Students

Majors & Careers

Plan to Reach Goals

Where Are You in the Career Process?

  1. I can identify my career-related interests, skills, preferences, & values.
  2. I know where & how to search for information on majors, careers, graduate schools, and organizations.
  3. I have made a decision about my future career.
  4. I know how to write a resume and search for a job or internship.
  5. I am ready for lifelong career success.

Stage 1: Self-Discovery

"My life is my message." — Gandhi

"How can one separate personality from work? They blend together to form who I am and what I wish to be." — Bill Clinton

Self-Discovery, in this context, is a process in which you gather information about yourself to help you make a decision about your career. Developing an understanding of "who you are" (interests, values, skills, personality traits and desired lifestyle) is fundamental in discovering "what you want to do."

Knowing "who you are" is essential whether you are:

  • Selecting a major
  • Exploring careers
  • Choosing an internship
  • Changing careers
  • Starting a job search
  • Entering graduate school

Ultimately you are the one to determine whether you will experience career satisfaction and success. Exploring the links below can provide you with valuable information linking to your career. Check off the boxes and once you've completed the steps below, move forward to Stage 2- Career Exploration.

  • Identify Your Interests (Link)
  • Clarify Your Values (Link)
  • Evaluate Your Skills (Link)
  • Assess Your Personality (Link)
  • Think about Your Desired Lifestyle (Link)

What fascinates me?

Interests

  • Make lists of things you like to do at school, work, and leisure
  • Use CHOICES Interest Profiler (CD-ROM in the Career Center Library)
  • Use Eureka (CD-ROM in the Career Center Library)
  • Go to the Matador bookstore, look at book titles and skim through the books that interest you -- write about it in your journal
  • Identify your favorite classes or aspects of classes
  • Take an interest assessment (see a career counselor) [link to assessment info]
  • Talk to your career counselor about your discoveries [link to career counseling info]

What gives my life meaning?

Values

  • Identifying your personal values is a vital part of developing a successful career plan. "Value," refers to your feelings about work and the contribution it makes to society.
  • Generally, when people pursue work that is consistent with their values they feel successful and satisfied in their careers.
  • Make a list of things that are important to you
  • Take a values assessment (see a career counselor) [link to assessment info]
  • Talk to your career counselor about your discoveries [link to career counseling info]

What are my strengths?

Skills

  • Make a list of your strengths
  • Evaluate school, work, volunteer and leisure experiences
  • Make a list of your past/present club and organizational memberships, and school activities
  • Review and record any volunteer work you performed (social, civic or religious organizations)
  • Use CHOICES Skills Profiler (CD-ROM in the Career Center Library)
  • Talk to your career counselor about your discoveries [link to career counseling info]
  • Take a skills assessment (see a career counselor) [link to assessment info]

What are my traits?

Personality

  • Are you energized by working with people or are you energized by working alone?
  • Do you prefer teamwork?
  • Do you prefer to work with facts or ideas?
  • Do you need structure or flexibility?
  • When solving problems, are you analytical or empathetic?
  • Do you try to avoid last-minute stress or are you energized by a last-minute pressures?
  • Take a personality assessment (see a career counselor) [link to career counseling info] (Link to Kiersey temperament)

How do I want to live?

Desired lifestyle

  • How important is it for you to live in Los Angeles?
  • Do you expect to own your own home/property?
  • How important to you is marriage/partner and family? How does it impact your work?
  • Would you consider working more than 40 hours a week if it was required by your job?
  • How important is flexibility in your schedule?
  • Is it essential for you to own and automobile?
  • How much leisure activity do you require? What type of activity is important to you?
  • How much money do you need to earn to support your lifestyle?
  • Talk to your career counselor about your discoveries

Additional Resources [link to general assessment info]

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Stage 2: Career Exploration

"One cannot create experience. You must undergo it." — Camus

"Change is the law of life, and those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future." — John F. Kennedy

Explore your career options and academic major. Learn about the interesting job titles and majors your self-assessment produced through research and attending job fairs. Choose some occupational titles and contact employers for informational interviews and job shadowing. Check out clubs and organizations for professional development. Finally, apply your classroom knowledge to the workplace through internships

  • Research Occupations and College Majors (link)
  • Attend Career Center Workshops & Events (link)
  • Complete Classroom Assignment/Projects (link)
  • Join Clubs and Organizations (link)
  • Participate in Informational Interviews/Job Shadowing (link)
  • Do Internships (link)

In this process, you may discover that you have some gaps in your information. If this is the case, returning to Stage 1: Self-Discovery (link) may be essential before moving forward.

