What steps can I take to test them out?

“Luck is when opportunity meets preparation.” ~Erica Baxter, Australian singer/model

This step of career development is a critical one. Test things out! Embrace your new understanding of who you are, what you like, what you are good at and throw yourself into experiences: take a photography class, join a club, volunteer at a non-profit organization, work in a bank, study abroad.

Be planned and purposeful at this stage of the game. Do your homework. Spend time on O*Net identifying career fields and job titles. Learn more through informational interviews and internships.

Spend time researching companies, and building networks. Ask yourself questions about potential career fields: Can I see myself doing all aspects of this job? What skills and abilities would I need to develop before I could pursue a career in this field? There are many ways to test out a career field to see if it’s right for you:

Complete the “What can I do with this Major” section of Focus II.

Attend Career Center presentations to develop professional skills, build networks and do homework about potential career fields matching your interests and abilities:
- “Careers In…..” series and Career Fairs – these events are great opportunities to speak face to face with employers who are able to tell you more about what their field is really like.

Register with LakerJobs and conduct research on current internship and employment opportunities.

Utilize LinkedIn along with the Career Contact Bank to build networks and connections for informational interviewing, job shadowing, and internship opportunities.

Participate in an Internship.

Sign up for US 301: Internship & Job Search Strategies.

Explore Service Learning Opportunities at the Community Service Learning Center and through the Women’s Issue Volunteer Corps.

Participate in Student Organizations that allow you to test out your interests, abilities, and skills.

Examine Study Abroad options and determine the best time to participate.

Consider if graduate or professional school is in your future. Participating in undergraduate research is a great way test out a specific area of interest as well as gain excellent experience that is great preparation for graduate school.

Check out an easy to download guide that highlights ways to get experience and begin to test things out!

Page last modified September 27, 2012