Career Development offers a number of resources to assist with your Major and Career Exploration.
Career Assessments
What Can I do with a Major in...?
WOIS/The Career Information Network
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Psychology 113: Career & Education Planning
Psychology 213: Transitions-Life After College
Informational Interviewing
Job Shadowing
Internships
Career Assessments
The Career Development office offers two assessments; the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and the Strong Interest Inventory (SII).To take a Career Assessment, contact Career Development at 535-7459 to set up an appointment with a career counselor. Click here to link to the Skills One website.
MBTI Personality Style Preference (MBTI)
MBTI is the world's most used indicator of adult personality patterns. Based on the theories of Carl Jung, it describes 16 different preferred styles of dealing with the world. The MBTI is extensively researched, non-judgmental and easily understood. The questionnaire assesses how one acts and feels in certain situations. There are no "right" or "wrong" answers. The responses help show how a person likes to look at things and how he/she likes to go about deciding things. This instrument is widely used to understand people in terms of their decision-making styles, preferences for communication and work environments, and for career development and exploration.
Strong Interest Inventory Strong Interest Inventory (SII)
The Strong Interest Inventory was developed by E.K. Strong Jr. and is based on John Holland's theory of vocational choice. Published in 1927, the SII has the longest history of any psychological test. It is one of the most thoroughly researched and highly respected instruments in use today. It compares a person's interests with the interests of people happily employed in a wide variety of occupations. When a person's interests are similar to the interests of the people in the sampling, some general prediction can be made about what careers seem most compatible with the person's career interests. The profile can also help a person to organize interests into patterns (e.g., types of environments and people with whom he/she is comfortable). It measures interests not aptitude or intelligence, and it is used best as a tool to assist individuals in making curricular or occupational choices.
*Text about the MBTI and SII was borrowed from the University of Puget Sound Career & Employment services website.
If you are taking the MBTI or the SII, click here to link to the Skills One website. You will need to meet with a Career Counselor to receive results for the MBTI and/or SII. If you have not already done so, then call 253-535-7459 to schedule your follow-up appointment.
What Can I Do with a Major In…
We have all heard the stories (academic legends instead of urban legends) - an English major who has made a fortune making gourmet cookies, a college dropout who made his first million before thirty as a software developer, or a philosophy major who now heads a Fortune 500 company. But what about the rest of the liberal arts folks? These web resources allow you to explore the options open to all majors.
Washington State University: What can I do with this major/degree...?
University of North Carolina-Wilmington: What can I do with a major in...?
Rutgers University-College Majors and Careers
Indiana University: Majors and Career-Alphabetical listing
University of Delaware-Major Resource Kits
University of California, Berkeley-What can I do with a major in...?
WOIS/The Career Information System
Contact Career Development for the login and password.
WOIS/The Career Information System is a private, nonprofit organization that researches and distributes information about Washington careers, schools and training programs. Once logged in you can research academic programs and occupations in Washington state and take inventories that will help you match your skills to an occupation.
Click here to login to WOIS.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Published by the Department of Labor, The Dictionary of Occupational Titles and Occupational Outlook Handbook will provide you concrete information about thousands of jobs: the outlook of specific professions, salary, degrees required, typical work and complementary careers to explore.
Psychology 113: Career & Education Planning
This is a one-credit course offered by staff members in Career Development and Academic Advising office each fall semester.
Course Objectives:
- complete self-assessment and identify your values, interests, personal style, and skills
- research and consider an array of educational alternatives, careers, and work settings that align with the results of your self-assessment
- become familiar with on-campus resources that can help you in your academic pursuits and provide support in developing a long-term career plan
Psychology 213: Transitions-Life After College
This is a one-credit course offered by staff members in Career Development each spring semester. This course is specifically designed to help prepare students in their junior or senior prepare for the transition from college student to professional. Students will learn:
- how to find career opportunities available after college
- important job search skills (resume and cover letter writing, job search, and interviewing)
- important life skills (creating a budget, understanding benefits, being successful in your first post-college job)
Informational Interviewing
Informational Interviewing is a useful networking tool. It is an opportunity to meet people who have a career you are considering and to gain clarity on the profession. Click here for more about Informational Interviewing.
Job Shadowing
Job shadowing is a work-based learning experience that allows a visitor to follow a host during a typical day (or period of time) observing and asking questions about a particular career. Job Shadowing is a versatile activity, allowing student career exploration.
The student follows an employer for one or more days to learn about a particular occupation or industry without actually being involved in hands-on activities. They are able to witness a variety of tasks and learn about the educational requirements associated with the career. This work-based experience gives the student a realistic idea of whether or not they are truly comfortable with their particular career interest.
The visitor should interview the workplace host using prepared interview questions.
- The visitor should receive a thorough tour of the workplace to gain an understanding of the type of career being explored.
- The visitor should be introduced to key employees and informed of their roles and responsibilities in the organization as well as their educational backgrounds.
- The student should write a thank you letter to the host and other key people.
Internships
Internships are a great way to explore a potential career and maybe even earn academic credit at the same time. To learn more about the Academic Internship program at PLU click here.