Interests, skills career indicators, counselor says
by Lindsey Armstrong, reporter

    Students should keep their interests as well as their skills in mind when choosing a future major or career, members of the NE counseling center told students recently.

   David Brownlie, academic advisor, and Amos McCluney, counselor, conducted Exploring Careers and Majors, a one-on-one workshop.

   “It is not necessarily what the world can offer you, but what you can offer a particular part of the world,” McCluney said.

   People often choose a career path by what Brownlie calls the HH&C method. Some people are drawn to certain careers through their heritage, and some want to choose a career in order to be a hero or a heroine. The last group chooses a career based on a calling of some sort, Brownlie said.

   “This is not necessarily a bad idea,” he said, “but the most important component of choosing a career is to value what you value.”

   The most important thing to do when considering a career is to research the employer, Brownlie said.

   “Exploration and research are important to career planning,” he said.

   Students should look, talk and present themselves in a manner that will allow them to stand apart from other applicants.

   McCluney discussed “The Planful Process,” a diagram showing the steps to take when making important decisions.

   First, McCluney said, a student must identify the decision and gather information regarding the decision to be made. Alternatives must be identified, and the evidence should be weighed before choosing between the alternatives and taking action. Reviewing the decision and consequences is the last step and almost as important as identifying the decision in the beginning.

   This process can be used to choose a career and is also helpful in making other vital choices in life, McCluney said.

   “Course selection should be made based on who you are now and who you are trying to become,” he said.

   Important considerations include how the course will affect graduation requirements, how it will fulfill degree requirements and how much time and energy one is willing to put into the class, McCluney said. Students should not be afraid to use all resources available.

   Occupational Outlook Handbook, one available resource, gives a comprehensive overview of most careers in an alphabetical format. This reference book shows the significant points of the career, nature of work, working conditions, employment, training, qualifications, advancement, job outlook, earnings and related occupations.

   This book can be found in the campus libraries, the counseling centers and online at www.bls.gov/oco.

   Diagnostic tests are openly accessible to students who want to get an accurate idea of their areas of skill, Brownlie said.

   “Once we identify your interests, the degree plan comes from interests of the Strong Interest Inventory (SII),” he said.

   The SII and other tests are available with referral from the counseling office. Appointments can be made one week later with a counselor to evaluate the results.

   Students should be aware that the counseling office has all the updated, vital information regarding careers and majors, and students should not be afraid to ask questions, the counselors concurred.