Where can I find information?

Research Occupations and College Majors

  • Research can help you define career options.
  • The Career Center library and web page can open the door to exciting careers.
  • Check out occupational titles, requirements, responsibilities, employment outlook, salary information and related jobs
  • Use CHOICES & EUREKA (CD-ROM in Career Center library) to research occupations and salary information
  • Check out the Career Center website for research (link)
  • Investigate books and periodicals in the Career Center library
  • Explore the Occupational Outlook Handbook for career information (link)
  • Use your GE courses to explore options for your major
  • Go to the bookstore to check out required texts for various majors
  • View What Can I Do With This Major? (link)

How do I gather information from professionals?

Attend Career Center Workshops & Events

  • Increase your knowledge of the full range of jobs that people perform
  • Explore careers and learn about job search and preparation techniques through Career Center Internship, Career Development, and Graduate School workshops
  • Explore internships and volunteer options at seven major career fairs offered to you as a student of CSUN (link to events calendar)

How can I make this process more relevant?

Complete Classroom Assignments/Projects

  • Work with your professors to link your classroom assignments to career exploration.
  • Create a marketing plan for a local business
  • Compare building codes around LA
  • Research the history of the interior design field
  • Explore methods for preventing teacher burnout for special education teachers

How can I meet my future colleagues and have fun?

Join Clubs and Organizations

  • Organizations are useful sources of information about career options.
  • Develop leadership skills
  • Network with business professionals
  • Gather internship information
  • Learn about tours of work sites and internship information

How do I receive insider information?

Participate in Informational Interviews and Job Shadowing

  • For informational interviews, arrange for a brief meeting (15-20 minutes) with people working in the position similar to the one you are exploring and call them to ask about their work life (Link)
  • Job shadowing allows you to spend the day observing, interviewing and possibly assisting a professional working in a career field of interest to you. (Link)
  • Talk to your family, friends, counselors, advisors and professors to help you identify possible contacts.
  • Connect with the Career Center contacts through MonsterTrak.

How do I get the necessary experience to succeed?

Do Internships!

  • Internships combine learning and work.
  • It's a chance to take the skills that you have acquired and put them into action.
  • Internships give you the opportunity to explore and apply academic theory in the professional world.
  • Take the industry and occupational research you have acquired and explore internship options
  • Investigate internship sites the semester before your junior year
  • Review internship resources (link)
  • Gain real world experience in your field of interest
  • Don't know where to start? Connect with the Internship Coordinator to sort out the information, make decisions and create a plan

Additional Resources [link to occupational research info]

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Stage 3: Career Decision Making

"One's philosophy is not best expressed in words: it is expressed in the choices one makes...In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves." — Eleanor Roosevelt

Now that you've gathered some information about yourself and career fields, you need to organize what you've found, evaluate it, and make some decisions about the career direction you are going to take.

Remember!

  • Your decision does not "pigeonhole" you into a particular career or automatically limit your options in the future.
  • Your decision should allow you to pursue careers where you can be rewarded for doing what makes you happy.
  • Most people end up pursuing an average of 7 careers in their lifetime. So make your first choice and get ready for some real excitement!

Steps For Effective Decision Making:

  • Define the topic for your decision making [link]
  • Review & integrate information [link]
  • Identify options & alternatives [link]
  • Evaluate each option for possible outcomes [link]
  • Consider personal factors & challenges [link]
  • Make your decision! [link]

In this process, you may discover that you have some gaps in your information. If this is the case, returning to Stage 2: Career Exploration [link] may be essential before moving forward.

Steps For Effective Decision Making

What is my primary issue?

Step 1: Define the topic for your decision making

  • College major [link to Choosing a Major information]
  • Career
  • Internship, volunteer, part-time job or other targeted experience [link to each area]
  • Graduate programs or post-graduate training [link to grad school info]
  • Job or position offer
  • Career change

What information am I missing?

Step 2: Review & integrate information

  • Incorporate information gathered in Stages 1: Self Discovery & Stage 2: Career Exploration [link]
  • Seek clarification and further information specific to this career decision from your faculty, professional contacts, and mentors
  • Analyze insights gained from others and from your own experience
  • Set up an appointment with a career counselor to help you integrate information [link to career counseling info]

What are my choices?

