Jeff Hyames is coordinator of career development in the Career Services Office.