|
Career
exploration begins with the same questions that you ask yourself for goal
setting. The short list is: What do you like to study? What do you like to do?
What are your hobbies? There are interest “inventory tests” available
through your guidance counselor’s office at school. But remember, these
results aren’t set in stone. Your results may be different the next year
around.
Another
way to start thinking about possible career choices is to try to match your
abilities, your interests, and the values you have about the workplace. Some
examples of workplace values might be a job that allows a high degree of
creativity, or variety, or a good salary, job security, working outdoors,
working in service of others, working with other people.
Over
your work life you will have more than 2,000 Monday mornings. It’s worth the
time and effort to analyze yourself throughout your high school and college
years so that your workplace Monday mornings will be pleasant experiences. Over
time, you, the workplace, and your chosen career will change. If you haven’t
been taking your “pulse” all along, these changes will catch you off-guard.
If you have been taking your personal inventory “pulse,” you’ll be
prepared either to adapt to the change or to take proactive steps to change your
choice.
When
you have an idea of what you might want to do with your future, check into a
shadowing experience. Shadowing lets you spend a few hours (or a day or more)
with a person working in the occupation that interests you. Check with your
guidance counselor. If this really is your thing, you may be able to expand the
shadowing experience into a formal mentoring program.
Having
an idea of what interests you will assist you in deciding on a college program
to pursue, which will in turn lead you to a college choice. Each builds on the
other.
|
