CAREER EXPLORATION
This page will help you help you start the process of understanding your skills, interests, and career options.
Career exploration is a dynamic process that one will revisit throughout their life as they take on new or advanced job roles and responsibilities. The Career Exploration Process is a guide meant to help you identify strengths, hone skills, and explore options.
STEP 1: CONSIDER YOUR NEEDS, PRIORITIES, AND STRENGTHS
What do you like you doing? What are you good at? How do you want to make a difference in the world? Before you start thinking about careers, spend some time getting to know yourself.
STEP 2: IDENTIFY TOP CAREERS
After you have a sense for your skills, interests and values, now you're ready to explore careers that will let you do those things. Consider these careers and truly evaluate whether they align with your goals, values, and lifestyle.
Deepening understanding, refining interests, and testing out options.
STEP 1: CONDUCT INFORMATIONAL INTERVIEWS
You can get a lot of information from job postings or the internet, but talking with professionals currently doing those jobs is one of the best ways to see what they are really like. Plus, informational interviewing is a great way to build out your professional network!
STEP 2: CAREER OPTION TEST RUN
Informational interviewing can provide extremely valuable information about possible careers. But that information is still second-hand. As you refine and explore, find opportunities to test out career activities and roles.
Applying and interviewing for your next position. Fine tuning your application.
STEP 1: APPLY
Now is the time to apply all that you've learned about yourself and your interests and find that career match. Align your skills, personality, and values to the job and organization and you're much more likely to have success.
STEP 2: MAKE THE MOVE
Did you get an interview? Excellent - Let's get you ready to shine. Did you get a job offer? Even better! Let's make sure you're prepared to negotiate. Still stuck at the application stage? No worries - go back to Step 1 to learn how to better strategize.