As a student intern with Career Development Services (CDS), I am exposed to new information regularly as I prepare to educate prospective and current students about CDS resources. Most recently, I learned about the Four-Year Plan CDS recommends, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, and how proactively assessing how your personality, interests and work values relate to a career and major can significantly expedite the process of choosing a major, and preparing for a career. There is a logical order to make our lives less stressful as students.
One resource that impressed me was the US Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook - an accumulation of a wide array of careers along with a description or responsibilities, salary, and the majors recommended for that end goal. Having something specific to work towards during school brings about tremendous motivation and perspective when homework and assignments become overwhelming. Explore careers at www.bls.gov/OCO/.
Combine the CDS Four-Year Plan and personality or career assessments and we have a winner! After reflection, the job that interests me most as a Communication and Spanish major is a Public Relations Specialist. If I had discovered the natural fit of this position to my personality freshman year I very well may have changed my major. Yet, as a graduating senior, occasionally doubting her major, there is not much I can do but promote my strengths and educate myself on what the job requires.
Do not freak out if you find yourself in a major that does not suit you. Make a pro and con list, weigh all options before changing majors, visit a career counselor (you can find them in your college, the student center and Mary Martin Hall weekly), and find a career that fits your interests and then identify what you want to study that fits that goal.
Margaret Kloess '10
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