Okay, okay, we know what your thinking. Didn’t we just talk about
assessment in the last stage? Well, you’re right. Just like those
green leafy vegetables you should eat more of, we believe one can
never have too much self-assessment or exploration. This stage differs
from the first one as the focus of the assessment and explorations
shifts a little from being holistic in nature to becoming more focused
on the professional and career aspects of yourself. By this time, you
may have some idea of what you are good at (skills) and what you like
and want (values). The trick is to plug those skills and values into
viable career choices.
This process can begin by further compiling your interests,
strengths, weaknesses and so forth in relation to a career and the
world of work together and actually matching these traits to career
choices. Programs, such as, SIGI PLUS and DISCOVER are helpful,
self-directed, computer programs that assist with this task. Both
programs (in different ways) allow the student to answer a series of
questions regarding values, skills, and interests and then takes these
answers to compose a list of suggested occupations. Students can then
research these occupations and make further choices. To make arrangements
to take SIGI PLUS or DISCOVER, call CDC at 556-3471.
However, these computer applications and workshops are not the only
way to "assess and explore" career options. One of the best
ways is getting actual on-the-job
experience. For example, you may
want to be a lawyer, but you don’t know much more than the O.J.
trial or Court TV. Getting a part-time job in a law office gives you a
realistic perspective into the life of an actual lawyer (you may find
that not every lawyer makes as much as Robert Shapiro or is as sharp
as Tom Cruise in "The Firm"). Students can obtain this
valuable experience in a variety of ways: internships, externships,
summer jobs, co-ops, part-time jobs, volunteer work, etc., Becoming
involved in professional organizations is also a great way to gain
insight into your potential careers. The student branches of
professional organizations allow students access to some of the same
resources professionals take advantage of, while getting the added
bonus of specialized programs just for students. If there is not a
student division of a professional organization you are interested in
at UC, contact the organization for more information about the local
professional group or information about preparation and career
opportunities. For a list of professional and career-related
organizations at UC, check here.
Finally, this is a great stage to learn more about what preparation
is involved for your career interests. Medical careers are a great
example of preparation. Becoming a doctor, then a specialist, (i.e.
cardiac surgeon, neurologist) can take up to 15 years after high
school before your training is complete, not to mention, the expense
that is involved and the courses that are required. Knowing what’s
ahead and what the requirements are makes for a much more informed
career decision. Trust us. We see a lot of students that decide on
becoming a doctor then realize, before medical school, that the
prospect of ten more years of even more difficult classes may be too
much to stomach. A good way to learn about preparation and training is
over the Internet. The ‘Web has literally thousands of sites devoted
to employment and training. Check out CDC's WWW links for further
information about professions and graduate school.
