Explore Your Options: Research Majors & Careers

You may uncover possibilities you never knew existed if you take the time to explore and research the world of majors, work, and the different career and academic paths out there.

To get you started, check out the five different ways to research your options:


1. Read

You can find a huge selection of books, periodicals, and the latest career software in the Career Resource Lab in Building F.

The following are just a few books located in the library:

• Finding Your Perfect Work by Paul and Sarah Edwards
• What Color is Your Parachute? by Dick Bolles
• Do What You Are by Paul Tieger and Barbara Barron-Tieger
• In Search of Values: 31 Strategies for Finding Out What Really Matters Most to You by Sidney Simon

Don't like to read? Well we've made it real easy for you. Now you can learn more about occupations just by watching videos of SJSU alumni who are out in the field. They talk about what a typical day on the job is like and offer their advice on how to get started.

The Career Resource Lab has videos on interviewing, resume writing, and choosing graduate programs.

You don't have to go far to find good links-- What can I do with my major? and Where can I work with my major? are great resources whether you've decided upon a major and career or not.

You can also find multiple web sites and job banks for different career fields at Links by Career Interest.

Other sources of on-line career information include:

• The Occupational Outlook Handbook
• The Princeton Review
• Jobweb, and
• Experience.com
  

Nothing beats going directly to the source. Conduct an informational interview with someone in the field you want to learn about. Find out what a typical day is like on the job, training requirements, salary information, and the best strategies for getting started. SJSU faculty, students, former employers, friends, neighbors, and family can all be great sources of career information.

You can also build your Professional Network by meeting and interviewing SJSU alumni and other professionals who are willing to talk to SJSU students.

Meeting with people is not only an efficient way of getting advice and information, but is also a great networking opportunity because the contacts you make might also get you job leads.

Sometimes the only way to understand what a job is like is to get first hand experience through internships and volunteer work. Pre-professional work experience can help you

• Develop skills
• Build a network of professional contacts
• Find out whether you might enjoy the career you are considering