Considering a Major and Career FieldWhy should you try to think now about what you want to do
for the next ten years (at least)? Colleges and vocational schools may have
specialties (like pre-law or physical sciences). Then again, they may not offer
some majors at all. If you have to transfer later, it’s usually possible, but
it may be costly, so it’s best to choose a school that features your career
path.
- Know your abilities. In which classes do you feel most
comfortable? Take the ASVAB! It’s free, and it might give you some ideas of
vocational strengths you possess. Your actual skills and natural talents may
differ from your interests, and what you’re good at doing could be a more
important consideration than what you think you like doing (since hobbies
change more frequently than abilities over a lifetime).
- Think about your interests. You’ll spend a lot of time
studying your major or career field, so you should concentrate on something you
enjoy. In all likelihood, your natural talents usually will be in an area or
career field that you will find appealing.
- List your priorities. Most folks would say a decent salary
is an important motivator, but money isn’t the only important factor in
deciding a career. The challenge a field poses, the opportunity to serve
others, flexibility and stability are all important vocational considerations.
- Don’t panic!! If you can’t decide on a career path, choosing
a good liberal arts college will help. Your first courses will be general
requirements and will probably give you good ideas for a major.
The Career Information System (www.oregon.cis.uoregon.edu)
is a great tool for identifying career interests, and most schools offer access
to it (talk to your counselor, librarian, or business teacher for log-in
information). This site also has links to schools that offer training in
particular fields and descriptions of working conditions (pay, employment
prospects, qualifications needed, etc.)
If your school does not have access to the CIS,
the Occupation and Skills Explorers pages at www.qualityinfo.org may give you good
ideas about potential careers and majors. Two more good career research sites
are www.thefunworks.org and http://online.onetcenter.org/.
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