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Did you know...
Career goals are often established based on erroneous assumptions? By identifying and exploring your interests, you are more likely to make well-informed choices and approach the internship, job, and/or graduate school search process as a legitimate candidate. As you brainstorm and explore career ideas, keep the following in mind:
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You are not choosing for life
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Your major does not limit or define your career options
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Your career interests will change and develop over time
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There are a number of ways to explore and investigate potential career areas
The Career Services Office houses a Library/Resource area containing many helpful handouts, flyers, books and magazines as well as a computer lab for online career research and resume/cover letter development. Visit our Career Exploration page for a detailed list of online resources to use for your career research.
Networking is great way to learn more about career fields from professionals and often lead to informational interviews. An informational interview is an appointment, typically 20-30 minutes, which you schedule with an individual in a career field of interest for the purpose of gaining career information from an "insider" point of view. In addition to being helpful for exploring careers, informational interviews can be valuable as you launch your internship or entry-level job search.
To learn about networking with PC alumni or your own personal contacts in order to receive career information and advice, visit our Networking page.
Shadowing is an opportunity to observe a professional in a work setting of interest and is most appropriate for students who have a sincere interest in a particular career area. This is a great way to get hands-on information on a field of interest. A shadowing experience involves many of the components of an informational interview, but is typically longer in duration and involves more hands-on observation. Visit our Shadowing page to learn more about arranging a shadowing opportunity yourself, or about our annual Winter Break Career Shadowing Day Program.
| Alumni Career Expert Series & Guest Presentations |
The Alumni Career Exert Series and guest presentations, scheduled each semester, are a great way to find out what it's really like to work in a specific career field and get tips on how to prepare and break into the field.
Check our Events section to see what's coming up. Be sure to attend any and all career series and presentations of interest (regardless of whether they're geared towards specific years or majors).
As you research careers, consider how well specific fields will satisfy your interests, skills, aptitude and values. Remember that career decision-making is a complex process that will change and emerge over time.
With the changing nature of the workplace it is likely you will change jobs and career directions multiple times throughout your life. Don't limit your options by thinking you are choosing a career for life at this point. As you begin to fine-tune your career interests, seek out internships and related experiences that can help you develop the required skills and abilities and enhance your future employability.