What is your major?  It’s a question you hear everywhere you go. Your parents ask, your friends ask, even social media asks this question. Career decision-making is a process that has several steps.

Step one: major self-discovery

Do some self-discovery.  This can be accomplished through career discovery tools such as Focus 2 found in your MySPC. If you have not done this assessment, Career Services encourages you to do this. Login and choose the MyCareer tab and proceed to using Focus 2. Once you have completed this tool, go see a career professional on your campus or online. The career professionals on campus have additional tools to help you with your career decision process.

Step two: major research

Research careers of interest to “get the skinny” on these careers. Two good sites are The Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook which will give you information on education, expected growth of occupation, education needed, salary range, and much more. Another good site is the Occupational Information Network. This site will give you state specific information along with skills and abilities needed, daily tasks and more.

Step three: major first hand info

Find professionals in the fields of interest and interview them for information. Asking friends and family for contacts in these fields is a good way to start. Leverage your social media to find your contact who have contacts. Other resources are job search engines like Indeed or CareerBuilder  to find employers who employ these positions and LinkedIn.  Make the connection and ask about informational interviewing. If you need help with questions, please see a career professional on your campus.

Step four: choose your major with an advisor

When you have made a career decision, see an Academic Advisor on your campus to update your program plan and create a “My Learning Plan.” This is a list of classes needed to obtain your degree in a semester by semester worksheet.

Congratulations on making one of the biggest decisions of your life. You are on an exciting path and we are here to assist you and cheer you on. We want you to be able to confidently answer the question, what is your major and better yet, what is your future career.

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