CAREER COUNSELING

It is a known fact that individuals are more satisfied and productive when they work in careers that they find meaningful and satisfying, When you get to know yourself – discover your potential and increase your awareness of your interests, abilities, skills, values and preferences – you can make much better decisions about your major and your career track.

CAREER EXPLORATION AND PLANNING
CHOOSING A MAJOR

Choosing a major is not an easy task for most of us. What major to choose, where to live, how much it will cost, what are the transfer options, and how long will it take are all significant factors in the decision.

The Counseling Center offers career guidance through all phases of the career exploration and planning process. We will assist you in:

  • Assessing your interests, skills, values and lifestyle preferences via several different assessment inventories such as:
    • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI): the most widely used assessment instruments in the world, the MBTI provides an accurate picture of a person’s personality type by determining your preferences in four categories; the combination of these preferences will identify one of 16 distinct personality types. Understanding the characteristics unique to your personality type will provide insight not only on your preferred way of communicating and interacting with others but also will help to identify your preferences in occupations, clarify your strengths and capabilities, and help you find greater career satisfaction. Common uses of the the MBTI include: self-understanding, career planning, relationships/communication, leadership, team-building and learning style.
    • Strong Interest Inventory (SSI): Based on the idea that individuals are more satisfied and productive when they work in jobs or at tasks that they find interesting and when they work with people whose interests are similar to their own, the SSI measures your interests in a wide range of occupations, occupational activities, hobbies, leisure activities and types of people. Your personalized report identifies your optimum career choices based on your interests and includes additional related occupations.

    These assessments are free to all STCC students.

  • Researching and comparing various possible occupations within your interest area including a look at labor market trends and transfer programs.
  • Validating your career choice via informational interviewing and job shadowing  
  • Identifying a major and initiating a plan of action
  • In cooperation with the Office of Cooperative Education/Career Services and Transfer Affairs, learn resume writing, interviewing skills, negotiating skills and the skills of accepting a job or get assistance with the four-year transfer process

Make an appointment to begin the career planning process by calling 755-4985.

The following are links you may find helpful for Career Exploration and Job Search: