Career Resources for Faculty Advising
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. We provide (3) career assessments (CliftonStrengths, MBTI, and Strong Interest Inventory) that can be reviewed with a Career Advisor. To meet with a Career Advisor, students should make an appointment through Handshake.
Additionally, there are online assessments students can do on their own.
- Humanmetrics Personality Test (Similar to the MBTI)
- Holland Code Quiz (Rogue Community College) (Similar to the Strong Interest Inventory)
2. Learning what you can do with a certain major…generally.
3. Learn More About Jobs and Careers.
- 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: This 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.
- College Majors 101
- Job Shadow
- Military Careers
5. Gaining experience
6. Do you have a plan?
Contact Information
Career Services is here to help you achieve postgraduate success, no matter what that looks like for you. From career consultations to advice about graduate and professional schools, our team offers you the tools you need to reach your goals after graduation.