Center for Career Development
Step 2: Career Exploration
Career Exploration is a vital part of the career planning process. To make a decision about what career you want, you must gather enough information about it to know if you will like it or not. The more facts you gather about an occupation you are considering, the more likely you are to be happy with your choice. There are a number of important questions to ask about any career you are considering:
The Job Itself
- What do people in this occupation do?
- What are their responsibilities, challenges, opportunities?
- What settings do they work in?
- What kinds of people do they work with?
How to Prepare
- What kind of education or training do you need to get this job?
- Where could I get this training?
- What experience should I get to make myself a competitive candidate?
- Where could I get this experience?
- What skills and personal qualities are required to do this job successfully?
Working Conditions/Benefits
- Where do people in this occupation work?
- What companies employ them?
- Are jobs in this field restricted to specific cities or parts of the country?
- What is a typical work schedule like?
- Do people in this job travel often?
- How much money do people in this field make?
Career Future
- Is this a growing field?
- Will there be many jobs available in the future?
- What are the trends in this field?
Career Exploration Services
Career Library
The Career Library, located in Spanish House, has a large number of books pamphlets and other materials to help you learn about specific careers. Most of these can be checked out for one week.
E-recruiting/Experience Online
Check out this career resource to get extensive information about a wide variety of career fields, including Advertising, Consulting, Investment Banking, Journalism, Law, & Public Relations, among others. To learn more about using Experience Online, please contact the Career Center at (410) 778-7890 or 7892.
Occupational Outlook Handbook Online
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/home.htm
FOCUS
The FOCUS computer system has an information module which will allow you to answer questions about over 300 career fields. Contact us to make an appointment to use this useful data base.
Alumni Network
The Career Center has a database of over 300 alumni who are available to talk with students or other alumni about their career fields. In addition, the 1997 edition of the Washington College alumni directory lists a substantial number of alumni who have made themselves available as resources for career information and networking. Alumni may be contacted in writing, by phone or by e-mail. Some may be willing to talk with you at their place of employment. Contact Linda Cades or Vicky Sawyer for further information.
Career Lectures and Panel Discussions
The Career Center sponsors career lectures and panel discussions to help you learn about career fields. Alumni and others who are experts in their field come to campus to talk with students about what they do. In addition, many academic departments sponsor lectures and discussions which offer you an opportunity to learn more about careers you are considering. For information about these events, check the Calendar , look for Career News or posters around campus, and read WAC Happenings.
Professional Associations
Virtually all professions have a professional association which provides services to its members. Such associations often have free or very inexpensive information about their career fields which they will send you. In addition, they often have student memberships which allow you to attend meetings, learn more about the field and network. Many associations also have jobs lists. To find professional associations of interest to you, check out Associations Unlimited on-line.
300 Washington Avenue, Chestertown, Maryland 21620 | 410-778-2800 | 800-422-1782