Majors and Careers: Making the Right Choices By Jamal Shareef.

Majors and Careers:Majors and Careers:Making the Right Making the Right

ChoicesChoices

By Jamal ShareefBy Jamal Shareef

Finding CareersFinding Careers

QuestionQuestion

• Ask Yourselves: “Why am I in Ask Yourselves: “Why am I in college?”college?”

Changing WorldChanging World

• Change has become the norm. Change has become the norm. • Careers frequently zigzag into other Careers frequently zigzag into other

areas.areas.– Ex: different languages, computer skills, Ex: different languages, computer skills,

artistic design, etc.artistic design, etc.

• As you work, you’ll be continually As you work, you’ll be continually enhancing and expanding your skills enhancing and expanding your skills and competencies.and competencies.

Who is Responsible for Who is Responsible for Your CareerYour Career

• You are, more or less, responsible for You are, more or less, responsible for your career.your career.– Traditionally, organizations provided Traditionally, organizations provided

structured “ladders” for employees to structured “ladders” for employees to climb in order to reach higher climb in order to reach higher professional levels.professional levels.

– Those ladders are beginning to Those ladders are beginning to disappear.disappear.

– You have the ultimate task of You have the ultimate task of engineering your career path.engineering your career path.

Plan AheadPlan Ahead

• To advance your career, you must To advance your career, you must accept the risks that accompany accept the risks that accompany employment and plan for the future.employment and plan for the future.– Organizations continually restructure, Organizations continually restructure,

merge, and either grow or downsize in merge, and either grow or downsize in response to economic conditions.response to economic conditions.

– As a result, positions may be cut.As a result, positions may be cut.– Because you can be unexpectedly Because you can be unexpectedly

unemployed, it will be wise to keep other unemployed, it will be wise to keep other options in mind.options in mind.

The Perfect JobThe Perfect Job

• A college degree does not guarantee A college degree does not guarantee employment.employment.– Your degree opens up opportunities Your degree opens up opportunities

that are more rewarding, financially that are more rewarding, financially and otherwise.and otherwise.

– But just because you want to work for a But just because you want to work for a certain organization doesn’t mean there certain organization doesn’t mean there will always be a job for you there.will always be a job for you there.

Adding SustenanceAdding Sustenance

• A commitment to lifelong learning A commitment to lifelong learning will help keep you employable.will help keep you employable.– In college you have been learning a In college you have been learning a

vital skill: how to learn.vital skill: how to learn.– Your learning has just begun when you Your learning has just begun when you

receive your diploma.receive your diploma.– Over time, continue to build a portfolio Over time, continue to build a portfolio

of what you have learned, and all you of what you have learned, and all you have achieved.have achieved.

Connecting Majors with Connecting Majors with Your CareerYour Career

• Truth is, most majors do not lead Truth is, most majors do not lead into a specific career path or job.into a specific career path or job.

• For ex: Today English majors are For ex: Today English majors are designing web pages and philosophy designing web pages and philosophy majors are developing logic codes majors are developing logic codes for operating systems.for operating systems.

Exploring Your InterestsExploring Your Interests

• Exploring your interests is the best Exploring your interests is the best way to choose an academic major.way to choose an academic major.

• It is recommended that you major in It is recommended that you major in something you are really passionate something you are really passionate about.about.

• Remember, there is more than one Remember, there is more than one right way to get where you want to right way to get where you want to go.go.

Why Am I in College?Why Am I in College?

• Before you answer the question, consider these Before you answer the question, consider these points:points:– Am I here to find out who I am and study a subject Am I here to find out who I am and study a subject

that I am truly passionate about, regardless of that I am truly passionate about, regardless of whether it leads to a career?whether it leads to a career?

– Am I here to engage in an academic program that Am I here to engage in an academic program that provides an array of possibilities when I graduate?provides an array of possibilities when I graduate?

– Am I here to prepare myself for a graduate program?Am I here to prepare myself for a graduate program?– Am I here to obtain specific training in a field that I Am I here to obtain specific training in a field that I

am committed to?am committed to?– Am I here for to gain specific skills for a job I already Am I here for to gain specific skills for a job I already

have?have?

