Are you
stuck in the crossroads of switching your major?
Are you finding yourself enrolled in classes
but having no clear direction of where you might be heading after graduation?
Has a significant other inquired with the
dreaded question: “What are you going
to do with your life?”
If you had a
head nod to any of these questions then I hope to offer some quick advice on
career planning to get you stepping in the right direction. For 6 years I worked as an Assistant
Director of Career Services at another Georgia institution. I have many memories of students who would
come to my office the Monday after graduation and remark “Hey, Mrs. Karen, I need
a job!” Some of those students had
never taken advantage of the fine services we offered previously. At the conclusion of many an appointment I can
recall that most, if not all, of the visitors emphatically declared, “Man – why
did I not come here SOONER?”
As an online
student, I know you are super busy.
You’re juggling coursework, maybe a part time or full time job, family
obligations…. just LIFE! However, are
you putting “2 and 2 together” that the whole purpose for your education is to find
out what you might want to do with that LIFE?
It is crucial that you spend some energy and time exploring your options.
Taking
the time to investigate and decipher your strengths/skills along with possible
career fields and actual jobs is foundational to your post-graduation plans.
Many students think this can be done pell-mell. In reality it deserves significant time and
focus.
I wish I
could say that there is ONE pathway to take but the truth is there are many
fabulous ways to glean knowledge. I
would be remiss if I did not direct you first and foremost to a most logical
spot. Valdosta State University’s Office of Career Services is where I found this direct link to virtual
career related concepts. Here, you’ll
find practical resources including putting together a resume and preparing for
a job interview. It is also wise to take a look at the steps outlined for
career planning, which includes a handy outline of what to pursue during
different intervals of your post-secondary experience.
If you are
the one who has no earthly idea what you might like to do “when you grow up,” I
will suggest that you begin with some fundamental questions as put forth by
Debra Davenport (Executive Professional Mentor, Licensed Career Counselor &
Employment Agent). "What do I really
feel passionate about? What do I love
to do so much that I would do it for free?" Answering those questions will help drive your
search. She goes on to state that “Your
career should be a natural extension of who you are as a human being.”
Another
career expert, Marty Nemko, Ph.D. (Contributing Editor, Careers, U.S. News
& World Report) asks different yet just as compelling questions. “What do you think you would prefer in your
ideal job? Working with data? Working with people? Working with words? Or working with concrete objects?”
This blog post was designed to get you thinking about how to begin career exploration steps. Do
your research, and let us hear your plans in the comments below!
Karen M. Lingrell, M Ed
Assistant Director of Collaborative Programs
USG eCore and eMajor
klingrel@westga.edu
678.839.5278
