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Student Career Research
Student Career Research can be exciting and scary! It takes a lot of hard work and investigating to discover what is it exactly that you are looking for in a career. The process of finding the right career can also be fun while you learn about careers and try some on for size!Many students get overwhelmed trying to decide what they want to do for the rest of their lives. Remember that nothing is set in stone try to take in the moments as you discover which roads you may want to travel and which ones you may want to simply avoid. Most importantly, try to relax and enjoy the ride! As a student interested in entering the workforce, researching possible professions is an important first step. By gaining a thorough understanding of the profession - challenges, demands, trends and industry forces that impact the career - you will be able to make an informed decision before beginning your career. We’ve compiled some steps to help you learn how to choose a career:Step 1 Collect as much information as possible from multiple sources! The internet has made career information readily available and easy to access. Get online! In addition to this site, there are hundreds of other websites out there with great career information. As you find information, track all the facts that you come across so that you can go back and compare with other careers that you research during your student career research. While collecting this information, write down on paper or use our
Student Career Research
Worksheet to document the pros and cons to each and what specifically you liked or disliked about that career. This will help you once you go back to compare different careers.
Make connections! It’s a good idea to talk to someone in the profession. Use your contacts to identify and conduct an informational interview with a professional in the field that you are considering. How did he/she get started in the field? What do they like best/least? What challenges do they see facing the profession? What advice would he/she have for someone starting out? Are there any additional resources that he/she would recommend? Don’t be afraid to find the contact information of someone in a particular profession and randomly call them to ask questions. This can only assist as you gain more information and
Networking
should always be a part of every aspect of a career.
Consider an Internship! Look for an internship in the career you’re researching. The best way to learn about a career is to try it out. Think about it like trying on shoes or test driving a car. Nothing can replace the benefits of practical experience!
Evaluate your career choice! Does your choice match your interests and values? Is it concurrent with your values and interests? Would you find the work satisfying or interesting?
Free Career Assessment Tests
are a great tool to help you pin-point which fields you may be most suited for.
Have fun and enjoy the process! It may sound like a lot of pressure to research something that you may want to do for the rest of your life. However, if you choose fields that excite and drive you, it will then make your student career research a more enjoyable experience.
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