This step allows you to investigate the world of work in greater depth, narrow a general occupational direction into a specific one through an informed decision making process, and declare a major. You will begin to identify potential careers, gather information about those careers, and match the career information with the results from your self-assessment.

Start by:

• Learning academic and career entrance requirements
• Learning related majors and careers to one's interests
• Investigating education and training required
• Learning skills and experience required
• Planning academic and career alternatives
• Learning job market trends

Competency Areas

• Gain research and investigative skills
• Practice decision-making, problem solving and critical thinking skills
• Enhance internal locus of control
• Increase understanding of how abilities, interests, and values match career/academic requirements

Find out more about competencies.

Strategies For Gaining Competencies

Strategies are those concrete items that lead you to acquiring a specific goal or competency.

• Investigate careers in the Career Resource Library
• Conduct Informational Interviews to acquire information
• Spend a day on the job with two professionals in different careers
• Seek information from academic advisors and career counselors
• Invite two professors to a student group meeting to discuss academic fields
• Take courses or attend workshops in areas where transferable skills will be gained (i.e. communications, computer knowledge, foreign languages, diversity and international studies).
• Attend Job/Career Fairs and/or Career Panels
• Participate in the Study Abroad program
• Work on a university, resident hall or club event
• Join an intramural team
• Run for an elected office
• Start a small business
• Be a camp counselor or Big Brother/Sister volunteer
• Volunteer as a campus tour guide or in a service organization

Back to  Career Planning Process