Room to BreatheRoom to Breathe

• You don’t have to know your goals You don’t have to know your goals when you first come to college, when you first come to college, because it is progression and because it is progression and exploration that will help you define exploration that will help you define them.them.

• However, selecting a major and a However, selecting a major and a career ultimately has to fit with your career ultimately has to fit with your overall life goals, life purposes, overall life goals, life purposes, values, and beliefs.values, and beliefs.

Organizing YourselfOrganizing Yourself

• Identify potential career choices by Identify potential career choices by organizing yourself.organizing yourself.

• There are six different categories of people There are six different categories of people based on differences of interests, skills, based on differences of interests, skills, values, and personality characteristics:values, and personality characteristics:– RealisticRealistic– InvestigativeInvestigative– ArtisticArtistic– SocialSocial– EnterprisingEnterprising– ConventionalConventional

RealisticRealistic• These people describe themselves as concrete, These people describe themselves as concrete,

down-to-earth, and practical doers.down-to-earth, and practical doers.• They exhibit competitive/ assertive behavior They exhibit competitive/ assertive behavior

and show interest in activities that require and show interest in activities that require motor coordination, skill, and physical motor coordination, skill, and physical strength.strength.

• They prefer situations involving action They prefer situations involving action solutions rather than tasks involving verbal or solutions rather than tasks involving verbal or interpersonal skills, and they like to take a interpersonal skills, and they like to take a concrete approach to problem solving rather concrete approach to problem solving rather than rely on abstract theory.than rely on abstract theory.

• They tend to be interested in scientific or They tend to be interested in scientific or mechanical areas rather than cultural and mechanical areas rather than cultural and aesthetic fields.aesthetic fields.

(Realistic)(Realistic)

• Possible Careers:Possible Careers:– Agricultural engineerAgricultural engineer– Electrical contractorElectrical contractor– Industrial arts teacherIndustrial arts teacher– Navy officerNavy officer– Fitness directorFitness director– Package engineerPackage engineer– Electronics technicianElectronics technician– Computer graphics technicianComputer graphics technician

InvestigativeInvestigative

• These people describe themselves as These people describe themselves as analytical, rational, and logical problem analytical, rational, and logical problem solvers.solvers.

• They value intellectual stimulation and They value intellectual stimulation and intellectual achievement and prefer to intellectual achievement and prefer to think rather than to act, to organize and think rather than to act, to organize and understand rather than to persuade.understand rather than to persuade.

• They usually have a strong interest in They usually have a strong interest in physical, biological, or social sciences.physical, biological, or social sciences.

• They are less apt to be people oriented.They are less apt to be people oriented.

(Investigative)(Investigative)

• Possible Careers:Possible Careers:– Urban plannerUrban planner– Chemical engineerChemical engineer– BacteriologistBacteriologist– Flight engineerFlight engineer– GenealogistGenealogist– Laboratory Laboratory

techniciantechnician– Marine scientistMarine scientist

– Nuclear medical Nuclear medical technologisttechnologist

– ObstetricianObstetrician– Quality-control Quality-control

techniciantechnician– Computer Computer

programmerprogrammer– EnvironmentalistEnvironmentalist– PhysicianPhysician– College professorCollege professor

ArtisticArtistic

• These people describe themselves as These people describe themselves as creative, innovative, and independent.creative, innovative, and independent.

• They value self-expression and relations They value self-expression and relations with others through artistic expression with others through artistic expression and are also emotionally expressive.and are also emotionally expressive.

• They dislike structure, preferring tasks They dislike structure, preferring tasks involving personal or physical skills. involving personal or physical skills.

• They resemble investigative people but They resemble investigative people but are more interested in the cultural or the are more interested in the cultural or the aesthetic than the scientific.aesthetic than the scientific.

(Artistic)(Artistic)

• Possible Careers:Possible Careers:– ArchitectArchitect– Film editor/director Film editor/director – ActorActor– CartoonistCartoonist– Interior decoratorInterior decorator– Fashion modelFashion model– Graphic Graphic

communications communications specialistspecialist

– JournalistJournalist– EditorEditor– Orchestra leaderOrchestra leader– Public relations Public relations

specialistspecialist– SculptorSculptor– Media specialistMedia specialist– LibrarianLibrarian– Reporter Reporter

SocialSocial

• These people describe themselves as kind, These people describe themselves as kind, caring, helpful, and understanding of caring, helpful, and understanding of others. others.

