Use the insight about your strengths, values, and interests to explore career paths that are a good fit. Good questions to ask yourself during your research include:
- "What kind of work is important to me?"
- "What am I good at and how can I apply it to this job?"
- "Will this job allow me to live the lifestyle I want?"
- "How much education do I need to get a job like this?"
- "What are my non-negotiables?"
What Major Should I Choose?
Your career is directly impacted by the major you choose. Think about what kind of work you would be interested in doing and work backwards to find the major that fits your long-term goal.
Explore different assessments to gain insight into what majors might be right for you. Use BigFuture to learn more about different majors and how they can lead to different careers.
Research Online: Helpful Links
Exploring career options is an important step in planning your future. You’ll find tools and resources to investigate industry trends, what qualifications certain careers need, and how to get started in those fields. Whether you're curious about a specific job or still figuring things out, we’re here to support your journey.
A powerful database with detailed descriptions of occupations and career paths. You can search by skills, interests, education level, or industry to learn about job duties, salary ranges, and future outlooks. Great for deep dives into specific careers.
A student-friendly tool directly linked to ONet that helps you explore careers based on your interests. It includes a built-in interest assessment and easy-to-read career summaries with links to training and job opportunities.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, this site helps job seekers and students develop their capacity to make sound economic decisions. They provide information on employment, pathways to careers, and job seeker tools.
Networking
Networking is a powerful tool that helps you transform personal connections into valuable opportunities. It isn't limited to interactions with employers; networking can occur anywhere and anytime. Whether you're at home, school, with friends or peers, or attending professional events like job fairs, every interaction holds potential.
What if I don't currently have anyone to network with? Informational Interviews are a great way to gather information from a professional in the field or position you want to get into. You can find many professionals who are happy to do these types of interviews with on LinkedIn.
Volunteering
Volunteering is an excellent way to obtain exposure to a work field or setting without having to make a long-term commitment. They are also great opportunities to gain hands-on and work-related skills, build your resume, and network with individuals in a field that interests you. Check out these websites to find a volunteer opportunity matches your interests:
Need More Help?
Schedule an appointment with Career Services on Navigate. Appointments can be virtual, in person, or on the phone. For help scheduling, call 612-659-6723 or email Career Services.
What’s next? Start Gaining Skills & Experience!
After you’ve identified a goal for your major and career, it’s time to take action. Many students choose to have jobs or internships while they complete their programs at school. Visit our Experiences webpage to access tools and resources that will help you land that opportunity.
Not ready to take the leap? Continue with your research or go back and Assess what other strengths or interests you have.