Carroll Community College

Four Phases of Career Development

1. Self-Assessment: Explore who you are: your strengths, weaknesses, skills, interests, values and personality.

• Register for CAR-100 Career Development as a Life Process.
• Participate in self assessment workshops or individual career counseling.
• Explore Discover career development software to learn about yourself.
• Get feedback from friends, professors, academic advisers and family about your interests, abilities and plans.

2. Learn Career Information: Become an "information expert" on the fields you are considering.

• Research potential careers and learn about job descriptions, education and skills necessary.
• Obtain information on salaries, job market trends and the projected outlook of the field.
• Research career information utilizing a Holland Code online resource
• View the career resources in the Career Center and the library. Make an appointment with the career counselor to find out how to best utilize the resources!
• Explore what you can do with a major in?
• Take courses related to possible career interests. Talk to professors about courses, majors and field of interest.
• Participate in Academic Community activities

3. Experience Career Alternatives: Discover what it is like to be employed in potential careers.

• Find career-related summer and part-time jobs.
• Obtain an internship or volunteer position.
• Shadow a professional at work.
• Participate in extracurricular activities, hobbies, clubs that relate to your career interests.
• Conduct an Informational Interview with a professional in your chosen field.
• Participate in a Service Learning Project (Room 118).

4. Implementing a Career Choice: Participate in workshops and/or one-on-one counseling to learn:

• Job search strategies 
• Resume development
• Interview preparation
• Attend Carroll's annual Spring Job Fair or other local job fairs
• Check the events calendar for information