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Career Guidelines |
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The transition from high school to college is possibly one of the most exciting times in the life of a student. A time of new beginnings, of intense emotions and perennial memories.
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- Know yourself.
Take the time to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, to identify the subjects and activities you enjoy and the ones you dislike, to determine your goals and expectations.
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It is also a time that demands big changes, careful planning, and difficult and important decisions. Prime among these decisions is choosing a career path. Though several high school seniors believe they know what studies they want to pursue, surveys indicate that a college student will change major an average of three times.
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Think about the kind of work you would like to perform, the working conditions and earning level you seek, and the implications on your overall lifestyle. Discuss these issues, as well as your concerns and plans, with your parents, counselors, teachers and friends.
- Talk to the experts.
Career counselors, available in several high schools and most colleges, are professionals trained to guide you in the process of making career decisions. They will administer specialized questionnaires and tests to help you evaluate and identify your interests, your strengths and weaknesses, and your goals. A valuable source of information about a specific career is people working in that field. Try to meet and talk to some of them. Inquire about the nature of their work, the working conditions, the training required, the job market outlook, and what they like and dislike about their work. Then compare their answers with your expectations.
- Know the job market.
The availability of good job opportunities has usually been, and will continue to be, one of the very important elements in career decision making. The more vibrant and global character of today's economy makes it harder to accurately anticipate long-term changes in the job market. Nevertheless, there are valuable studies on employment trends that can be an important resource in assessing future demand for specific careers.
- Consult various information sources.
Additionally to educational institutions and government agencies, other sources of career information and reference material include public libraries, professional societies, business companies and firms. It is always a good practice to consult more than one source before reaching an opinion.
- Let the student decide
All too often well intentioned parents try to choose a career and a college for their son or daughter without much regard for the students' preferences and skills. This approach can put important strain on family relationships and can be for the student a source of frustration for years to come. People that enjoy and use their strengths in what they do usually have more successful and fulfilling careers.
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