As faculty advise students, often questions about future planning and preparation arise, particularly around choice of major or coursework. Below is some general information concerning career development that may be of use.
What is Career Development?
“Career development is defined as ‘… a lifelong process involving psychological, sociological, educational, economic, and physical factors, as well as chance factors that interact to influence the career of the individual’ (Hackney & Cormier, 2005, p. 14). Career strategies and tools used with students include facilitating educational career panels and networking events, providing occupational information via technology, taking career treks to businesses and organizations, and providing self-assessment tools and one-on-one career counseling relationships. Interventions, such as role playing and solution-focused therapy, are valuable tools used by the counseling profession. Role playing is often used for practicing interviews, preparing to talk to employers, and learning how to address potentially uncomfortable conversations. Academic or career coaching is a relatively new, action-oriented developmental model that can address executive/professional, life, leadership, relationship, or career needs. According to the International Coaching Federation (2011), the coaching profession is distinguished by the action, accountability, and follow-through that are the focus in a coaching session. Coaches seek to elicit solutions and strategies from clients (students) themselves, as well as to nurture the skills and resources that a client (student) already possesses. While somewhat comparable to academic coaching, career coaching is primarily focused on vocational goal setting, job-search strategies, and practicing skills such as interviewing and crafting a networking pitch.”
(Taken from “The Mentor,” an Academic Advising Journal, Penn State, Division of Undergraduate Studies, June 28, 2013.)
1. Learning About Yourself: Career Assessments and Majors/Careers related to Personality
A person can gain a better understanding of who they are through career assessments and personal reflection.
Career assessments are tools designed to help individuals understand how personal attributes (e.g. interests, values, skills, preferences, motivations, strengths, world view) impact their potential success and satisfaction with different career options and work environments.
Career Assessments (MBTI, CliftonStrengths and Strong Interest Inventory) with a Career Counselor: Make an appointment through Handshake.
Other Online Assessments
Myers-Brigg Type Indicator (MBTI)
Humanmetrics Personality Test
Holland Code and Strong Interest Inventory (SII)
Holland Code Quiz (Rogue Community College)
2. Learning what you can do with a certain major…generally
What Can I Do With This Major?
Pitzer College – Majors, Minors and Field Groups
Pitzer Catalog
Pitzer Majors and Minors
Pitzer Field Groups
3. Learn More About Jobs and Careers:
US Government Career Information! ONET, OOH and CareerOneStop
Occupational Information Network (O*NET)
This is a free online database that contains hundreds of occupational definitions to help students, job seekers, businesses and workforce development professionals to understand today’s world of work in the United States.
Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
The Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH) is a career resource offering information on the hundreds of occupations that provide the overwhelming majority of jobs in the United States. Designed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
CareerOneStop
A good source for career exploration, training and jobs.
4. Other Career Information Websites:
The Career Project is a free and interactive career profile database. Research thousands of real careers through the eyes of people actually working in those careers.
Careers Out There – Occupational videos
Real advice from real professionals through online videos and other written information. https://careersoutthere.com/
College Majors 101
Job Shadow
Military Careers
5. Gaining experience
Job and Internship Search Tools
6. Do you have a plan?
Map Out a Career Plan
