Making the Right Choice for Making the Right Choice for Majors and CareersMajors and Careers

Careers and the New Careers and the New EconomyEconomy

• Characteristics of today’s economy• Global

• Unstable

• Innovative

• Boundaryless

• Customized

• Fast

• You are solely responsible for your career• To advance your career, you must accept the risks

that accompany employment and plan for the

future• A college degree does not guarantee employment• A commitment to lifelong learning will help keep

you employable

Aligning Your Sense of Purpose Aligning Your Sense of Purpose and Your Careerand Your Career

• To prepare for a career, ask yourself• Who, how, what, where, when?

• Connecting your major and your interests with

your career• Most majors do not lead to a specific career

• Exploring your interests• Best way to choose an academic major

• John Holland’s model of personality and career types

• Factors that affect career choices• Values and interests

• Skills and aptitudes

• Personality

• Life goals and work values

Your TurnYour Turn

Would you describe your major as something you’re really passionate about? Why or why not? If your answer is no, why are you pursuing this particular major?

Your TurnYour Turn

What kinds of jobs have you had, either for pay or as a volunteer? Which of your jobs was your favorite? Which did you dislike? What do your experiences tell you about your preferences for work in the future?

Planning for Your CareerPlanning for Your Career

• Create a career plan• Research possible occupations

• Build on your strengths and develop weaker skills

• Prepare a marketing strategy that sells you

• Write a convincing resume and cover letter

• Planning for two-year students

• Getting experience• Volunteer

• Study abroad

• Internships/co-ops

• On-campus employment

• Research

Your TurnYour Turn

What kind of “marketing strategy” could you develop to sell yourself to a potential employer? Which of your characteristics or aptitudes would you emphasize?

Your TurnYour Turn

Have you explored your institution’s career center? If so, what did you learn? If not, when in your college experience do you think going to the career center will be most important? Why?

Skills Employers Look ForSkills Employers Look For• Content skills

• Cognitive, intellectual, or “hard” skills

• Acquired as you gain mastery in your academic field

• Includes writing proficiency, computer literacy, and

foreign language skills

• Transferable skills

• Skills that apply to or transfer to a variety of settings

• Includes solid oral and listening abilities, leadership

skills, critical thinking, and problem solving

• Key competencies

• Includes integrity, innovation, initiative, commitment

Working in CollegeWorking in College• On-campus jobs• Off-campus jobs• Building a resume• For part-time jobs, internships, or letters of

recommendation

• Chronological format vs. skills format

• Writing a cover letter• Find out whom to contact

• Get the most recent name and address

• Interviewing• Mock interviews

• Understand the nature of behavioral interviews

• Dress appropriately

Tech Tip: Job Search WiselyTech Tip: Job Search Wisely

Finding a job through online job sites

• Use the “advanced search” option to narrow

down your results

• Learn about the application process

• Don’t forget to check out the extras

• Beware of scams