Choosing A Career and MajorChoosing A Career and Major

TopicsTopics Career Decision Making ModelCareer Decision Making Model Steps for finding a Career that Steps for finding a Career that

fits/Career Developmentfits/Career Development Self-Assessment ToolsSelf-Assessment Tools Exploring OccupationsExploring Occupations Choice of MajorChoice of Major

Career Decision Making ModelCareer Decision Making Model

5.

4. 3.

2.

1.

Resources

1. Define the Problem1. Define the Problem2. Know Yourself2. Know Yourself3. Generate Options & 3. Generate Options &

Gather Information Gather Information about about

optionsoptions4. Decide on Option4. Decide on Option5. Implement Decision & 5. Implement Decision &

Review OutcomeReview Outcome

Steps for Finding a Career that Steps for Finding a Career that Fits/Career DevelopmentFits/Career Development

1. Self Assessment

Tools

2. Exploring Occupations

3. Career/Major

Decision

4. Choice of Major

5. Career/Major

Implementation

Step 1: Self Assessment ToolsStep 1: Self Assessment Tools

Self-Directed Search Self-Directed Search (SDS)/Interest Profiler(SDS)/Interest Profiler

Skills ProfilerSkills Profiler Values Values

Assessment/Card SortAssessment/Card Sort Career Thoughts Career Thoughts

Inventory (CTI)Inventory (CTI)

Interests

SkillsValues

Step 2: Exploring OccupationsStep 2: Exploring Occupations Web-Based ResearchWeb-Based Research

• Occupational Outlook Occupational Outlook HandbookHandbook (OOH): (OOH):

http://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htmhttp://www.bls.gov/oco/home.htm• O’Net OnlineO’Net Online: :

http://www.onetonline.org/http://www.onetonline.org/• Florida's Academic Counseling Florida's Academic Counseling

and Tracking for Studentsand Tracking for Students: : www.facts.orgwww.facts.org

Printed MaterialPrinted Material Informational InterviewsInformational Interviews Career-Related ExperienceCareer-Related Experience

Step 3: Career/Major DecisionStep 3: Career/Major Decision

Decide on a careerDecide on a career• Self-assessSelf-assess• Explore occupationsExplore occupations• Select top 5 occupational optionsSelect top 5 occupational options• Rank your choicesRank your choices• Make a choiceMake a choice

Match the career to the majorMatch the career to the major

Step 4: Choice of MajorStep 4: Choice of MajorApproach the selection of your Approach the selection of your major in the same way you major in the same way you approached your choice of a approached your choice of a career field. Research the career field. Research the majors offered. Talk with majors offered. Talk with academic advisors, faculty and academic advisors, faculty and other students in majors that other students in majors that interest you.interest you.

Some things to consider:Some things to consider: What courses would you take? What courses would you take? What knowledge, skills and What knowledge, skills and

experience would you gain experience would you gain from a given major? from a given major?

Are the subjects you'll be Are the subjects you'll be studying of interest to you? studying of interest to you?

Do you have the aptitude to Do you have the aptitude to do well? do well?

What types of careers have What types of careers have graduates with these majors graduates with these majors gone into after graduation? gone into after graduation?

Websites Websites

What can I do with this Major?What can I do with this Major?http://www.career.usf.edu/students/http://www.career.usf.edu/students/

majors/default.htmlmajors/default.html

Major and Career ProfileMajor and Career Profilehttp://http://

www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majorwww.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiless_careers/profiles//

Florida's Academic Counseling and Florida's Academic Counseling and Tracking for Students Tracking for Students

http://http://www.facts.orgwww.facts.org

Step 5: Career/Major Step 5: Career/Major ImplementationImplementation

Career Related Experience:Career Related Experience:• Part-time employmentPart-time employment• InternshipsInternships• Cooperative Education (Co-op)Cooperative Education (Co-op)• Volunteer Volunteer

ReferencesReferences

(2011). Retrieved from (2011). Retrieved from http://www.career.usf.edu/students/chttp://www.career.usf.edu/students/choose.htmhoose.htm