Monday, September 07, 2009
Sunday, September 06, 2009
You Control the The "You" Factors in Career Planning

Don’t know what you want to be when you grow up?
If you’ve already graduated from high school, you may not know yourself well enough to give a career counselor all the information he or she needs to help you.
He or she will probably suggest one or more of the most reliable career assessments: perhaps the Strong or Campbell Interest Inventories. They’re quick, a good investment and the results statistically represent your age group results. Or, a career counselor could use a values assessment, to determine what’s important to you and where you could find those qualities in a job.
These assessments work on the premise that you will be successful at things you like, and believe in. That’s very true, but how do you know what you COULD be good at, and interested in, if you never get exposed to new ideas and get a chance to try them out? For young adults, in particular, assessment results are limited to what they’ve been exposed to up until now.
The most sophisticated tests used to guide career planning are available through a psychologist or someone trained in tests of personality, ability (like the DAT for PCA) and intelligence. Still, the results here are somewhat fixed, and speak only to the potential for you to fit a career. They’re more apt to help an employer make decisions, not you.
Even if you could get interested in a new skill, there is a ticket to admission into this career path: Your skills may have to be developed. Should you go to college, or to a career center? Or somewhere else?
Discouraged? Please don’t be!
Yes, these decisions are expensive, both in time and money. And, like any service, even a medical doctor, your career counselor needs your direction and thoughtful responses to their questions. No one can give you all the answers.
The thing to remember is that you are in charge of this process; not the professionals. And it’s a lifelong process. That’s why so many college students change majors; many more than once. And so many college students are undecided about a major. Many college graduates never pursue the job that they went to college for. Any many adults change careers.
As you move through your work life, you will make better decisions when you understand all the factors that uniquely drives your satisfaction in a job: interests, abilities, personality, and values. You’ll be more motivated and confident about the investment you might need to make in training or education. Our Career Explor-a-tion workshop might just be a good place to start! Write to info@whatsyourmajor.net
If you’ve already graduated from high school, you may not know yourself well enough to give a career counselor all the information he or she needs to help you.
He or she will probably suggest one or more of the most reliable career assessments: perhaps the Strong or Campbell Interest Inventories. They’re quick, a good investment and the results statistically represent your age group results. Or, a career counselor could use a values assessment, to determine what’s important to you and where you could find those qualities in a job.
These assessments work on the premise that you will be successful at things you like, and believe in. That’s very true, but how do you know what you COULD be good at, and interested in, if you never get exposed to new ideas and get a chance to try them out? For young adults, in particular, assessment results are limited to what they’ve been exposed to up until now.
The most sophisticated tests used to guide career planning are available through a psychologist or someone trained in tests of personality, ability (like the DAT for PCA) and intelligence. Still, the results here are somewhat fixed, and speak only to the potential for you to fit a career. They’re more apt to help an employer make decisions, not you.
Even if you could get interested in a new skill, there is a ticket to admission into this career path: Your skills may have to be developed. Should you go to college, or to a career center? Or somewhere else?
Discouraged? Please don’t be!
Yes, these decisions are expensive, both in time and money. And, like any service, even a medical doctor, your career counselor needs your direction and thoughtful responses to their questions. No one can give you all the answers.
The thing to remember is that you are in charge of this process; not the professionals. And it’s a lifelong process. That’s why so many college students change majors; many more than once. And so many college students are undecided about a major. Many college graduates never pursue the job that they went to college for. Any many adults change careers.
As you move through your work life, you will make better decisions when you understand all the factors that uniquely drives your satisfaction in a job: interests, abilities, personality, and values. You’ll be more motivated and confident about the investment you might need to make in training or education. Our Career Explor-a-tion workshop might just be a good place to start! Write to info@whatsyourmajor.net
Labels:
abilities,
career assessments,
careers,
college,
job search,
majors,
personality,
skills,
values,
workshop
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Job security depends not just on college major; also region & employer. But start here: http://ping.fm/3xUS8
Wednesday, September 02, 2009
Ohio families: Get smart about financial aid strategy! State assistance is down almost 50% FYs 2009-2011 http://www.aicuo.edu/Graphs%20-%20Financial%20Aid.html
Siegal College (Cleveland) Jewish Studies - academics, adult, continuing ed - graduate, adult, distance: http://ping.fm/hYIkW
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Youngstown State University accreditations: Business (AACSB); Education—
NCATE; Engineering—ABET http://www.ysu.edu/
info@whatsyourmajor.net
NCATE; Engineering—ABET http://www.ysu.edu/
info@whatsyourmajor.net
Monday, August 31, 2009
New @ University of Akron: 3 programs 4 top students in polymer science & engineering! Get graduate degree in 5 yrs! http://tiny.cc/Vduxb
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Academic counseling matters! Northeast Ohio community college study - a great start: http://ping.fm/Elj9O
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Career pathways to pharmacy from www.neucom.edu reaches 1800 students in 40 cities! http://ping.fm/xIscb
Career pathways to pharmacy program from CVS and www.neoucom.edu
reaches 1800 high schoolers in 40 cities!http://ping.fm/rLNYo
reaches 1800 high schoolers in 40 cities!http://ping.fm/rLNYo
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Slash tuition costs! 40 degrees thru Lorain County Community College's University Partnership Program! http://ping.fm/kCFoj
Slash tuition costs! 40 Bachelor's/Master's degrees thru Lorain County Community College's University Partnership Program! http://ping.fm/kn4lG
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Slash tuition costs! 40 Bachelor/Masters degrees thru Lorain County Community College's University Partnership: http://ping.fm/r0RK9
Saturday, August 22, 2009
National Academic Programming News!

New academic programs were announced this week at:
• Arcadia University - graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, a technique used to help those with autism and communication disorders.
• Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Ph.D. in organizational leadership.
• Hudson County Community College, (NJ) - associate degrees in hospitality: hotel and restaurant management, entrepreneurship, and travel and tourism
• Arcadia University - graduate certificate in Applied Behavior Analysis, a technique used to help those with autism and communication disorders.
• Chicago School of Professional Psychology - Ph.D. in organizational leadership.
• Hudson County Community College, (NJ) - associate degrees in hospitality: hotel and restaurant management, entrepreneurship, and travel and tourism
Write to us at What's Your Major? sm for advice and workshops for college planning and success!
Friday, August 21, 2009
Students now prep for professional dance @ expanded prog @ Lakeland Community College: http://ping.fm/EJhqn
www.whatsyourmajor.net
www.whatsyourmajor.net
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