How to Choose a Major and Investigate Careers

1
How to Choose a Major and Investigate Careers!

• Career Services

2
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.

3
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

4
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!

5
Three Key Factors

• Interests- what are you interested in
• Skills- what are you skilled at
• Values- whats important to you

6
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.

7
What are your Skills Abilities?
Math
Photography

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

History
Computers
Sports
Singing
Writing
8
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

9
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

10
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

11
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

12
Career ServicesCome see us!

• University Center Suite 304
• 825-2628