Career Development

Are you Undecided About What Career to Pursue?

“Progressive Elements of Career Decision Making”

 Texas A&M University – Kingsville

Career Services Center

STEP 1: SELF ASSESSMENT

The first step in career planning is self assessment. As a freshman, this should involve looking at yourself and deciding what type of career fits you. Jobs do not fall into one-size-fits-all category. What appears to be an ideal job for one person may not be the best choice for someone else. Before choosing a career, there are several important factors to consider:

Interests:

• What things interest me?

• What problems and issues excite me?

• What type of individuals do I see myself working with?

• What type of things do I care about?
  

Personality:

• What kind of personality do I have?

• What jobs do best fit my personality?

• What type of work environment would be suitable for my personality?
  

Skills:

• What abilities do I possess?

• How hard am I willing to work to obtain the skill level necessary for my career interest?
  

Values:

• What do I really enjoy doing?

• What do I think is most important in life?

• What type of lifestyle do I want to have?

• What are my expectations in a job?
  

SELF-ASSESSMENT RESOURCES

Career Counseling:

Call Career Services to schedule an individual appointment with the career counselor who will assist you in deciding on your professional goals so that you can begin implementing them.

MyRoad.com

This computer guidance program helps you explore your interests, values, and occupational attitudes and then matches those to specific careers. Additionally, it has an information module which contains an abundance of information on more than 300 careers. MyRoad is located in the Resource Room in Eckhardt Hall.

Self-Assessment Books

The Resource Room has a large supply of self-assessment books available to students. These books may be checked out in Room 103.

On-Line Testing

There are several on-line personality inventories that you may utilize free of charge. Workplace functioning, stress level, communication skills, and assertiveness are a few topics covered. Visit this website for more information.

Life  Services and Wellness Center

For more comprehensive personal testing, visit the Life Services and Wellness Center, where they administer the Myers-Briggs type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory. The Myers-Briggs type Indicator looks at four aspects of an individuals personality: thinking/feeling, judging/perceiving, sensing/intuition, and extroversion/introversion, which often contribute to career satisfaction or dissatisfaction. The Strong Interest Inventory contains four scales: general occupational themes, basic interest scales, occupational scales, and personal style scales. The goal of both of these tests is to match your interests with careers.  

Texas State Occupational Information Coordinating Committee (TSOICC)
This agency will help you by providing information on careers or colleges. Call 800-822-PLAN to receive a free packet of information on careers of your choice through the mail within 10-20 days.

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STEP 2: CAREER EXPLORATION

Career exploration is a crucial part of career planning. To make an informed decision about which career suits you, enough information must be gathered to decided if you will like it or not. The more information you gather about a career, the more likely you are to be satisfied with your choice. There are several important questions to consider about a potential career:

The Job Itself

• What do individuals in this job do?  

• What are their opportunities, responsibilities, challenges?

• What type of environment do they work in?

• What type of individuals would I work with?

How to Prepare

• What type of training or education is necessary for this job? 

• Where could I obtain this experience?

• What experience is essential in making me a competitive candidate?

•  What personal qualities and skills are necessary to successfully do this job?

Working Conditions/Benefits

• Where do people work in this occupation?

• What companies employ individuals in this field?

• What is a typical work day like?

•  How much travel is required?

• What is the income potential in this field?

• Are jobs restricted to specific parts of the country or cities?
  

Career Future

• What is the growth potential of this field?

• Will there be available jobs in the future?

• What are the current trends?
  

Career Exploration Resources

In order to explore different career fields, visit the Career Resource Room for relevant literature, utilize Myroad.com, and research professional associations, which offer free information about career fields.

What Can I Do With This Major?

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STEP 3: CAREER EXPERIENCE

The best way to know if a career is for you is to gain experience related to your major. By the beginning of your sophomore year, you should conduct your career exploration process carefully to determine if the career path you are considering is right for you. In addition, having work experience on your resume will be necessary when you search for that first full-time position. There are several ways to gain work experience before graduation:

Part-Time Jobs

Working part-time to earn money for school can also be used to acquire career experience. There are several jobs in the local community and on campus which can assist you in building your resume while you are earning money. Although these jobs may not be directly related to your major, they can offer an opportunity to develop transferable skills, such as interpersonal communication, time management, and personal initiative. For more information about part-time jobs, please contact the Off-Campus Student Employment Office in Room 120.

Summer Jobs

Summer jobs provide good opportunities to acquire work experience. Although most "Summer jobs" are not necessarily related to your major, any work experience is good! 

Internships

Internships offer an excellent opportunity to educate oneself about a career, gain hands-on experience and network with people who can assist you in finding your first professional job. You can complete an internship part-time while attending school or full-time in the summer. Internships may be for credit or not for credit; paid or unpaid. Contact the Career Services Internship Coordinator, Barbara Matthys, for more information.

Volunteer Work

A great way to obtain career experience is through volunteering. Many companies and agencies are eager to accommodate volunteers who can provide them with additional skill and assistance, while the volunteer learns more about careers and makes contacts within the field.

Student Activities

Student organizations and clubs provide an opportunity to gain leadership skills as well as learn more about potential careers. For example, writers can develop a portfolio by contributing to campus publications. Individuals interested in drama can participate in theater productions plays. Student government representatives can learn about the democratic process. Any organization or club you join will enable you to gain knowledge which can be useful in future careers.

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STEP 4: CAREER IMPLEMENTATION

Directly after graduating, students should be prepared to continue the pursuit of their professional goals. Some begin a professional job immediately upon graduation while others may decide to attend graduate or professional school in order to achieve their goals. Career Services offers numerous resources to aid students in applying for graduate and professional schools or finding full-time, permanent employment.