As you begin to explore, leverage the Career Center resources and your assigned career coach. They can help you consider career options, understand the education and skills required, connect with professionals in the field, and evaluate how your major supports your career interests. This can help you create a comprehensive career plan.
Download the Career Conversation Guide
Download the ‘Explore’ page from the Career Conversation Guide
EXPLORE: Questions and Action Steps
- Explore Career Options: Use resources like What Can I Do with This Major and the Focus 2 assessments to learn about different careers and related majors.
- Discuss Your Exploration: Meet with your career coach and/or faculty advisor to review your research on careers of interest, related majors, and your Focus 2 assessment results.
- View Job and Salary Data: Learn about job titles, salaries, required skills, and educational requirements for careers using the Job and Salary Data tool on the Career Center website.
- Get Started in Handshake: Complete your Handshake career interests and profile to receive information about relevant opportunities and events.
- Attend Events: Participate in in-person and virtual events posted on Handshake to explore various career paths.
- Evaluate Education/Degrees Options: Talk with your faculty advisor and/or career coach about what types of degrees may be necessary for your career interests.
- View Job and Salary Data: Learn about job titles, salaries, required skills, and educational requirements for careers using the Job and Salary Data tool on the Career Center website.
- Identify Critical Skills: Identify the NACE Career Readiness skills employers value across all career fields. Assess your skill level using the NACE career readiness assessment in Focus 2 and make a plan to develop and enhance your skills.
- Join Student Organizations and Activities: Use Engage to find student organizations to join. Find clubs that interest you and think about how they can contribute to your skill development and career interests.
- Consider Employment: Look for and apply to on-campus and/or part-time jobs in Handshake. General work experience is one of the top five attributes employers use to evaluate candidates!
- Build Your Resume: Utilize tools and resources on the Career Center website to create a college-level resume appropriate for your career field, and upload it to your Handshake account.
- Informational Interviews: Talk to alumni and professionals in careers of interest. Review resources on our website for help writing introduction emails and find connections through your career coach and LinkedIn.
- Job Shadowing: Observe professionals at work to gain insight into desired careers.
- Attend Events: Participate in in-person and virtual events posted on Handshake to explore various career paths.
- Explore Career Options: Use resources like What Can I Do with This Major and the Focus 2 assessments to learn about different careers and related majors.
- Review Majors at PennWest: Look at the programs offered.
- Confirm or Select a Major: Meet with your faculty advisor or another faculty member to review courses for desired major(s) and follow the Change of Major policy if needed to make any changes.
- If not, you may need to revisit these steps to explore other majors and related careers.
Once you can answer ‘yes’ to these questions, you’re ready to Prepare!
