Career Decision Making Process

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