Career Counseling

Have you ever said ...

  • "I don't know what to major in."
  • "I am interested in ___ major, but I don't know what I can do with it."
  • "I like a lot of different things and can't decide what to choose."
  • "I thought I wanted to major in ___, but after taking some classes, I'm not interested anymore."
  • "I want to find that one perfect career for me."
  • "I don't know what careers are out there."

You have? Okay! It's time to meet with a Career Services counselor!

What can I expect when meeting with a career counselor?

Career counseling for college students is largely about better understanding yourself and the world of work to feel more confident in making decisions about majors, careers, and life in general. Our counselors will help you explore various factors to consider while making choices about your future, such as:

  • Values - What's important to me?
  • Interests - What do I like?
  • Personality - Who am I?
  • Skills - What can I do or learn to do well?  

Appointments with career counselors often involve conversations about:

  • The career decision-making process
  • The VIPS above and how they influence career choices and development
  • Myths and misconceptions people may have about majors and careers
  • Ideas, feelings, and concerns scholars have about making decisions about their education and future careers
  • Understanding the world of work including what's out there, what different occupations entail, and labor market information
  • Leveraging valuable resources to explore career information
  • Determining next steps and plans to achieve one's goals

Counselors will sometimes suggest formal or informal career assessment inventories (e.g., Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory, O*NET Interest Profiler, etc.) to help you learn more about your VIPS. They typically share career exploration resources to learn more about different types of occupations, work environments, labor market information, etc. Then, after you have spent some time gathering information about yourself and the world of work, they can help you make sense of it all!

For scholars who are comfortable with their choice of career, meeting with a career counselor can help clarify an appropriate educational pathway to pursue that career. 

How do I meet with a career counselor?

You may schedule an in-person or virtual career counseling appointment by using the Navigate platform (accessible via the single sign-on portal), by visiting Career Services in MP 201, or calling (562) 860-2451 ext. 2356.

Visit this page for more information.