Career Counseling

"Career Counseling is the process of understanding and incorporating an individual's values, interests, personality, skills and passions into a career path. How one views their surrounding world and how one sees oneself in relation to that world plays a large role in defining a person."

Joe Barrientos, Associate Director

Career Counseling is designed to explore these facets of every individual in an attempt to find a career path that is reflective and compatible with who they are as individuals.

Who should think about Career Counseling?

Everyone benefits from discussion about their future. However, anyone who is unsure about their major or anyone who doesn't have a sense of what career paths may be possible should think about meeting with one of our Career Counselors. Students and counselors can discuss goals and expectations, utilize assessment tools to define skills, interests and personality type, or simply converse about what it is that the student is passionate about. These form the initial steps in the journey to exploring possible career paths.

I don't know what I want to do!

Do you want a job or a career? Although a seemingly simple question, the process of answering this question is the foundation of the career counseling process. Career Counseling is designed to encourage individuals to explore and gather information which enables them to synthesize, gain competencies, make decisions, set goals, and take actions.

The first step in career counseling involves gathering information about yourself to assist in making a decision about a career. Have you ever wondered why certain people gravitate to specific career fields, or how what you value is an important factor to consider? You should develop an understanding of self including values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits, and desired life style, and become aware of the interrelationships between self and occupational choice.

The second step allows individuals to investigate the world of work in greater depth, narrow a general occupational direction into a specific one through an informed decision making process, and declare a major.

In step three individuals evaluate occupational choices and gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, relevant summer employment, volunteer work and campus activities. In addition, more specific decisions about occupational choices are made.

An initial occupational choice is made in step four. Individuals prepare for and begin conducting a job search, or apply to graduate or professional schools.

Career Development doesn't just help you find a job. Career Development helps you discover a career that you can be passionate about.