UMUC

Career Services

Steps to Choosing a Major/Changing Careers

There are several steps to take when choosing a major or changing careers. Unfortunately, there is no “test” that will magically tell you what you should be when you grow up or what you'll be good at. Career decision making is a process, which requires a willingness on your part to undertake careful research and honest reflection before committing to a choice.

Steps to take when choosing a major or changing careers:

  1. Knowing About Myself
  2. Knowing About My Options
  3. Knowing How I Make Decisions
  4. Thinking About My Decision Making
  5. Creating and Carrying Out My Plan

Since 1909, career counselors have advocated a systematic approach to helping people find answers to their own career concerns. Over the years, this approach has been modified and fine-tuned by a number of career guidance professionals.

The Cognitive Information Processing Pyramid, or CIP, is one approach to career decision-making. Developed in 1992 by Dr. Gary W. Peterson, Dr. James P. Sampson, Jr., Dr. Robert Reardon, and Dr. Janet Lenz, their diagram represents the steps one should take in choosing a major or making a career change. The above steps have adapted the basic concept and then added additional steps.