Our job at the CRC is to provide you with information about job markets and current job trends, and also to encourage you to explore who you are. Your values and preferences are important to consider throughout the career decision-making process. Use this career map to get started.
Choosing a major or career involves research and self exploration. If you are undecided, take a look at your values and preferences. What do you enjoy doing? What are your strengths, weaknesses and skill sets? Prepare a personal inventory. Review and begin a general assessment of who you are and what is important to you.
Interests: What do you enjoy the most? People are drawn to certain physical and mental activities. The activities you are important clues in identifying the elements/qualities you desire in a career. In fact, most people who enjoy their work have some intrinsic interest in the activities they must perform. It's time to explore your interests.
Skills: Skills are your talents, abilities and aptitudes. The average person has around 800 skills they use in their daily lives. Your most basic skills and talents may be right under your nose. Discovering these skills and abilities is an important element to making career decisions.
Personality: What are you like? How might others describe you? What are your internal strengths? What obstacles and challenges do you face? Your personality can be an important indicator in choosing what you will most enjoy studying and/or pursuing as a career later on in life.
Values: How do you feel about your work and the contribution it makes to society? People who pursue work that is congruent with their values have a better chance of feeling satisfied and successful in their chosen field.
Back to Top
There are many ways to explore your career frontier, and the more you explore, the better your information will be. The following links will get you started.
Course Offerings: Your UF Course Catalog provides an invaluable resource—course descriptions. “SPL 4220” turns into “Archaeological Digs of the 20th century”—a topic you might never have considered for study, but which may suddenly sound pretty alluring. Don't waste elective credits on an "easy A." Challenge yourself with new concepts and ideas.
Academic Advising: Meet with an adviser for advising and/or find specific information about specific courses and your major.
Career Options: Explore options for your major at the What Can I do with a Major in...? link on MyPlan.com.
Informational Interviews: Talk to someone in a profession you're interested in. Ask questions like: What are the positives and negatives of this job? What is the biggest challenge? Describe a typical work day? What educational background and/or experiences are needed for this job?
Career Courses: The CRC offers Classes for Credit for UF undergraduates to guide students through the career decision-making process. Topics include evaluating interests and skills, writing resumes and practice interviewing skills.
CRC Services: Attend CRC workshops, fairs and events to develop professional skills and prepare for your career.
Back to Top
Seventy percent of students change their majors at least once and most people change their career fields six or seven times in their lifetimes. If you are indecisive and/or are experiencing anxiety about your choice making, meeting with a career counselor might be a good idea. If you find that you are having difficulty coming to a decision and/or are experiencing anxiety surrounding your choice, this may be a good time to take the information you have and sit-down with a career counselor. Your career decision can be based on:
Career Paths: There are many career paths associated with your major for you to choose from. Create choices for yourself and consider your major carefully. Also develop your resume, network and get experience through internships, student organizations part time work, etc. Use the What Can I do with a Major in...? link on MyPlan.com to help identify your career options.
Prioritization: No job offer or career will be perfect. Prioritize the things you value (such as location, salary, benefits, hours, etc.) and keep them in mind when making a decision. Career Counseling/Advising can make this process easier.
Back to Top
The decision-making and self-exploration processes don't end at graduation. The professional world has its share of ups, downs and changes, too.
Classroom Experience: As was stated earlier, 70 percent of students change their major at least once. The classes for your chosen major may sound interesting on paper, but may be very different once you are enrolled in them. In most cases your major will not lead you directly to a career, so it makes sense to study something interesting and that you enjoy. If this requires a change of your major, explore your options.
Work Experience: Professional experiences may differ from your classroom experiences. Remember that the average person changes career fields six or s even times during their career lifetime. You may find a career that meets all of your needs, but the company may not. Perhaps the culture of your organization or the required lifestyle is not satisfying. You can take the knowledge and experiences gained and apply them to another position or a different field all together.
Personal Changes: Your own needs, interests and values may change over time and may affect your career. You may want more challenge or responsibility. Life circumstances or an industry changes may force you to make a career change.
Taking it from the top...
Take an inventory of your needs and values from time to time and compare them to your current career. If they are being met, you will probably be content in that particular position for a while. If not, you may want to explore the importance of the unmet need(s) and consider if and how you want to make changes. The course of your career can be very dynamic. If you can anticipate the changes, find some level of comfort with indecision, and attempt to acknowledge the normality of the situation, it can make transition points easier to manage.