Overwhelmed by Career Decisions? Here’s Where to Begin

IndependenceJust start somewhere.  That’s right.  If you are feeling overwhelmed by the thought of choosing a major, finding an internship, or getting a job after graduation, don’t let fear paralyze you.  Even Baylor University had to start somewhere (see picture above).

Take action, even if that means simply taking a quick look at job postings or listening to a podcast about a major that you are considering.  Each step you take will help you to learn more about an option or about your own preferences.  Don’t be afraid to ask for help, either.  The staff of Career and Professional Development are happy to assist you.  Visit our website to learn about the different ways you can connect with us.

How to Use This Blog in Career Planning

Photo by ebayink via Flickr
Photo by ebayink via Flickr

Are you a passive or active reader of this blog?  Of course, we sincerely appreciate our passive readers who eagerly anticipate the biweekly arrival of our posts in your inbox.  However, there are some ways to really make this blog work for you.  Here are three ideas for becoming an active reader and getting more out of your experience with us.

First, note the search box in the right-hand column.  Doing a keyword search for your major or a career that interests you could help you uncover posts with exactly the information that you need.  Second, you can use our category tags (also in the right-hand column) to quickly pull information on a career topic that you are researching.  Third, you can interact with us by commenting on posts or contacting us to suggest a topic for future posts.  We want this blog to be helpful to you, so let us know how we can best accomplish that.

International Career Opportunities

Mission2

Today, I want to bring your attention to one of the premium resources offered to you by Baylor Career and Professional Development.  The resource is called Goinglobal, and it offers information to students who are interested in international employment, internships, and volunteer opportunities.  Additionally, the site details cultural advice, work permit/visa information, and resume/interviewing tips for individual countries.

We also encourage you to check out our other premium resources, which you can view by clicking here.

Use Your Common Sense Day

Students4

In honor of Use Your Common Sense Day, I thought I would take a few moments to discuss how common sense plays a critical role in career decision-making.  First, consider your academic performance in your major.  Are you making an A in most of your classes?  If not, what could you do to improve your performance?  If you spend an adequate amount of time studying and take advantage of academic support resources, yet you still aren’t making the grade, perhaps a change of major would yield better results.  A strong grade point average is important for keeping graduate/professional school and employment options open.

Next, consider if you are truly enjoying your major classes.  If not, what is your rationale for being in your major?  If you do not enjoy your major, there is a risk that you will not like your career, either.  People who enjoy their work often demonstrate more motivation and initiative.  Consequently, they may experience more success than their colleagues who do not enjoy their work.

Finally, do you have work experience related to your career goal?  If not, you might experience difficulty in your job search or graduate school application process.  Depending on your area of interest, internships, part-time employment, summer jobs, volunteer opportunities, and shadowing could be methods for opening up more opportunities in your future.

The staff of Career and Professional Development are happy to help you explore your options and find relevant experience.  Review the information on our website to determine which of our services could be most useful to you.

Online Resources from Career and Professional Development

Keyboard

Though the staff of Career and Professional Development are eager to help you with career exploration and planning, what happens if you have a question outside of our 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. office hours?  Fear not!  We have a bevy of online resources to help you.  When you have a chance, familiarize yourself with the Career and Professional Development website.

Here are a few highlights:

  • Focus 2 Online Assessment for students who are unsure about majors and career possibilities
  • Career Exploration Resources for researching job descriptions, qualifications, salaries, and job growth projections
  • Career Guides to aid in writing resumes and cover letters, preparing for an interview, and conducting a job/internship search
  • HireABear to find positions that employers want to fill with Baylor students

100 Healthcare Careers

CThis post was originally published on April 2, 2012.  Enjoy this oldie but goodie!

This marks our 100th post on the Mind Your Major blog!  While I wish I could say that we are giving away $100, that is not true.  Instead, we offer up what some of you might think is the next best thing…100 careers in healthcare.  How many of you, particularly those on a prehealthcare track, have been asked about your back-up plan?  How many of you have a solid back-up plan figured out?  Here are 100 ideas to get you started, with links to detailed information on each career path:

