Career Planning Information and Guidance

mapping out your future direction

Students often find that declaring a major or deciding on a career field is quite difficult. There are so many interesting choices in the world of work today that it is difficult to choose just one. The Career Services Office offers the opportunity to do some career exploration and planning using standard tools of the trade (inventories) and one-on-one career planning counseling.

Inventories assist the student in determining strengths, weaknesses, values, and most all, interests. Once interest, values, and skills are identified, the field of study can be explored that would best fit the student's profile. Some of those fields of study can be explored by using:

"What Can I Do With This Major/Degree?"

Students wishing to determine their interests and strengths and/or validate their choices are welcome to make an appointment with the Career Services Office for evaluation and counseling.

Inventories offered:

• Myers Briggs Type Indicator - a personality inventory to help identify preferred ways of gathering information; of working with the outside world; of making decisions; and processing of information. Knowing these things about yourself can assist you in deciding on a career field and can help with interpersonal relations. Make an appointment with Career Services to learn more about this inventory.
  
  

• The Web Based Focus System- A computerized inventory that allows the student to explore, at their own pace, the many opportunities that fit their profiles. There are nine phases that assist the user indentifying interest, skills, and values and then allows exploration of various occupations that may fit the profile created. Additionally, the program will identify areas that may need development personally and in the career search. EC Students can take advantage of this program by clicking on this link:

You will need a special key code which can be obtained by contacting Career Services or the SPS Office at 309-467-5420.

• Holland's Self-Directed Search - an inventory to complement the FOCUS program. This paper and pen inventory can be finished in 20-30 minutes (no charge). Once scored a session with Career Services will explain the R,A,I,S,C,E letters and provide some direction on how to learn more about careers that fit the SDS Profile. An on-line ($9.95) version is available at
  www.self-directed-search.com.
  
  

• Other Internet Based Assessments: The Keirsey Character Sorter and Keirsey Temperament Sorter is a shorter similar version of the Myers Briggs. Answer all the questions and you will get a four-letter personality indicator as the result, along with an explanatory document. www.keirsey.com

Each inventory takes anywhere from 20 minutes to 2 hours to complete, depending on the amount of time the student wants to devote to career exploration. Now that you have identified some of your interests, skills, and values, you may want to visit the "What Can I Do With This Major/Degree?" to see some of the types of occupations that can be pursued with a particular major as well as some of the strageties and further preparation you may need.

Call for an appointment today to discuss your career planning strategy!!