College is PossiblePlanning Your Future

Career Services & Cooperative EducationMontana State University-Billings

www.msubillings.edu/careers

The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be!Yogi Berra

The average American beginning a career will work in 10 or more jobs

for 5 or more employers before retiring!Workplace 2000: The Revolution Reshaping American Business

The real value of higher education is to prepare students for career possibilities

they cannot yet imagine.

Why Plan your Career?

Your career affects 1/3 of your life = 10,000 days.

Your career generates up to $2,000,000 in lifetime earnings with BA/BS.

Your career affects your identity as a person.

Your career affects your physical & mental well-being.

How to Plan? Let Career Services help you!

Identify your Interests & Strengths

Investigate Occupations

Implement yourCareer Plan

CAREERSERVICES

Identify: Who are You

Career inventories and your past experiences identify:

Interests & Abilities What am I good at? What do I like to do?

What skills do I have? What skills do I need? How much education am I willing to complete?

Values & NeedsWhat would make a job satisfying to me?

Which work environment fits me best?

What is most important to me in a career?

Skills are Key to Careers!http://online.onetcenter.org

Investigate Occupations:

Conduct Informational Interviews. Talk to people who do the jobs you’d like to do!

Get hands-on experience through internships, part-time jobs & volunteer work.

Research job trends & projections: Which jobs are growing/declining? What do they pay? Are there vacancies where I want to live?

America’s CareerInfoNet www.acinet.org

Most New Jobs in the US & Montanarequiring BA/BS degree or higherBureau of Labor Statistics, 2002-2012.

United States Computers:

Software & Network/Database Engineers & Administrators (top 5 jobs), Computer Systems Analysts, Computer & IS Managers

Business:Accountants & Auditors, PR Specialists, Employment Specialists, Construction Managers, Graphic Designers

Education:Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers, Spec Ed, Kindergarten, Elem & MS Teachers

Montana Computers:

Systems Analysts (Computer & Network Systems and Data Analysts), Database Administrators, Computer Engineers (Hardware & Software)

Healthcare:Physician Assistants, Audiologists, Mental Health & Substance Abuse Social Workers, Speech-Language Pathologists

Environmental:Engineers & Scientists

Design & Implement Your Plan:

Compare each career with what you know about yourself.

Which major best prepares you?

Would you enjoy doing this career every day?

Does this career match your personality, needs, wants, abilities?

What are the risks? Your chances for success?

Use Career Services!

Make your decision. Set goals to get where you want to go. Implement your plan. Evaluate your plan. Re-focus, if needed. Do it over again throughout your life!

University Professionals can help you to:

College is PossiblePlan Your Future!

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”

David Campbell, PH.D