• They value helping and making a They value helping and making a contribution.contribution.

• They satisfy their needs in one-to-one or They satisfy their needs in one-to-one or small-group interaction using strong small-group interaction using strong speaking skills to teach, counsel, or advise.speaking skills to teach, counsel, or advise.

• They are drawn to close interpersonal They are drawn to close interpersonal relationships and are less apt to engage in relationships and are less apt to engage in intellectual or extensive physical activity.intellectual or extensive physical activity.

(Social)(Social)

• Possible Careers:Possible Careers:– NurseNurse– TeacherTeacher– Social workerSocial worker– Genetic counselorGenetic counselor– Marriage counselorMarriage counselor– Rehabilitation Rehabilitation

counselorcounselor– School School

superintendentsuperintendent

– Geriatric specialistGeriatric specialist– Insurance claims Insurance claims

specialistspecialist– MinisterMinister– Travel agentTravel agent– Guidance counselorGuidance counselor– Conventional Conventional

plannerplanner

EnterprisingEnterprising

• These people describe themselves as These people describe themselves as assertive, risk taking, and persuasive.assertive, risk taking, and persuasive.

• They value prestige, power, and status They value prestige, power, and status and are more inclined than other types to and are more inclined than other types to pursue it.pursue it.

• They use verbal skills to supervise, lead, They use verbal skills to supervise, lead, direct, and persuade rather than to direct, and persuade rather than to support or guide.support or guide.

• They are interested in people and in They are interested in people and in achieving organizational goals.achieving organizational goals.

(Enterprising)(Enterprising)

• Possible Careers:Possible Careers:– BankerBanker– City managerCity manager– FBI agentFBI agent– Health Health

administratoradministrator– JudgeJudge– Labor arbitratorLabor arbitrator– Salary and wage Salary and wage

administratoradministrator

– Insurance Insurance salespersonsalesperson

– Sales engineerSales engineer– LawyerLawyer– Sales Sales

representativerepresentative– Marketing Marketing

specialistspecialist

ConventionalConventional

• These people describe themselves as neat, These people describe themselves as neat, orderly, detail oriented, and persistent. orderly, detail oriented, and persistent.

• They value order, structure, prestige, and They value order, structure, prestige, and status and possess a high degree of self-status and possess a high degree of self-control.control.

• They are not opposed to rules and They are not opposed to rules and regulations.regulations.

• They are skilled in organizing, planning, They are skilled in organizing, planning, and scheduling and are interested in data and scheduling and are interested in data and people.and people.

(Conventional)(Conventional)

• Possible careers:Possible careers:– AccountantAccountant– StatisticianStatistician– Census enumeratorCensus enumerator– Data processorData processor– Hospital Hospital

administratoradministrator– Insurance Insurance

administratoradministrator– Office managerOffice manager

– UnderwriterUnderwriter– AuditorAuditor– Personnel specialistPersonnel specialist– Database managerDatabase manager– Abstractor/ indexerAbstractor/ indexer

Career ChoicesCareer Choices

• Your career choices ultimately will involve Your career choices ultimately will involve a complex assessment of the factors that a complex assessment of the factors that are most important to you.are most important to you.

• You can aid yourself by:You can aid yourself by:– First, begin to identify many career fields that First, begin to identify many career fields that

are consistent with what you know about are consistent with what you know about yourself.yourself.• Identifying potential fields allows you to research Identifying potential fields allows you to research

them further.them further.

– Second, identify conflicts you could possibly Second, identify conflicts you could possibly have with career choices.have with career choices.• This will help you analyze the reasons for your career This will help you analyze the reasons for your career

decisions and be more confident as you make choices.decisions and be more confident as you make choices.

Room to BreatheRoom to Breathe

• Never feel you have to make a Never feel you have to make a decision simply on the results of one decision simply on the results of one assessment of yourself.assessment of yourself.

• Career choices are complex and Career choices are complex and involve many factors; furthermore, involve many factors; furthermore, these decisions are not irreversible.these decisions are not irreversible.

