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.

 

Step 1: Knowing About Myself

Once you realize you need to make a career decision, the first step is to clarify what you know about yourself. Consider these four elements:

  1. Skills/Abilities – What do you do well? What are your strengths?
  2. Interests – What do you enjoy doing?
  3. Work Values – What is most important to you? What motivates you to work?
  4. Personality – What are your inborn preferences?


Resources that can help:

The UMUC Office of Career Services offers a variety of resources to help you gain a better understanding of your personality type, interests, skills, and work-related values. Look below to see what Career Services has to offer you:

  • DISCOVER
    This self-guided, online career program helps users (1) identify their interests, skills/abilities, and values; (2) explore a database of occupations, college majors, schools and training institutions, financial aid/scholarships, and military options; and (3) create a personalized career plan. There is no charge for this assessment.

    Please fill out an online Talk to a Career Counselor form and request access to Discover in the comments section.
  • Strong Interest Inventory
    This online assessment measures interests related to a broad range of occupations, work activities, leisure activities, and school subjects.  It provides a detailed print-out of interests and how they score on six occupational themes (Realistic, Artistic, Investigative, Conventional, Social, and Enterprising). 

    This 291-item inventory is available on the internet and takes about 30 minutes to complete. A follow-up appointment is required to discuss and receive the results. There is a $15.00 charge for the assessment. Call 240-684-2720 for an appointment.

    Requires an in-person or telephone Career Counseling appointment.
  • MBTI - Myers Briggs Type Indicator
    The MBTI is an personality assessment that will assist in identifying your personality type which in many cases can be directly related to your career interests. Through this assessment you will explore your personality and with a career counselor start to develop a career path that will complement your personality. There is a $15.00 charge for the assessment. Call 240-684-2720 for an appointment.

    Requires an in-person or telephone Career Counseling appointment.

Additional Resources:

 

Step 2: Knowing About My Options

Once you have clarified your self-knowledge, the next step is identifying and increasing your knowledge of your available options. Identify potential occupations and majors that match your skills, interests, values, and personality. Research job descriptions, education and training requirements, salaries, and the skills and personal characteristics required for specific occupations.

Knowing about my options involves the following:

  • Learning about specific occupations and majors
  • Researching job descriptions
  • Understanding how to find and evaluate resources
  • Understanding how occupations, job settings and majors are organized
  • Investigating education and training options
  • Understanding what skills and personal traits are required for specific occupations

Resources that can help:

The following Web sites can assist you with exploring your options:

UMUC's career-focused degree and certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students can help prepare you for a career advancement and opportunities.

 

Step 3: Knowing How I Make Decisions

Once you have a clear understanding of your self-knowledge and your options, the next step is to make your major/career decision. One thing you may want to consider is how you usually make important decisions. If you have been successfully able to make decisions in the past, then the method you used for making those decisions will apply to your career decision-making and you should stick with it.

Resources that can help:

The resource below will help to outline the process for organizing the information you gather in your research to facilitate your decision making.

 

Step 4: Thinking About My Decision Making

Identifying and addressing any barriers to your career decision-making is essential to the entire decision-making process. It is difficult to think clearly and make decisions when you are bombarded with negative thoughts, which act as barriers and interfere with your decision making. To identify and overcome your barriers, you must pay attention to your self-talk, become self-aware, and then control your self-talk. Once all barriers are removed, you can make a plan and carry out your decision.

 

Step 5: Creating and Carrying Out My Plan

Take practical steps to implement your career decisions. If you do not have it already, get the education and training you need. Speak with your academic advisor or faculty about the appropriate curriculum. Begin the coursework. Identify opportunities that can get you the experience relevant to your career goal (e.g. internships, cooperative education, volunteering). Get involved in professional associations and/or campus student organizations. When you are ready to job hunt, prepare a quality resume and cover letter and prepare for interviews by practicing alone or with a friend.

 

Resources that can help: