Career Development and Decision Making
Career Development is a continuous process. You will, at various points throughout your life, have to make a variety of decisions concerning your career. The Career Decision Making Scenario may help you to better understand the "how-to's" of making better decisions.
Career decisions generally fall within the three stages of Career Development:
- Self-Assessment (Who am I?)
- Career Exploration (What jobs/careers are the best "fit" for me?)
- Job Search (How do I find the right job?)
Self-Assessment
Selecting a career field, choosing a major, or making a decision on multiple job offers are all big decisions that are made easier through self-assessment. Self-assessment is really just a big word for getting to know yourself. Specifically, your values, interests, personality and skills. For some help with your own self-assessment, you might want to check out some of these resources.
Assessment instruments available through the CDC:
- The Self-Directed Search - assses skills, values and interests.
- The Strong Campbell Interest Inventory - asseses career interests.
- Self-Help Books - available in the CDC Cafe/Career Resource Room.
- Individualized Career Counseling - make an appointment to see a Counselor in the CDC.
Career Exploration
There are basically three ways to explore your career options: by reading about careers, by talking to people in various fields, or by observing or actually doing something in a career field.
Reading: You might want to check out Exploring Careers - a collection of sites we've selected which provide good information on careers. The CDC Cafe Career Libraries have books and pamphlets available for researching a variety of careers.
Talking: The Pathways Program provides an ideal opportunity to talk to or shadow a Rensselaer alum who is working in a career field that interests you. Conduct a general Informational Interview with someone who works in a field that interests you.
Doing: Once you've narrowed your options to a few main interests, the best way to find out if you like a career field is to actually test it out by getting some experience through the Co-op Program or Summer Employment or even volunteering!
The Job Search Process
When you know what type of position suits you best, you then have the foundation for a good, targeted Job Search. Also, don't forge to register with the CDC.
Looking for a plan to help you make the most of your four years at Rensselaer? Check out Steps to Success: Your Four Year Plan.
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