Page 342 - Keys To Community College Success

KEY 12.3 Ask questions like these to analyze how a career area or
job may fit you.

What can I do in this area that I like and do well? Do I respect the company or the industry? The product or service?
What are the educational requirements (certificates or Does this company or industry accommodate special needs (child care, sick days,
degrees, courses)? flex time)?
What skills are necessary? Do I need to belong to a union? What does union membership involve?

What wage or salary and benefits can I expect? Are there opportunities near where I live (or want to live)?

What personality types are best suited to this kind What other expectations exist (travel, overtime, and so on)?
of work?
What are the prospects for moving up to higher-level Do I prefer the service or production end of this industry?
positions?

Some career areas are growing more than others. If you have an interest in a
growing career area, statistically you will have a better chance of finding a job. Accord-
ing to government data, careers projected to grow through the year 2014 include nurs-
ing, teaching, general and operations managers, accountants, and more. Look up the
2
U.S. Bureau of Labor’s Occupational Outlook Handbook for projected growth, as well
as average salary information, in different fields.

Explore Majors

You probably have explored majors at other times during this course, such as how
choosing a major relates to goal setting and self-knowledge. Look to previous ideas
and work for guidance as you continue and extend your exploration.
Focus on your interests and abilities. Countless sources of career advice make the
point that pursuing a passion is a key element of career success. This doesn’t mean that
you’ll love every aspect or every day of your job—no one does. However, you improve your
chances of thriving if you spend the bulk of your job doing work that interests you and taps
into your strengths.

Examine what your school offers. Even if you plan to transfer eventually, your school’s
major and certificate programs are an important aspect of your exploration. Look online
and in the catalog to see what is offered. Meet with an advisor to discuss the options.

Consider career interests. If you are interested in one or more careers, investigate
majors that may link to them—but don’t narrow the field too much. An advisor can
help you define which careers need specific majors and which are accessible from a
broader range of educational backgrounds. For example, students going into medical
professions usually need to major in a science or pre-med area, while students planning
to pursue careers in business might major in anything from history, as Stephen did, to
economics. Business owners are becoming more aware of how liberal arts majors bring
value to the workplace through skills such as problem solving and writing. 3

Build Knowledge and Experience
12 Even after comprehensive investigation, it’s hard to choose the right path without
CHAPTER 304 knowledge or experience. Courses, internships, jobs, and volunteering are risks that

promote those rewards.