Your career development is a lifelong process that began when you were born, whether you realize it or not! Your interests, abilities, values, personality, background, and circumstances are all factors that influence your career development. Career counseling is a process that will assist you in getting to know and understand yourself as well as the world of work so that you can make career, educational, and life decisions.
Career development entails more than just deciding on a major and a job after graduation. It truly is a lifelong process, which means that you will change, situations will change, and you will have to make career and life decisions all of your life.
The goal of Career Counseling is to provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to make future career and life decisions in addition to assisting you in making the decisions you need to make right now.
What can I anticipate?
- Your Career Advisor WILL:
Assist you in determining who you are and what you want from your education, career, and life.
Be someone to whom you can talk about your thoughts, ideas, feelings, and concerns about your career and educational choices, and who will assist you in sorting out, organizing, and making sense of your thoughts and feelings.
Assist you in identifying the factors that influence your career development and in assessing your interests, abilities, and values.
Assist you in locating resources and career information.
Assist you in determining your next steps and developing a plan to achieve your objectives.
Your Career Advisor WILL NOT:
Tell you what you should do, or what major you should major in, or what career you should pursue.
Give you advice on course selection or scheduling.
Who requires Career Guidance?
Career Counseling is appropriate for anyone, including freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even alumni, because career development is a lifelong process. However, the earlier you begin making deliberate decisions about your future, the better prepared you will be! All freshmen are encouraged to meet with a Career Counselor.
The following are some examples of issues that students bring to Career Counseling:
Investigating Career and Major Options
"I'm not sure what I want to do with my life."
"I'm not sure what to major in."
"I've narrowed it down to two career options, but I'm having trouble deciding between them."
"I know what I want to major in, but I'm not sure what I want to do after graduation."
"I know what I want to do, but I'm not sure what major would be best."
"I'm curious about the types of jobs I can get with my major."
Conflict Resolution
"I'm interested in a variety of subjects, and I keep changing my major because I'm not sure which one is best for me!"
"I don't enjoy any of my classes, and none of the majors appeal to me."
"I have a lot of work experience and I'm looking for a new career path that will allow me to expand on the skills I already have."
"I had intended to attend the [blank] program, but I applied and was denied admission." "What should I do now?"
"I always thought I wanted to be a [blank], but now that I'm in my major, I'm not so sure!"
"I enjoy my major, but it's not what I want to do for a living."
"I know what kind of work I want to do, but I'm afraid I won't make enough money doing it."
"My family wants me to be a [blank], but I'm not sure that's what I really want."
"I've always wanted to be a [blank], but I'm starting to wonder if it's just because that's all I know."
"I want to go into a field where there will always be plenty of jobs."
"I want to find a job that will enable me to provide substantial financial support for my family."
"I'm pursuing a career, but I think I might just want to be a stay-at-home parent."
"I've always intended to stay in Boise, but to do what I want, I'd have to relocate."
"I can't find work, so I'm considering going to graduate school."
What exactly is a Career Counselor?
The Career Services staff member who is assisting you has a master's degree and is knowledgeable about career development theory, counseling techniques, assessment administration and interpretation, and career information resources. Master's degrees in Counseling or Career Counseling are required for Career Counselors.
Because your job search/career attainment process is an important part of your career development, Job Search Advising and Career Counseling are intertwined. In addition, your Career Counselor is fully trained to assist you with all aspects of your job search.