Step 3: Identify options & alternatives

  • Brainstorm all the possibilities, seeking more information if needed
  • Narrow down to 3-5 most appealing/possible options
  • For example, you options might be to major in Business or Communication Studies

What do I need to consider?

Step 4: Evaluate each option for possible outcomes

Consider each of your options separately in view of:

  • Pros & cons (your view of what is positive and what is a drawback to each option)
  • Values & needs it satisfies
  • Benefits versus risks involved
  • Probable future outcomes
  • Skills necessary for success

What else should I keep in mind?

Step 5: Consider personal factors & challenges

Various issues may influence your decision making process such as:

  • Previous decision making successes
  • Lack of decision making experience
  • Indecisiveness caused by competing issues - personal decisions influencing school decisions
  • Limited interests
  • Anxiety
  • Lack of confidence
  • Your decision making style
  • Meet with a career counselor to discuss your decision making style and influences

What is best for me right now?

Step 6: Make your decision!

  • Assess your options in light of your previous evaluation
  • Choose the best option for now, remaining open to future re-evaluations/revisions

Additional Decision Making Resources [link to online decision making models]
Such as:

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Stage 4: Taking Action

"There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long-range risks and costs of comfortable inaction." — John F. Kennedy

You have made a decision! To get to your occupational goal you will need to prepare and then take action. Your strategy for getting to your career may include choosing a major, taking extra courses, and getting experience through a part-time job or internship within your career field of interest.

Questions to ponder:

  • Do you know how to identify potential job opportunities and prepare for interviews?
  • Can you create appropriate, well-developed, visually attractive marketing materials, including a resume, cover letters, and portfolios?
  • Can you design a job search plan, including strategies for the published and unpublished (or "hidden") job market?

Job and Internship Searching:

  • Meet with a career counselor to enhance your job search skills [link]
  • Develop resumes and cover letters [link]
  • Develop and enhance your interviewing skills [link]
  • Identify, research, and target potential employers [link]
  • Develop your professional network [link]
  • Attend university job fairs, on-campus interviews, information sessions, and networking events [link to descriptions & calendar]
  • Learn about salary negotiation and accepting a position [link]

Graduate School: [link to gad school info]

Job and Internship Searching:

Do I need a plan for my job search?

Meet with a career counselor to enhance your job search skills

  • Job search skills include development of resumes, cover letters, and interview skills, as well as, identifying the best methods for finding jobs.
  • Check out MonsterTrak, our job and internship listing service
  • Discuss with acareer counselor some alternative methods to finding a job (i.e. networking, proposal letters, etc.)

How do I tell an employer about my qualifications?

Develop resumes and cover letters

  • Resumes and cover letters are two different forms of written communication to demonstrate your skills, interests, abilities, accomplishments, involvement, etc. to the prospective employer.
  • The key to developing a successful resume and cover letter is to know: yourself, the position, the field, and the employer and then to target your resume.
  • The purpose of the resume and cover letter is to get you an interview.
  • See workshop and walk-in schedule (link)
  • See samples (link)

Is it a good idea to brag about yourself?

Develop and enhance your interviewing skills

  • Interviewing is the verbal communication of your skills, interests, abilities, accomplishments, involvement, etc. to the prospective employer.
  • The key to a successful interview is to know: yourself, the position, the field, and the employer and then to target your conversation and your responses.
  • The purpose of an interview is to secure employment.
  • Attend interview workshops or meet with a career counselor to practice and enhance your interview skills (link)
  • See sample interview questions (link)

How do I make them like me?

Identify, research, and target potential employers

  • This step is necessary in order to effectively write your resume and cover letter and interview well.
  • Employers are impressed when you already have some knowledge about their company and how you can benefit their company.
  • Come to the Career Center to look at books, directories, and websites
  • Attend job fairs to identify, research and target potential employers
  • Check out company web pages and speak with their Human Resources Department
  • Discuss alternative methods for research with a career counselor

Who else can help me?

Develop your professional network

  • Utilize friends, family, neighbors, etc. to help you in your job search. Let them know what type of job you desire so that they can keep their eyes open.
  • Join a professional organization, if there is one for your field (i.e. American Marketing Association). There are often student chapters here on campus (link to Student Development)
    • Discuss opportunities with professors
    • Conduct informational interviews to meet people in your field and gather more information (link)

What activities can I participate in?