Factors Affecting Career Factors Affecting Career ChoicesChoices

• Some people have a definite self-image Some people have a definite self-image when they enter college, but most of us when they enter college, but most of us are still in the process of defining are still in the process of defining ourselves throughout life.ourselves throughout life.

• We can look at ourselves in several useful We can look at ourselves in several useful ways with respect to possible careers:ways with respect to possible careers:– ValuesValues– InterestsInterests– SkillsSkills– AptitudesAptitudes– PersonalityPersonality– Life goals and work valuesLife goals and work values

ValuesValues

• Today, more than ever, knowing Today, more than ever, knowing your core values will be important in your core values will be important in shaping your career path. shaping your career path.

• In a fast economy, having a strong In a fast economy, having a strong rudder will help you steer through rudder will help you steer through the turbulent times.the turbulent times.

InterestsInterests

• Interests develop from your experiences Interests develop from your experiences and beliefs and can continue to develop and beliefs and can continue to develop and change throughout life.and change throughout life.

• You may be interested in writing for the You may be interested in writing for the college newspaper because you wrote for college newspaper because you wrote for your high school paper.your high school paper.

• It’s not unusual to enter Psych 101 with a It’s not unusual to enter Psych 101 with a great interest in psychology and realize great interest in psychology and realize halfway through the course that halfway through the course that psychology is not what you imagined.psychology is not what you imagined.

SkillsSkills

• Skills, or the ability to do something Skills, or the ability to do something well, can usually be improved with well, can usually be improved with practice.practice.

AptitudesAptitudes

• Aptitudes, the foundation for skills, Aptitudes, the foundation for skills, are inherent strengths that are often are inherent strengths that are often part of your biological heritage or part of your biological heritage or the result of early training.the result of early training.

• We each have aptitudes we can build We each have aptitudes we can build on.on.

• Build on your strengths.Build on your strengths.

PersonalityPersonality

• Your personality makes you Your personality makes you you you and and can’t be ignored when you make can’t be ignored when you make career decisions.career decisions.

• The quiet, orderly, calm, detail-The quiet, orderly, calm, detail-oriented person probably will make oriented person probably will make a different work choice than the a different work choice than the aggressive, outgoing, argumentative aggressive, outgoing, argumentative person.person.

Life Goals & Work ValuesLife Goals & Work Values

• Each of us defines success and Each of us defines success and satisfaction in our own way.satisfaction in our own way.

• If your values are in conflict with the If your values are in conflict with the organizational values where you work, organizational values where you work, you may be in for trouble.you may be in for trouble.

• The process is complex and very personal.The process is complex and very personal.• Two factors influence our conclusions Two factors influence our conclusions

about success and happiness:about success and happiness:– Knowing that we are achieving the life goals Knowing that we are achieving the life goals

we’ve set for ourselves, andwe’ve set for ourselves, and– Finding that we gain satisfaction from what Finding that we gain satisfaction from what

we’re receiving from our work.we’re receiving from our work.

Your Career PlanningYour Career Planning• The process of making a career choice begins The process of making a career choice begins

with:with:– Understanding your values and motivationsUnderstanding your values and motivations– Identifying your interests.Identifying your interests.– Linking your personality and learning styles to Linking your personality and learning styles to

those interests.those interests.– Using this information to decide on an appropriate Using this information to decide on an appropriate

academic major.academic major.• This is a process you will begin in your first This is a process you will begin in your first

college year, and you will gradually complete college year, and you will gradually complete it as you move closer to graduation.it as you move closer to graduation.

• You will periodically reevaluate your plan to You will periodically reevaluate your plan to better suit your needs and any special better suit your needs and any special characteristics of your major.characteristics of your major.

ReferenceReference

• Gardner, John N., A. Jerome Jewler, & Gardner, John N., A. Jerome Jewler, & Betsy O. Barefoot (2007). Betsy O. Barefoot (2007). Your college Your college experience: Strategies for Success, 7th experience: Strategies for Success, 7th editionedition. Boston: Thomson Wadsworth. . Boston: Thomson Wadsworth.

• Career Services CenterCareer Services Center– PhonePhone

• 333-5942/333-5942/

– LocationLocation• Powell Hall West,Powell Hall West,

2nd Floor2nd Floor1500 N. Patterson St.1500 N. Patterson St.