Choosing a Career or College Major
How to Start Choosing a Career or College Major
Your counselor can help you start the process of exploring options for careers or college majors. This process can be simplified in a few steps:
* Self-exploration
* Searching for Information
* Making decisions
Self-exploration
Each year, the counselors give each student a standardized test that has an interest inventory. Interest inventories ask if you like or dislike a variety of subjects and activities and offer you a profile of the results. The results are grouped in clusters of careers.
Sophomore are given the PLAN
Juniors are given the ACT
Information about yourself can help you make practical decisions. These inventories suggest different occupations that you may find interesting. It is never suggested that the results indicate you have to pursue a certain field.
Websites for self-assessment
Students at Morris Community High School have access to an integrated website which offers an interest assessment, occupation profiles, multimedia informational interviews, comprehensive college and university information along with a career portfolio tool and resume builder. Students can access this site with the following web address and password. Students will then need to create their own id and password to save their work, thus using both usernames and passwords each time they log on.
Username: Morris
Password: Careers
The Career Key Interest Inventory - www.careerkey.org
Career Search www.collegeboard.com/apps/careers/index
College Personality Quiz www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/tools/cpq/coquiz.htm
Searching for information
Identify a few occupations or areas of interest that may be appealing to you. The next step is finding out more information about the different occupations. The career center offers a variety of resources to obtain this information. Software like CareerView /CollegeView and books like the Occupational Outlook Handbook can be useful guides.
http://stats.bls.gov/oco
There are a variety of recourses on the web that may be of use.
Occupational Outlook Handbook from the US Department of Labor gives career information by outlining what workers do on the job, working conditions, training and education needed, earnings and expected job prospects for thousands of careers.
College/Careerview www.collegeview.com
This site allows for college and occupational searches based on the criteria you feel are important. The website also have a variety of resources.
www.mapping-your-future.org
Mapping your future offers resources in career options, college planning and financial strategies.
Career Click www.workforceinfo.state.il.us
Offers descriptions, salaries, employment levels and forecasts from over 700 occupations in Illinois.
What do I do with a major in..? www.uncwil.edu/stuaff/career/majors
Describes career opportunities in the variety of college majors.
My Majors www.mymajors.com
Suggests options of what to major in college based on interest and previous coursework.
Peterson's www.petersons.com
Offers college and university search as well as resource information.
Offers articles on resources for life beyond high school.
Explores colleges as well as offering career research.
Offers information on careers and colleges including financial aid topics.
Includes future outlook, salary and job lead information for many careers.
Links to military careers.
http://www2.isbe.state.il.us/alps/what%20to%20look%20for.htm
Lists a variety of trade, technical, and proprietary school in Illinois.
Making Decisions
After obtaining information on different occupations/college majors, the next step is to see what fits with your values, skills and life style. This process is always evolving. For more information on career planning see your counselor.
Steps to Career/Life Planning www.cdm.uwaterloo.ca
The external websites listed below are not controlled by MCHS and are subject to change at any time. Their inclusion with the district website does not in any way reflect the policies of MCHS. These links are made on good faith that the people in control of them have only the best of intentions.
