CAREER COUNSELING

CAPS provides individual career counseling and refers students to career exploration groups at the Internship and Career Center.

About Career Counseling

Contrary to popular belief, a large number of people do not know when they finish high school what they want to be when they “grow up” and enter the “real world.” Upon entering college and discovering the hundreds of academic tracts and career choices that are available, even students who were once sure of their career goals may become unsure or even overwhelmed by the choices. This is quite understandable, as many young people have previously had only such traditional careers as medicine, law, teaching, or engineering suggested to them as viable options. Through general education courses, extracurricular activities, work-study, and internships, college students often discover new interests, hidden talents, or great role-models in fields they didn't even know existed. Although there is no more appropriate time than college to explore and develop academic and career interests, rather than quickly committing to a career path that isn't a good fit, these periods of uncertainty can be very distressing, and sometimes even paralyzing. The common myth that serious and competent young adults “should” know where they are headed by the time they are in college can put a negative spin on this potentially exciting exploratory process. Furthermore, the misperception that every major is linked to one and only one career path, and that making a choice will therefore determine one's future forever, can make the decision process even more overwhelming. In fact, different people who have graduated with the same major often occupy very different roles in the workforce, and many people make career adjustments long after college as additional information about themselves, their occupation, and other occupational opportunities is gained through life experience.

Some students face more barriers than others in selecting a major and potential career, and may need additional assistance to sort out these issues. For example, students may feel tremendous pressure from their parents to pursue a particular career that is similar to their own, that is culturally endorsed and valued, or that otherwise satisfies their own ideas about what would be “right” for their son or daughter. The pressure to comply with these expectations may cause students to neglect considering alternatives that may be more consistent with their own interests, styles, and talents. Moreover, if their parents have directed them toward a particular career all their lives, students may not even be sure what it is that they themselves want versus what their parents want. Students who find that the field targeted for them by their parents isn't a good match with their own interests or talents may see themselves as “failures” or may feel so conflicted about disappointing their parents or appearing ungrateful by going against their wishes that they may decide there is too much at stake to consider a change. At the same time, these students may start to consider that life could eventually become frustrating and unfulfilling if they pay attention only to their parents' wishes and not to their own. In other difficult situations, parents who have not attended college themselves may be unable to relate to their children's college experience, and may pressure them to finish quickly or to get into a particular field to help the family financially. Students whose parents have made many sacrifices to make college possible may feel guilty and selfish for considering their own interests and goals. It would be unfortunate if they never took time to explore whether it would be possible to attend to both their family's and their own needs. Lastly, some students may have very supportive parents who encourage them to do whatever their “heart desires,” and would like more guidance or reassurance in their career-planning process.

CAPS offers career counseling to assist students who are struggling with these types of academic and career issues. Using personality tests, interests inventories, and self assessment of skills, students are helped to become more aware of their individual styles, strengths, weaknesses, interests, and other characteristics, and then to consider where their unique constellation of traits might fit well in the work word. Students also learn how their traits compare with those of people already employed in a variety of vocations. In addition to counseling, students receive information on other campus resources helpful in the career exploration process. Finally, career counselors can help assess whether personal, family, or cultural factors may be affecting a student's career decision process, and can provide assistance sorting through these difficult issues.

Career exploration groups are offered by the Internship and Career Center. CAPS staff can refer students to the Internship and Career Center.

Click here for current group information (Acrobat PDF)