Attend university job fairs, on campus interviews, information sessions, and networking events

  • These events provide opportunities for you to meet, network, gather information, submit resumes, apply for jobs, or interview with prospective employers
  • See calendar of events (link)

Oh no, I have another job offer! How do I decide?

Learn about salary negotiation and accepting a position

  • Your job search does not end with the interview, salary negotiations and accepting the position are integral parts of the process.
  • This step is generally your time to ask questions and clarify expectations and job duties.
  • The salary offer and position should be something that is mutually beneficial to both you and the employer.
  • When discussing salary negotiations, keep in mind the overall compensation package, including health care, time-off, parking, etc. (link to MonsterTrak and Career Resources).
  • If your salary offer is $30,000, it is actually about 40% more if you take into account your benefits.
  • Remember the values and lifestyle expectations that you've identified in Stage 1: Self-Discovery.

Additional Resources [link to job search resources]

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Stage 5: Lifelong Career Management

We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring, will be to arrive where we started, and know the place for the first time." — T.S. Eliot

You've figured it all out and so the process is over, right? Wrong! Career planning and life planning go together. You will evolve throughout your lifetime to meet the needs of a changing world and so will your career goals.

Keys For Staying Ready For What Life Has To Offer:

  • Keep your resume up-to-date
  • Develop and update your professional portfolio
  • Never stop learning = Professional development
  • Commit to constant self-assessment
  • Evaluate your career goals regularly

Keys For Staying Ready For What Life Has To Offer:

Why bother?

Keep your resume up-to-date

  • If you are doing a great job at your current place of employment or internship, more than likely, someone is going to request your resume for a job they have in mind for you. Be prepared!
  • Review your resume content at least twice a year
  • Add any new job titles, internship experiences, duties, projects, organizational affiliations, and leadership experiences before you forget them
  • Be prepared to eliminate information that is irrelevant or out-of-date
  • Use the Career Center resources to help you enhance your resume as you become more experienced in your chosen field. Your resume should mature as you mature in your career

How can I really impress an employer?

Develop and update your professional portfolio

  • A professional career portfolio provides evidence of your related achievements, the type of work you've done, and the type of employee you will be.
  • A portfolio goes beyond a resume and cover letter.
  • Present your portfolio in your interview for a job or internship
  • Items included in your portfolio should have information relevant to your industry and interests and should provide evidence of your achievements and skills.
    • Letters of recommendation from employers and professors - at least 3
    • Performance reviews
    • Thank-you letters - preferably on the recommender's letterhead
    • Awards, scholarships, grants
    • Examples of writing: articles, papers
    • Examples of projects
    • Examples of presentations
    • Brochures and fliers created
    • Certificate programs completed
    • Academic curriculum
    • Web sites and pages created
    • College transcripts
    • Marketing plans
    • Computer program code
  • Use a high quality folder/portfolio/binder that attractively displays professional documents. Plastic sheet covers are also often used to give an added professional look.
  • You may also want to do an electronic or web portfolio if the employer uses electronic resumes.

Will I be expected to have the latest knowledge in my field?

Never stop learning = Professional development

  • Professional development is the means by which you will stay current with the latest trends in your chosen profession and it is how you will grow your professional network.
  • Join professional organizations in your field and be an active member
  • Remember, many professional organizations offer student membership
  • Attend conferences covering topics in your interest areas
  • Get trained, certified, and licensed in a variety of skill areas related to your interests
  • Develop a mentoring relationship with someone you admire in your field
  • Subscribe to professional journals, publications, and listserves

What if I start changing my mind about the career I want?

Commit to constant self-assessment

  • Your priorities, interests, and skills will change as you experience life. No one expects you to like the same things forever.
  • Pay attention to your level of satisfaction with your job or internship. Feelings of frustration can mean that some kind of change is necessary, either in your daily duties or in your position entirely
  • If you are feeling satisfied in your current position, reflect on those aspects of the job that make your happy. Try to ensure that those aspects will continue to be in place
  • Once a year, write down: your top personal and career values, your current career interests, and the skills you have acquired
  • Meet with your career counselor to help you with your self-assessment process

How can I strive for a lifetime of happiness?

Evaluate your career goals regularly

  • Having long-term goals gives your daily life meaning. A goal is your light at the end of the tunnel.
  • Evaluate your career goals at least every 5 years and hopefully more often
  • You may need to change the job title or the entire career field that would make you happy
  • Remember, as we stated earlier, most people end up pursuing an average of 7 careers in their lifetime

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