  1. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
  2. Clinical Laboratory Scientist/Medical Technologist
  3. Health Educator
  4. Cytotechnologist
  5. Genetic Counselor
  6. Art Therapist
  7. Medical Librarian
  8. Dentist
  9. Built Environment Specialist
  10. Environmental Health Advocate
  11. Environmental Health Practitioner
  12. Food Safety Specialist
  13. Occupational Health and Safety Expert
  14. Forensic Biologist
  15. Forensic Chemist
  16. Forensic Odontologist
  17. Forensic Pathologist
  18. Forensic Toxicologist
  19. Geriatric Pharmacist
  20. Geriatric Psychiatrist
  21. Geriatric Staff Nurse
  22. Geriatrician
  23. Health Administrator
  24. Dental Informatics
  25. Nursing Informatics
  26. Biogerontologist
  27. Clinical Ethicist
  28. Disaster Medical Specialist
  29. Emergency Medicine
  30. Family Medicine
  31. Palliative Care Doctor
  32. Pathologist
  33. Doctor of Osteopathy
  34. Medical Doctor
  35. Physician Assistant
  36. Medical Scientist
  37. Psychiatrist
  38. Psychologist
  39. Rehabilitation Counselor
  40. Social Worker
  41. Licensed Professional Counselor
  42. Child Life Specialist
  43. Marriage and Family Therapist
  44. Substance Abuse Counselor
  45. Athletic Trainer
  46. Clinical Nurse Specialist
  47. Nurse Anesthetist
  48. Nurse Educator
  49. Audiologist
  50. Nurse Midwife
  51. Occupational Therapist
  52. Nurse Practitioner
  53. Physical Therapist
  54. Nurse Researcher
  55. Speech-Language Pathologist
  56. Veterinarian
  57. Dietitian
  58. Occupational Health Nurse
  59. Pediatric Nurse
  60. Public Health Nurse
  61. Registered Nurse
  62. Bioinformatics
  63. Optometrist
  64. Pharmaceutical Scientist
  65. Pharmacist
  66. Podiatrist
  67. Public Health- Biomedical and Laboratory Practice
  68. Biostatistics
  69. Epidemiology
  70. Global Health
  71. Maternal and Child Health
  72. Public Health Practice and Program Management
  73. Exercise Physiologist
  74. Kinesiotherapist
  75. Primary Care Sports Medicine
  76. Animal Behaviorist
  77. Demographer
  78. Biomedical Engineer
  79. Biotechnologist
  80. Perfusionist
  81. Acupuncturist
  82. Acute Care Nurse
  83. Advanced Practice Psychiatric Nurse
  84. Allergist/Immunologist
  85. Anesthesiologist Assistant
  86. Anesthesiologist
  87. Chiropractor
  88. Critical Care Nurse
  89. Dermatologist
  90. Hospitalist
  91. Internist
  92. Low Vision Therapist, Orientation and Mobility Specialist, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
  93. Music Therapist
  94. Naturopathic Doctor
  95. Neurologist
  96. Nuclear Medicine Physician
  97. Obstetrician/Gynecologist
  98. Ophthalmologist
  99. Surgeon
  100. Orthodontist

For even more ideas, visit the following websites:

Tips for Successful Pre-Med Shadowing

Photo courtesy of Adrian Clark via Flickr
Photo courtesy of Adrian Clark via Flickr

If you are a pre-med student, you have probably already heard about the significance of job shadowing.  Yes, this will improve the likelihood of being accepted by a medical school.  More importantly, this may be your best opportunity to evaluate the pros and cons of a medical career, allowing you to make a more informed decision about your future.  If you are unsure about where to begin, check out the following articles for advice on how to arrange job shadowing and how to identify opportunities that will be most beneficial to you.

How Do I…Shadow a Doctor? (Association of American Medical Colleges)

5 Ways for Premed Students to Maximize Physician Shadowing (U.S. News & World Report)

What to Expect on a Pre-Med Job Shadow (Chron.com)

HireABear Career Fair Tomorrow

career fair students interacting with employeers. 09/25/2007It’s never too early to start thinking about your career.  Whether you are still trying to choose a major or you plan to graduate this semester, there are many benefits to attending a career fair.  Here are just a few:

1) Discover occupations you had not considered.

2) Learn what employers are looking for in a candidate.

3) Network with professionals in your chosen career field.

4) Get hired for a job or internship!

The HireABear Career Fair will take place tomorrow from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Waco Convention Center.  Click here for all the details, including a list of employers who plan to attend.  Don’t forget to wear professional attire and bring copies of your resume.  We wish you the best.

What Can I Do with My Major? Find Out on LinkedIn

It’s a common question around our office–“What can I do with a major in ______?”  There are many methods for exploring career possibilities with a major.  One particularly interesting way to answer this question is to use LinkedIn.

Start by clicking the “Connections” link at the top of your LinkedIn home page, then select “Find Alumni.”  From here, you can discover top cities, employers, and industries of Baylor alumni with LinkedIn profiles.  You can also do a keyword search to find individuals who earned degrees with your same major or others that you are considering.  Not only can this open your eyes to new possibilities, but reviewing LinkedIn profiles can help you to see the pathways taken to different occupations.

Here are examples of occupations of Baylor alumni that I found:

Psychology Majors– Career Counselor, Psychologist, Management Consultant, University Professor, Research Assistant, Academic Advisor

Biology Majors– Orthodontist, Biology Teacher, Environmental Scientist, Museum Director, Editor, Financial Services Representative

History Majors– Archivist, Public Relations Specialist, Marketing Director, Curator, Librarian, Military Officer

Are you new to LinkedIn?  Click here for  video tutorials on how to set up a profile and how to add connections.  Click here for LinkedIn information specific to college students.

STEM Career Fair This Week

Career Fair 2Science.  Technology.  Engineering.  Mathematics.  These career fields contain some of the fastest growing and highest paying occupations in the country.  This week, Baylor students have the opportunity to meet with employers in these fields to discuss internship and full-time job opportunities.  Stop by the 5th Floor of Cashion from 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m this Thursday.  Make sure to dress professionally, bring copies of your resume, and research companies before you attend.

Don’t forget that CPD has walk-in hours available for resume reviews.  Let us help you put your best foot forward.