Choosing a Career and a Major
Factors Involved in Choosing a Major:
- Am I Choosing a Major or a Career?
Not all life plans have a single or specific academic major that leads directly to them. - Understanding the World of Work:
Sometimes just knowing what is out there and available can help. -
Self Assessment:
Understanding who we really are is a lifelong process. Having a good picture of who you are presently and where you want to go is a great tool in the decision making process. -
Decision Making:
Not everybody has taken time to look at the components of decision making. By doing so you may be able to identify just where it is that you are stuck. -
Understanding Major Requirements:
A close examination of the requirements of a degree may help you identify if a major is going to be congruent with your interests.
The World of Work
Knowing what options are out there may be a valuable tool in making a major decision. If you are focusing on a career as well as an academic major it may be of help to find jobs or career areas that you are interested in and find out what kind of training or area of study would best prepare you to move in that direction.
There are a number of good research options to assist you with exploration of careers. SUU's Career Cafe is a great place to start as they have a library, "Choices" software application, and professional staff members all to assist you in the process. You can also check the Sherrat Library reference section for a wide variety of publications. Finally, the internet has many opportunities for career research. Below are a few links that have been identified as useful. Remember, reading and research can only take you so far. Experiencing the world of work can give you first-hand knowledge. Information interviewing is also a valuable way to get more insight, If you observe a career or job that looks interesting, do what you can to speak with somebody in that field.
- CareerInfoNet
- JobBank
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- O*Net Online