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Dear Dot,
I really do not like the classes I am taking for my major. I think I want to switch out of my degree program but I have no idea what exactly I want to do with my life. Can you help?
Gavin O.
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Dear Gavin,
It sounds like you are really looking for some structure in your major and career exploration.
A good first step is to do some self-assessment and take a closer look at your interests, work values and skills. This will not only help you make a decision but it will also help you research career opportunities.
If you are a freshman or sophomore, visit the Counseling Center to obtain in-person assistance with self-assessment. Or, if you have a major but are still in need of clarification of your career goals, which typically happens during junior or senior year, the Career Services Center staff can help you in this process by offering various career assessments for you to complete.
To help students like you, the Career Services Center also offers two eight-week career classes designed for students choosing a major or deciding a career path. The following are descriptions of the courses:
ARSC 050 (primarily freshmen and sophomores)
Tuesdays 3:00-5:05 p.m.
Career Planning and Decision Making : As career planning is an important step toward academic success and job satisfaction, this course is designed to help you assess your interests, skills, values, personality characteristics, investigate career possibilities, and learn how to use a wide variety of resources in your career search. Students will participate in self-discovery activities and learn about sound career decision making strategies as well as the world of work. The course stresses the value of liberal arts education and places an emphasis on exploring Arts and Sciences academic majors.
ARSC 051 (primarily juniors and seniors)
Wednesdays 3:00-5:05 p.m.
Job Search Strategies for Arts & Science: This course section is designed to introduce students to the fundamentals of planning and organizing job search strategies. Emphasis is placed on identification of individual goals, assessment of talents, exploration of career options, analysis of the job market, effective use of job search materials (cover letters, resumes) and tools (interviewing, career fairs, networking), and management of career direction. The course stresses the value of the arts and sciences degree in the labor market and develops job search skills that will be useful throughout lifelong career management.
Read testimonials from students who have taken the courses. Questions about this course may be directed to Laura Kestner.
Good luck!
Dot
If you have career-related questions you would like Dot to answer, please e-mail them to career.services@marquette.edu with “Dot” in the subject line.
