Career Planning Continuum
by Ross Clurman (October 23, 2006)Planning for college can be an extremely stressful time. You, as a potential student, are flooded with options on where to go, what to study and, most importantly, the omnipresent, age-old question – “what do you want to be when you grow up?”
This question, while not always answerable, is asked of us because it is important to establish career goals. It is difficult to answer because the response often changes. I, for instance, have run through the generic answers – police officer and superhero – to the more considered answers – architect or graphic designer – to my final answer – copywriter.
Even though deciding on a career is important, so is your education. In fact, you may even learn more about what you enjoy while attending school. It is no secret that many students change their major at least once, if not several times. This same trend afflicts the job market – most people will change careers four to five times.
With this in mind, you may think that planning for a career is next to impossible – it isn’t.
Narrow the choices.
Investigate. Research your chosen major or career path to find out what exactly it entails. Then decide if it is a fit for your interests. In addition, find out what the outcomes are upon completion of various majors or career paths. By doing this, you may find a direction you had not previously considered.
Don’t be afraid. It is okay to attend college without declaring a major. As I said earlier, most people will change at least once, so why not get the general classes out of the way first. This will allow you more time to decide on a career path.
Be curious. Enroll in a class or course that sounds interesting to you. My passion for writing became apparent only after taking courses in creative writing and poetry.
Stay informed. Find out what industries – or more specifically, jobs – are in demand. This may help shed light on where you feel most secure.
Most importantly, never stop learning. A career is a lifelong process, not a one-time decision, and industries are constantly undergoing change. Read articles, books and information related to your career choice. This way, you can build your knowledge base and better position yourself as an expert in your field.
Add Your Question or Comment
December 11th, 2006 at 16: 28
There are some traditional questions such as what does the field entails, in this case, it is the field of Demography and i love that area primarily because it is closely related to Geography. If possible could you please list that area on your website or send your responses directly, thank you and this is truly a helpful website.
December 15th, 2006 at 10: 48
Brandon,
Thanks for your comment! I will see if we can get some more information about Demography on our site. What kind of career are you considering? Have you thought about something in Marketing, such as research?
August 16th, 2008 at 16: 54
Your blog is interesting!
Keep up the good work!