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10 Tips
Choosing a Career / Choosing a Major
Does major = career direction? What if your child is unsure about
his or her career goals? University Career Services can assist students
with choosing a major and with sorting out and planning for career
goals. UCS suggests that
students major in what they enjoy learning about. At the same time,
students should be exploring careers that relate to their strengths
and interests.
Most careers do not require a specific undergraduate major for entry.
Experience
You may want your son or daughter to work in your hometown every summer.
But a lifeguard or coffee shop job does not compare favorably to an
internship (paid or unpaid) in the career field he/she aspires to
enter. We strongly
suggest that students seek career-related experience for their sophomore
and junior summers even if they must live away from home. (Those needing
financial support can combine an unpaid internship with a paid job
such as waiter/waitress, etc.)
Leadership Activities
Many employers rate leadership activities even more important than
GPA. It is more valuable for a student to be involved in a few
meaningful
leadership roles than to be simply a member of many clubs.
Double Major/Minor
It usually requires an extra one or two semesters to obtain a second
major, and a double major does not particularly enhance a student’s
marketability. Exceptions would be a second major or a major and minor
chosen for a specific career, such as English and Chemistry for technical
writing, or Health Policy and Business for hospital administration.
Of course, some students may choose to do a double major primarily
for academic/intellectual reasons.
Graduating Early
It could be a disadvantage to complete a bachelor’s degree in fewer
than four years if it results in less work experience, fewer leadership
activities, and less maturity at graduation.
GPA
While some students who get off to a rocky start eventually pull up their
grades, it is difficult to do so. Some employers use GPA cutoffs in considering
applicants. Others stress the student’s overall background: experience,
number of hours worked during the school year to finance college, leadership
activities, etc. We hope you will encourage your son or daughter to make
academics a high priority beginning with his or her first year. Nevertheless,
it is important to remember that it will take some students a while to
adjust to the rigorous academic demands of Carolina.
Taking Time Off
Many students want to “take time off” after graduation before
attending graduate school or taking a career-related job. Future employers
will want to know how the student has spent the intervening time. Do
activities during this period demonstrate relevance to future career
goals and/or a good work ethic? While short-term travel may be personally
broadening, it does not increase a student’s marketability and
may result in a longer job search.
Listening to Your Child
Realize that every young person has his or her own timetable. Some
may not be ready to make career decisions as early as others. Learn
what’s
important to your son or daughter. Try to separate what you’d
like to see your child choose as a career versus what he or she would
like to do.
Encourage Exploration
First and second year students should explore many fields of study and
career options. (This is especially important for those considering medicine
or law, as professional school admission is so competitive.) Information
interviews, volunteer work, part-time employment, and internships are
helpful for exploring various options.
Student should visit UCS in their first or second year to speak with a counselor, register, and learn about the services available. They should obtain a workshop schedule each semester to be aware of special events, such as the Internship Fair.
Familiarize Yourself with Career Literature
Read about career planning and entry-level job opportunities. Employers’ expectations
for marketable skills are high, and the job market is constantly changing.
Recommended publications (link to..list below)
Recommended Resources
The Parent’s Crash Course in Career Planning: Helping Your College Student Succeed, Harris & Jones, NTC Publishing Group, 1996, $12.95 (authors are the Director and Assistant Director of UCS at UNC Chapel Hill.) In revision, current copy available at Amazon.com.
Best Jobs for the 21st Century, JIST Works, Michael Farr, 2004, $19.95
50 Cutting Edge Jobs, Ferguson Publishing, 2000, $15.95
Career Coaching Your Kids, Montross, Kane S Ginn, Davies-Black Publishing, 2004, $11.87
Career Patterns: A Kaleidoscope of Possibilities, Prentice Hall, Liz Harris-Tuck, 2000, $30.00
The Career Fitness Program, Prentice Hall, Sukiennik, Bendat, 2004, $38.35
College Majors Handbook with Real Career Paths and Payoffs: The Actual Jobs, Earnings, and Trends for Graduates of 60 College Majors, JIST Works, Neeta Fogg, 2004, $24.95
Don’t Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money, Johnson and Schelhas-Miller, St. Martin’s Griffin, 2000
25 Jobs That Have It All, Ferguson Publishing, 2003, $14.95
Major in Success, Combs, Ten Speed Press, 2003, $11.95
Majoring in the Rest of Your Life, Prentice Hall, 2000, $13.00
Quick Guide to College Majors and Careers, JIST Works, Laurence Shatkin, 2002, $16.95
What Color is Your Parachute?, Bolles, Ten Speed Press (updated yearly), $14.95
Questions, comments? Email us
at ucs@unc.edu
919-962-6507
10 Tips
Career Planning with Your Son or Daughter
