Major/Career Exploration

Exploring Majors/Careers

Major Exploration

There are a number of ways to explore your major both inside and outside of the classroom. If you feel like you are lost in the major exploration process I encourage you to try 3 -  4 of these suggestions to see which major is the right fit for you.

• ·         Majors at a Glance – Are you aware of all of the options that Illinois has to offer? If not, then this is a great place to start because you can learn a little bit about all of the majors available at Illinois. 
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• ·          Programs of Study page – Once you've identified some majors that might be of interest the Programs of Study page is helpful so you can see the classes you would take for each major. Click on the major (s) you are interested in to see the classes associated with that major and what it would take to graduate with that major.
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• ·          Discover a Major page – This page includes all of the majors available at Illinois and includes a PDF document for each major. Information in the PDF document includes  a description of the major, classes to explore the major, student groups you can join, possible transferable skills, possible careers options, and possible careers titles. This is a great page when you have identified a major but aren't sure what to do with that major.
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• ·          Changing Majors page – Once you've narrowed down your list, the Changing Majors page will help you to see what you need to do to be able to declare the major (s) you are interested in.
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• ·          EPICS Interest Explorer – Explore your interests and competencies using the online system Exploring Pathways In Career Success (EPICS). The Interest Explorer module is great to help you generate ideas for possible majors.
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• ·          Explore Interests, Skills, and Values – The Career Center’s website has some great resources to help you discover the perfect career path for you which can often help you identify majors of interest.
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• ·         Join a Student Group – Join a student group and explore your major outside of your classes. Find a student group that matches your areas of interest by using the Registered Student Organization page.
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• ·          EPSY 220: Career Theory and Practice – This class is designed to help students identify skills, values, and areas of interest through participatory experiences. It is a great way to explore which careers and majors might be a good fit for you.
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• ·          Career Center Workshops – Attend a Career Center workshop to help you explore more about yourself as you move forward in the exploration process.

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Career Exploration

There are many resources available to assist you as you prepare for the next step --- a career!  Here is a short list of resources to get you started...

• ·         Meeting with a Career Center Counselor – A Career Center Counselor can help you with a number of resources to identify the next step in your career exploration planning. Just call 217.333.0820 to schedule an appointment. 
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• ·          EPICS Assessments – EPICS is an online assessment sponsored by the Career Center to determine what types of jobs and majors might fit well with your interests. The assessments that can specifically help with career exploration are:
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• ·         Competency Builder – This helps you to discover the top skills that employers want to see in a college graduate and how you measure up.
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• ·         Dream Resume Builder – Create the “dream resume” that you want to have when you graduate, and learn how to make it happen.
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• ·         Career Choice Navigator – Compare your career options based on what you already know about your interests, skills, and values. 
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• ·          O*Net – This site includes a feature that allows you to put in your results from EPICS to search and learn about careers that match your interests. 
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• ·          Occupational Outlook Handbook – This site allows you to research information including earnings, expected job prospects, what workers do on the job, working conditions and training and education needed. 
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• ·          The Resources Page on the Career Center website – The Career Center subscribes to a number of sites that Illinois students can use for free. These sites have a wealth of career development information and resources.  
• ·          Career Center Workshops – Attend a Career Center workshop to help you explore more about yourself as you move forward in the exploration process. 
• ·          Conduct an Informational Interview – The best way to learn more about a career is to speak with someone who is currently in the role. The Career Center has some great resources about how to conduct an Informational Interview. 
• ·         Job Shadow – Consider spending several hours immersed in a career you are pursing.