Career and Major Exploration
Whether you are exploring a major or mapping out career options, there are a number of resources and appointment types available to help you through this process. When narrowing down your options, it is best to consider the skills that you already have or know that you can acquire as well as your interests and values.
In addition to these considerations, students can use the Japanese concept of Ikigai which means, "a reason for being." The following video challenges students to identify their Ikigai using four questions:
- What do you love?
- What does the world need?
- What are you good at?
- What can you get paid for?
Exploratory Resources
FOCUS 2 is an online interactive career and education planning system that uses a
series of self-assessment, career exploration and decision-making tools to discover
majors and careers that fit your interests, abilities, values, goals and personality
type.
If you are unsure of what major to choose or want to know more about your career pathway,
then FOCUS 2 is the right tool for you!
Use the My Next Move Interest Profiler assessment to determine your top three occupational themes and explore occupations within six categories, e.g. Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional.
The Four-Year SUCCESS Plan outlines academic and career development initiatives that students can complete while in school to make themselves stand out to peers both on their resume and in interviews.
16 Personalities is a free online assessment that will provide you with an accurate description of who you are and why you do the things you do. These results may be helpful in understanding major and career fit based on personality.
The CliftonStrengths assessment helps individuals identify their strengths and connect these to a possible major or career. There is a fee ($19.99) associated with this assessment.
O*NET (Occupational Information Network) is a free online database that can be used to explore information about careers, industry, and positions including the skills and knowledge needed as well as job outlook.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics details information about specific careers and industries including salary information.
CareerMatch contains resources for nearly all career development needs including job search, networking, resume writing, and industry information.
Job Shadow contains information and videos which allow individuals to shadow professionals in a variety of career pathways.
The Illinois Career Information System is an internet site that provides individuals with tools for career planning. There are several components to this free site including career assessments as well as information regarding occupations, employment, education and training. User ID = Illinois | Password = careers
Saint Xavier University partnered with CareerSpring to provide our first-generation college students with career information and resources, a network of professional contacts across various industries, and access to employment opportunities.
My Next Move is an exploratory tool for students to learn about potential careers and industries. Undecided students might find this tool helpful when narrowing down a major.
Additional Help
For more information about major and career exploration, please refer to the Career Readiness Guide. You can also schedule an appointment with a career advisor through Navigate to help you navigate various career pathways, choose a major, or change your major.