WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY MAJOR?

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1 WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY MAJOR?

2 Training Objective Task: Determine if your major is a good fit for your career plan. Develop a measurable and attainable goal to help with next steps in the Career Planning Process. Condition: Given a block of instruction from The Career Center Standard: Students will use Career Center resources like: What Can I Do With this Major to identify specific career-related goals specific to their major including Areas of Employment & Potential Employers.

3 Introduction How can I determine if my major is a good fit? LDRS101 results Where to find Jobs and Internships? Applying for jobs and internships. What resources are available to help me? Reality Check Research salary and stability of career path. Why is this important right NOW? Why should you care about a summer job or an internship? I want my career to be exciting and adventurous. Scenarios and examples of how it can apply this now (and after college) Avoid the pitfalls of Social Media Performance Oriented Exercise

4 How do I determine if my Major is a good fit? Determine your V.I.P.S. (SIGI3) Develop a plan & a back up plan What are potential areas of employment? What can I do now to help me take a step towards the goal? What if I am not sure what I want to do? What if I change my mind? Research! Use all available tools & talk to people!

5 Is my major is a good fit (continued)? After understanding your Values, Interests, Personality & Skills, connect your goals to a major that can help you gain knowledge of a career path. Knowledge is not only gained through academics. Leadership, Clubs & Service Learning can also help reinforce valuable transferable skills. Things to consider: Students pursuing medical careers need to make that decision early, maintain a strong GPA, and look for shadowing opportunities. In more rigorous majors (like engineering), switching majors later can become problematic. Picking a major because it is easy and will allow you to graduate with a better GPA because you don t know what you want to do is not the best plan. Internships are now a key factor in the job market. Start applying and look for options early do not wait until senior year.

6 LDRS10 1- Career Plan Results

7 Career Plan Results 500 Personality Type 80.00% Areas of Interest % Trades & Technology % 50.00% 40.00% Social & Behavioral Sciences Science, Math, & Agriculture Health % Engineering Realistic Investigative Artistic Social Enterprising Conventional Count Percent 20.00% 10.00% 0.00% Education Business Arts & Humanities Percent Count

8 Career Plan Results Why does your major (Career Path) Interest You? I am unsure about why it interests me. What characteristic about this career path will help you reach your goal. How do I find jobs in this career field? This job relates to my major. It has a good salary range. It sounds exciting and adventurous. It seems stable and not too risky. I know someone who has been Someone suggested I pursue this It matches my Skills, Interests, Values, How do I find summer internships related to this career? How does my major relate to this career? How do I find someone in the career field to learn more? Does it require more education or certifications? Is this job stable or projected to grow in the current job market? What is the salary range for this job? Percent Count Count Percent

9 Career Plan Results

10 Where to find Jobs and Internships 1. hirelink & online resources 2. Department Advisors 3. Career Fairs 4. Networking 5. Walk-ins

11 What resources are available to help me?

12 Applying for Jobs and Internships Prove you are prepared when you apply for a job. It shows you are serious, mature, and responsible. Know the application process (research on company website). Have a resume and references prepared. Be prepared to talk to employers. Follow-up and be polite and persistent. Know your dates of availability.

13 Reality Check Source: NACE 2015 Job Survey

14 Research Salary and Stability of career path SALARY RESEARCH 1. NACE Salary Guide 2. Occupational Outlook Hanbbook 3. Salary.com 4. Glassdoor.com

15 Why is this important right now? Your major is a tool to help you gain leverage in the work market; however, it does not totally define who you are. If you are unsure of what you want to do, talk to people: academic advisors, career center, and alumni in the field. You will get asked 1000 times, What s your major? It is the 1 st question most people ask college students. What most people want to know is, what do you plan on doing with this major? Start practicing your response! If you do not know, start asking questions and thinking about WHY you are having trouble (academics, interest, outside factors).

16 Why should you care about a summer job or an internship? One day it will make ME want to hire YOU! There is a clear relationship between having an internship and having an improved chance of getting a job offer. A significantly higher percentage of students with an internship received a full-time job offer.

17 It sounds exciting and adventurous! 49.93% You get PAID to do that? Stunt Woman Victoria's Secret Photographer Candy Store Owner Filmmaker, Marine Biologist Beer Brewer LEGO Sculptor Surf Board Designer Car Aficionado

18 Dream Job Scenarios Big Bucks Be sure you research and have realistic expectations of the demands required. Make sure that you can and will do the course work required for the career of your dreams. Future earning potential is worth considering - college is a big investment. It can pay off in many ways beyond salary (travel, service, potential for growth). Keep your quality of life in mind, too! That six figure salary may not be worth it if you're not happy.

19 Scenarios Passion Project If you love what you're studying, you're more likely to fully engage with your classes and college experience. That can mean better grades & developing professional relationships with others in your field. If your calling is history, don't write it off. Research what it takes to apply a history major. Many liberal arts majors provide students with critical thinking skills and writing abilities that are highly valued by employers. Free Spirit If you truly have no idea what you want to study, that's okay! Unlike The Citadel, many schools don't require students to declare a major until sophomore year. There is a window to decide. Make the most of any required general education courses and talk to professors, advisors, department heads, and other students. Exploring your interests will help you find your best fit major and maybe even your ideal career

20 Scenarios Emily Kerbs Electrical Engineering Major Met HR execs. on campus tour. Lined up competitive internship. Michael Bell Criminal Justice Major Started researching opportunities in Cit101. Interned with Anderson County Sherriff's Office Nicole Roberson Business Major Interning with Santee Cooper. Applied to and received multiple officers Planning now helps in the future

21 Scenarios George Carabaugh Business Major with Accounting Focus. Starting researching 1 st semester freshman year, interned as a freshman. Trey Nelson Civil Engineering major did a work study with campus Engineering Dept. Conducted multiple Informational Interviews!

22 Social Media pitfalls What will I find if I Googled you? Do the friends, pictures, images, feeds, and comments really reflect who you are? Is this the way you would like a potential employer, your military commander, a graduate program, OR YOUR GRANDMOTHER to see you? Dial down your security settings if nothing else.

23 Performance Oriented Exercise Visit C3 Website > Resources > What Can I do with this Major? > Connect Majors to Careers Find 2 AREAS & 2 Potential Employers that interest you Find a mentor to conduct an Informational Interview about the Career Extra Resources: Continue your summer job and internship search using hirelink account Use C3 drop-in 1-3pm/Mon-.Thurs. & Resume Blitz 12:30-2:30 Mark Clark Hall for help Attend the Career Fai