How to Choose a Major and Investigate Careers! Career Services

Do these sound familiar to you? §Can I get a job with this major? §How am I supposed to know what I want to do for the REST of my life? §So what are you going to do when you graduate, kid? §I love History, but my parents want me to study Computer Science so I can get a good job.

You Are Not Alone §55-60% of college students change their major at least once §2/3 of college freshmen do not have a declared major

What do I want to do? §Choosing a major means thinking about what interests you AND where your skills and abilities lie AND your values!

Three Key Factors §Interests - what are you interested in §Skills - what are you skilled at §Values - whats important to you

What Floats your Boat? §Enthusiasms - what do you like to do? §Interests you have that you would do whether or not you were paid to do them. §You do these in your spare time or whenever you can.

What are your Skills & Abilities? §Abilities- What were/are your best subjects in school? §What activities come easy to you?

What is important to you? Values §Family- spending time w/family §Independence- working on your own §$$ - a high-paying job §Status/Title- climbing the ladder §Philanthropy- doing good things

What can I do next to choose a major? §Look at the list of undergraduate majors §Talk to an Academic Advisor/Faculty Mentors §Check out our CHOICES Program!(at Career Services) §Meet w/ a Career Counselor

What can I do to investigate my major and career? §CHOICES is a good start! (located at Career Services) §Take a Personality test §Check out the Occupational Outlook Handbook

Career Exploration Means Taking Action! §Volunteer or do an Internship §Job Shadow a professional in the career your interested in §Talk to People in the Profession or a Professor

Career Services Come see us! University Center Suite