Career Services 101 Penn State Lehigh Valley Campus Career Services Office is located at 139A Administration Building

WHO am I? During the first year of your college experience, you need to begin deciding WHO you are… WHERE do you (your personality and your interests) fit within the major choice categories? HOW do you get where you need to go – if you’re on the right track?!

Step One: Increase Your Self-Awareness Meet with your Career Services Counselor to identify your interests, values and abilities Test your interests through courses, volunteer jobs, student activities, and summer work Talk with friends and family about what they do on the job Identify majors relating to your abilities

Where’s the passion? The ideal major... is the one that you are most passionate about! Interests are key! Not all classes are created equal... some in particular will help to excel your career! Not all people are created equal... it’s important to examine our skills & abilities! Rocket science isn’t for everyone! Not all classes are created equal... some in particular will help to excel your career! Not all people are created equal... it’s important to examine our skills & abilities! Rocket science isn’t for everyone!

Assessing Interests HOW do you like to work with... ? WHAT TYPE of... do you like to work with? Where do you like to work with... ?

Step 2: Exploring Career Alternatives Obtain information about occupations Begin to identify what is important to you in a job Explore relevant work experiences such as externships or job shadowing, temporary positions and summer jobs Attend professional meetings in your areas of interest with a mentor

Step 3: Linking… Matching self- knowledge with occupational information Relate your values, interests and abilities to your major fields Interview people in areas that interest you about the nature of their jobs (also known as “informational interviewing”) Develop relationships with faculty and professionals Continue to increase skills Learn about job search strategies

Step 4: Implementation Do an internship in your field. Visit the Career Services Office at least six months in advance of when you would like to search for a job or internship. Talk with professionals in your field about job searching (also known as networking). Sharpen your job search skills.

Attend Career Sessions Take Advantage….. of Career Seminars like resume writing seminars, job search strategies, etiquette seminars, and so much more!

Attend Job Fairs Even in your first year, CHECKING OUT THE JOB FAIRS! can help you to define who you are

Tools & Assessments Myers Briggs Type Inventory Self-Directed Search Strong Interest Inventory Career Exploration Inventory computerized career sorts

Interview Preparation “Mock Interview” to prepare for the real thing to prepare for the real thing Practice in a mirror or in front of a video camera.

Research Your Market Talk with professionals about “What’s Hot” in fields that interest you Check out the Job Titles Dictionary Contact Chamber of Commerce in geographical area where you want to work about “hot jobs” and potential employers Check out appropriate internet sites

Do It All for You! Give yourself a chance! Participate with these experiences in order to develop yourself… so that you can sell yourself to the job recruiters who visit before graduation time.