By Karen Simonson/reporter
Students should follow four steps when choosing a career, a NW Campus coordinator said Nov. 6.
In Stuck? Four Steps to Choosing a Career, Tracy Williams of career and employment services told students to take an assessment, consider career options, conduct research and explore.
“Some people go into it with their eyes closed,” she said. “They say, ‘I was offered a job and I took it,’ but that’s really not a good way to spend your eight hours,” she said.
To find a career that is satisfying, Williams said students must find out about themselves.
“The assessment is a guide to finding out more about you,” she said.
Williams said students can make an appointment at the career and employment services office to schedule an assessment.
“We help you interpret the test and give you some feedback on what these tests mean about you,” she said.
Students also need to identify careers that match their personality type, preferences, interests, strengths and weaknesses. They also need to determine what they value: money, prestige, independence, helping others or creativity.
“You have to consider when looking at jobs if that career will fulfill your needs,” she said. “Understanding yourself is very important.”
Then students should research their career and consider any education or preparation needed as well as where they will work, what they will do and whether the career will be in demand.
Williams recommended visiting the Web sites of professional organizations, individual companies and the Bureau of Labor Statistics to investigate job duties, degree requirements, qualifications and licensing.
“Just because you go through graduate school and get a master’s in psychology does not mean you can go out and get a job as a psychologist,” she said.
Students can learn insider information about careers by volunteering or working in the environment.
“You have to see it with your own eyes,” she said. “If you want to be a dentist, you might want to work in a dentist office. Once you’re immersed in that environment, you’re going to know more about it from the inside out.”
“If you’re going to select the right career, it takes time. It’s not going to be something you can do in a week. You have to do that exploration. You have to do that research.”
