Counseling and Advising Center

Steps to Career Planning

Contact the Counseling and Advising Center to schedule an appointment for assistance planning your education and your career – 231-777-0362.

There are no quick tricks when it comes to making good career decisions. It is a process that takes hard work, a mind that is ready to think and explore, and time for research and reflection. As you begin to know yourself and the world of work better, you will feel empowered, less uncertain, and you will learn the career self-management process. You are worth the time and effort. It's about your future, your life, your talents, and your dreams.

1. Self-exploration

Get to know yourself and organize what you know by using assessment tools such as:

Career Cruising: Free, on-line interest inventory. 
                               Instructions and password 
                               Start with the Career Matchmaker section

Career Scope: Free, computer based assessment of interests, aptitudes.
                            Available at the MCC Career Resource Center, in Room 204.
                            Schedule an appointment by calling 231-777-0216.

MOIS: Free, computer based program which includes self- assessments, information on hundreds of occupations, and information     about almost every college and university in the United States. Available in the Career Resource Center, in Room 204.

Journaling: Free, personalized record you keep of your likes, dislikes, interests…all the things you would like to consider when   choosing a career. Just get a notebook and start writing.

2. Career Exploration and Information Gathering

Begin by taking all the ideas generated in your self-exploration and highlight those that are the most interesting and appealing to you.

Narrow the remaining list down to five to ten of the career areas that are the most intriguing to you.

Using a grid, like the one that is attached, fill in the left hand column with those choices and fill in the spaces across the top of the grid with information you want to know about your choices. Questions typically include:

What are the responsibilities in this career?
How much money might I make? 
How many jobs are available? 
Where are the jobs? 
What kind and how much education do I need?

Research your selected careers using websites such as America’s Career Info Net at www.acinet.org or the Occupational Outlook Handbook at www.bls.gov/oco. Fill in the squares of your Career Exploration grid.

3. Decision Making

Study your career information grid. How well do the different careers match your interests, aptitudes, and values? How well would each meet your career needs and desires?

Narrow your list further – choose your top two or three. Find people who are working in these careers. Talk with them, observe them, job shadow, and ask them questions like: 

What do you like the best? 
The least? 
What would you change if you could? 
What was your career path? 
What would you recommend to someone who is thinking about going into this field?

Don’t worry about imposing or taking someone’s time. Most people are flattered and love to talk about their work. If you are respectful and ask for a limited amount of time – a half hour or so – you will often leave with much more.

Using this approach, students have been able to do things like ride along in a patrol car with a police officer, observe x-ray technicians at work, or spend a weekend at a bed and breakfast participating in all phases of the inn keeping business.

Use the information you’ve gathered determine the career option most desirable to you at this time.

IMPORTANT NOTE:
Careers change, lifestyles change, goals change.

Do not get caught up in “analysis paralysis” because you are afraid to make a wrong decision. Contrary to popular opinion, you are not deciding what you will be doing for the rest of your life!!

You are deciding what kinds of classes you’ll be taking in college and maybe what your first job after college will look like. You are deciding on the next phase of your life – not your whole life.

4. Set Goals

The final activity is to set long term and short term goals. This may be the easiest part of the process. You may know the path you need to follow, or you may need to do more research, but it is important to lay out the steps you plan to follow.

My long term goal is to get a job in the field of ______________________.

To do this I need to:

1. ____________________________
2. ____________________________
3. ____________________________
4. ____________________________

The MCC Counselors are available to help you with any, or all, of these steps.
Call 231-777-0362 for an appointment.


Career Research and Exploration Grid