The first step in the career development process is self-assessment.
Once you have identified your interests, skills, values, and personality
characteristics, it is time to begin occupational research
to learn more about different careers and the world of work. After
you have narrowed down what career areas might be a good ft, it
is beneficial to enroll in a variety of academic courses in majors
you are considering, job shadow professionals in the career fields
of interest, conduct informational interviews, and obtain
career-related work experience.
Some helpful resources might be:
Upon gathering the necessary information on the career areas
you are considering comes prioritizing and narrowing the options,
following by making final decisions. Determine the steps required
to implement your career decision and develop a timeline. Periodically,
meet with an academic advisor to assess your academic progress
and a career counselor to identify career goals.
Once you have implemented your career decision, it is good to
reevaluate your choice from time to time to determine if it is
meeting your needs. If not, go back to self-assessment and conduct
further occupational research to identify if there is another
major or career that may fit better. Remember that people change
careers 4-11 times throughout their life, which makes career development
a life-long process.
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