You were probably asked what you wanted to be when you grew up your whole childhood. Now that you’re finally “grown up” and ready to go to college, it’s decision time. You’ve got to know what you want to do in your career to know what your major will be. Here are some tips to figuring it out.
Know you’re not alone: If you’re ready to enroll and still don’t have a clear career goal, don’t worry. Many students are undecided about a major when they enroll in college. Know that majors aren’t set in stone. Taking a few classes your first couple semesters can help you decide what you do and don’t like.
Know yourself: Who’s a better judge of you than you? You know what you like to do and where your strengths lie. Is there a career field that will capitalize on them?
Conversely, know what doesn’t mesh well. If you love the outdoors, maybe a cubicle job isn’t for you. If you’ve always wanted to be an accountant but struggle with math, you may want to look at other options.
Know what’s out there: Do your research. Research job outlook and salary expectations for the fields you’re interested in and know how much education these positions require. Talk to as many people in your chosen field as possible. The more direct, unfiltered conversations you can have with people who are where you one day want to be, the more you’ll know what the job is like on a day-to-day basis. For an up-close-and personal look, explore opportunities for job shadowing and internships. The best way to know what a job will entail is to watch someone doing it.
Following these tips will help you narrow down which jobs you can actually see yourself doing, and give you some direction regarding the degree that will help get you there.
