Career Exploration

Choosing a Major So, what’s your major? The dreaded “U” word… –Undecided –Undeclared (more politically correct) –No!!!! I must have a major!

Major Statistics “Decided and sticking to it”… –This is not the norm Percentage of Undeclared First-Years: –30% come in undeclared College students who change their major: –The typical student changes their major 1-2 times

Brass Tacks 140 majors, everyone changing their mind… why shouldn’t I worry? Majors do not typically determine futures –In many cases, your major is NOT the most important factor in your career Accountancy, SLP… these are exceptions! –The myth of the “dead end” major Outside experiences matter for careers! –You should like your major Time Frame: It is recommended that you select a major by… –The end of second year –Pre-majors exist, so it’s good to have a sense earlier than that

Career Dreams Dream #1: Many students come in thinking they will enter one of two professions, guess which ones? –Mom’s –Dad’s Dream #2: Many students envision… –Preparing for a specific job –Neatly moving up the ranks of the company they start with

Dream #1 Realities Students often pick mom and dad’s career because they don’t know their options They know… –A lot about 2-3 careers Mom’s, Dad’s, and Education –A reasonable amount about 4-5 more Law, Medicine, and Business to a lesser extent –Bits and pieces about perhaps 30 others They aren’t picking from the full line!

Dream #2 Realities The Changing Mindset of Careers –The days of 1 company years are in the past –The US Department of Labor predicts that college students will have had jobs by the time they are 38 years old –1 of 4 employees has worked for their company less than 1 year 1 of 2 less than 5 years

Facts About Careers There are approximately 15,000 careers in existence at any one time The majority of people are working in one of about 500 of those jobs It has been predicted by the Secretary of Education –The top 10 in demand jobs in 2010 will not have existed in 2004 –This means students are being prepared to work in jobs that don’t currently exist! This is not what students (or often parents) expect

Fear Not! Remember, everyone is facing the same realities! –And the world must continue to turn People will adapt because people have to adapt –Colleges have services to help

Preparing Wisely Take Action! –18 year-olds are not more ready to make major life decisions! Your task is to do something to help yourself be more ready! That something can be a lot of different things, but sitting and worrying doesn’t usually do much Seeking help is normative, not remedial! Know Thyself! –Knowing oneself allows one to recognize which opportunities to pursue! It helps narrow the list of career and major options to consider It can be of benefit when new opportunities present themselves as the world changes

Avoid the Myths Tunnel Vision – “If I want to work in marketing, I must have a marketing degree” Reality – An English major with solid experiences in marketing, company contacts, and good evaluations will get the job (even over the marketing major)!

Think Flexibly Did you know… –55% of Arts & Science majors go into a business career Highest percentage of any career path for A&S –Fewer than 25% of psychology majors work in a “psychology” profession –There is no “pre-law” major Law schools are increasingly attracted to hard science majors

How Can the College Help Me? Colleges have a number of services to help students with their career/academic preparation –Career Exploration & Testing Center Identify a direction/plan, both career and academic Increase self-knowledge –Academic Advising Set your degree plan –Office of Career Services Implement your career plan