Where do you want to go?

Begin to:

Match: Matching your interests, abilities, values and experiences to a specific career is not an easy task. We suggest you consider the following:

What interests you about different careers?

Do you have the abilities necessary for a successful career in the field you are considering?

Can you develop the necessary abilities?

Are the work values similar to yours?

The College Major Validation can be used to examine lists of potential occupations based on your major and skills preferences.

Another web site that may assist you is the Holland Game. The Holland Game is designed to help match interests and skills with a specific career.

Explore: At this point you probably have several careers you are considering. We suggest exploring them even further by taking the following steps. Research the occupations that you are considering. Consider several factors:

What types of skills are required?

What are the responsibilities?

What is the employment outlook?

What is the salary range?

What type of training or education is required?

What is the work environment like?

Finding the answers to these questions is easily done by utilizing the resources around you. The public library has a vast array of resources that will be useful. If you are a high school student contact your school counselor for assistance.

Another source, the Occupational Outlook Handbook, is considered the government's premier publication on careers. It contains a wealth of up-to-date information.

Contact: Once you have identified a career option, contact someone in the profession. You may want to write or call a local company that has employees doing the type of work you are considering.

If possible, schedule a day when you can shadow this person in the workplace. At the end of the day you should have a good idea about what someone in that career does on a day-to-day basis. Make careful notes about your day and what you like or dislike about the field.

If you are unable to shadow someone in the field, try to schedule a meeting to discuss his or her career. Go well prepared with questions about that profession. The following may be a good starting point:

What type of training or education do most people have in the field?

What are the major responsibilities on a day-to-day basis?

What do they like or dislike about their current position?

For more information on informational interviewing, we suggest Danenet or Jobtrak which include suggestions on this process.

If you are a student in the UW System contact the Career Planning and Placement Offices on your campus. Counselors may be able to assist you in indentifying alumni in occupations you are considering.

Cruise: We know the Internet does not have all the answers, but it does offer some career Web sites that are certainly worth touring.