Created by Kathy Kelley Career Investigation Created by Kathy Kelley

Where do I begin? "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?" "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to," said the cat. "I don't much care where..." said Alice. "Then it doesn't matter which way you go," said the cat. Lewis Carroll, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

The Career Process Take Assessments Research your interests Analyze your research Develop your career objective Prepare for a Job Search Look for a job Life-long process

Career Tests Assessments should include a component to measure personality, values, and interests. You will take: Type Focus – personality and interests Texas Oscar –values Rutgers's Online Career Tests – skills, interests, and values

Research Your Interests There are many research tools available to you. Occupational Outlook Handbook http://www.bls.gov/OCO/ Texas Health Careers http://www.texashealthcareers.org/ Career One Stop http://www.acinet.org/ UC Berkeley Career Center http://career.berkeley.edu/infolab/CareerFields.stm Research will help you narrow your options.

More Research Vocational Information http://www.khake.com/page2.html What can I do with a major in,… http://www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/majors/ Job Hunter’s Bible: http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/

Analyze Your Data Read articles or books Use research tools Volunteer Obtain a part-time job, internship or summer employment in your area of interest Join a related campus group Join a professional organization

Develop a Career Objective Form an objective statement that guides you towards a career decision Evaluate how long you plan to spend in college Consider your beliefs and assumptions about your goal and the process My Plan is:

Obtain a Degree Plan A degree plan is your road map to your educational goals. It tells you the specific classes you need to complete. A degree plan allows you to monitor your completion of requirements taking you closer towards graduation.

Prepare for the Job Search Network Compose a quality resume and cover letter Practice interviewing skills Identify job search resources Create a portfolio of your best work Gather letters of recommendation from previous employers

Portfolio Creation How to create an electronic portfolio: A sample: http://electronicportfolios.org/portfolios/howto/index.html A sample: http://electronicportfolios.org/ Resources: http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic82.htm

Look for a Job Develop an action plan Refine your job search Attend professional conferences Network Read professional journals

Once You Land a Job Career development is a lifelong process Once you obtain a job, the career process begins again. Maintain professional memberships Network Seek new online tools Read Learn what is innovative in your field