Learn about Yourself

I'm confused about what major to choose. 

 

Join the crowd!  Start out by learning about yourself  -- your interests, what's important to you about work, your skills and personality. 

Don't fall victim to the Myths about Majors, either! 

Isn't there a test to help me decide? 

No vocastional test will tell you what to do but the following assessments will give you more information about yourself so you can make a decision.

  • Use FOCUS 2 to get started .  School access code=terrier.

FOCUS 2 is a series of assessments that will help you learn about your interests, personality, abilities and values and identify possible Hiram majors and careers that fit you.  Near the end, combine the results of all the assessments to give youself a full picture of your options.  It takes about 45 min. to use.

Personality plays a role in your choice too.

I have a major but I'm not sure what career to choose. 

  • Use your interests to identify possible careers.

The Career Zone (based upon the vocational test called the Self-Directed Search) starts with a simple interest inventory and offers links to career ideas.

I'm thinking of a career but it's not really related to my major. 

Good for you!  You've noticed that chaos theory rather than linear thinking sometimes explains the way liberal arts students develop their majors and careers. 

Want to read more? 

Dr. Katharine Brooks, creator the the Wandering Map, blogs in Psychology Today: Career Transitions.

  • Identify your transferable skills and how they apply to careers.

Writing clearly, problem solving, critical thinking and organizing --Those important skills transfer to many career fields even if you developed them in campus activities, internships, volunteer work and NOT all in your major. 

What if I still need help making sense of all this? 

Contact Kathryn Craig in the Career Center to sort through your options and plan your next steps. 

 

FOCUS-2 logout page

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