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CAREER EXPLORATION
Deciding on a career can be an exciting time. The advising staff is here to help you navigate the process and help you through decision making around your career. Keep in mind this decision doesn't have to be forever, many people have multiple "careers" in their life.
Basic Career Decision Making Process...
1) Know Yourself
The most important, yet most missed, step. Finding a good "fit" between you and your work can impact your satisfaction with life and your relationships for a long time. Rather than starting with salary and job availability start with examining your skills, interests and abilities. There are many ways to do this, using formal assessment tools and in person discussions with an advisor.
2) Research
The Internet can be your best friend here. Start with some of the websites linked below. Educate yourself on the education required, available job outlook, work environment, typical hours, new issues for the field, average salary etc.
3) Informational Interview
What better way than to talk to people in the field? Advisors are here to help coach and prepare you for seeking out and conducting an informational interview. This can be the single best way to learn about a career. Appropriate dress, follow up thank you notes, prepared questions and offering to buy a coffee or lunch are all tips to make this go well.
4) Define Goals & A Plan
After all the work in the above 3 steps, work with an advisor to turn it into an academic plan. Chunking things into short term goals (with a plan) and long term goals (with a broader plan) are important steps to turn that dream job into reality. This step is where the "rubber meets the road!"
Some Useful Links...
The Occupational Outlook Handbook
Published by the Federal Government. Includes extensive information about occupations incuding: training and education needed, what people in these careers "do", typical wages/salary, anticipated need and jobs available and working conditions.
iSeek, the Internet System for Education and Employment Knowledge, is a web-based gateway to Minnesota career, employment, education, and business development information and services.
A comprehensive educational planning guide. Includes interest assessment worksheet and specific details for career planning.
The University of Minnesota - Duluth has created an online survey that gets students thinking about what skills they can bring to a job. Students are asked to evaluate themselves on communicating; research and planning; human relations skills; organization, management, and leadership; and work survival skills.
