With many hoping to find university placement, it is important to know what options are available and what suits every individual best. To evaluate what career path you should follow, USA TODAY has a few guide questions to help arrive at what career would suit you best.
According to an article in USA TODAY College, if you could use some help exploring your options, you’re not alone. The higher education research group Ruffalo Noel-Levitz reports that 78% of students want help selecting an educational program.It begins by gathering information about yourself and your options. Take some notes as you consider the thought-provoking questions below. Then look for themes and share the new insights that emerge. This will spark a deeper dialogue, identify missing information and clarify your next steps.
How do your favorite movies, books and television shows illuminate your interests or values?
When have you felt a sense of pride? How do the skills you used to achieve these accomplishments relate to majors and careers?
What jobs, hobbies, co-curricular or service opportunities have you enjoyed?
What challenges have you overcome? How can you use these triumphs to help others?
If money and skill were not factors, what would be your dream job? If you won the lottery, but still needed to work, how would you spend your time?
If you won the lottery, but still needed to work, how would you spend your time? What do you find yourself daydreaming about?
What do you find yourself daydreaming about?
What do you want to change in the world?
What kinds of problems do you like solving?
What topics or courses captivate you most?
When you picture yourself on the job in the future, are you working with data, people, things or ideas? What are the interests, skills and values of people in the occupations that appeal to you?
What percentage of your time do you prefer to spend on a computer, with others or outdoors? What are the working conditions of the occupations you are considering?
Is a license or credentialing exam required for this career? If so, a specific major may be needed to satisfy these requirements.
What are the popular career paths for graduates of your degree program?
Is graduate school required to advance or enter this career? If so, are you motivated to pursue additional education, and what are the prerequisite requirements of these programs?
What salary do you hope to earn?
What overlapping courses exist between all the majors that you are considering? Enroll in these courses first to gain time to choose among your options.
What do other students in this discipline have to say about the program? Speak with them to gain first-hand information about the major.
Do your previous grades and transcript indicate that you can succeed in the courses required for the degree program?
If you are interested in more than one major, can you double major? How many electives remain after you satisfy the course requirements of the major that interests you most?
If your preferred occupation became obsolete or does not work out, which alternatives appeal to you?
Are there ways you can combine multiple interests into an ideal option? For example, organizational psychology offers a blend of business and social science courses.
What opportunities exist to gain experience and confirm your goals?
What does a typical day look like in the occupations you are considering?
What do others think about your decision and how do these perceptions impact your choice?
What is your greatest challenge to pursuing your career goals? What resources are available to help you overcome this barrier? For example, if you are considering a non-traditional occupation, are there professional associations or mentors that can offer you support?
How have you made other decisions in your life? Are there aspects of this approach that can help you with this choice?
What are the pros and cons of the options you are considering?
Do you find yourself worrying about making the right choice? Are you hoping that you will be satisfied with every aspect of an occupation or guaranteed success? Are your thoughts about both the process and outcome accurate? Examining your expectations prevents you from making impulsive choices or avoiding decisions.
This article was first published on the USA TODAY College site.
