Here's a clue, find a job that is waiting for you

One of the first steps you should take in planning your future is to do some basic research into the occupations or academic options you are considering. It is important that you obtain information from multiple objective sources so that you can make the best decisions about your future.

Career Profile Searches

O*Net - Find occupations using keywords, by browsing Job Families, or browsing by O*NET Descriptor. Use a list of your skills to find matching O*NET occupations.

Occupational Outlook Handbook - The Occupational Outlook Handbook is a nationally recognized source of career information, designed to provide valuable assistance to individuals making decisions about their future work lives.

Monster Jobprofiles Job descriptions, skills, educational preparation and other descriptors for an interesting variety of occupations.

Ten Questions to ask yourself when reading Career Profiles.

1. Will you enjoy the daily activities associated with this work?
Will you find this career fulfilling in the long run?

*You can research career salaries and anticipated openings by geographical area.

*You can also research transfer colleges by degrees offered, tuition costs and more.

Re-evaluate and Start Over!

Many different circumstances can send students back to the starting line, thus forcing you to feel like you have lost ground and have to begin all over again. This kind of frustration can be hard to handle but it is an important part of the process that many students go through. It’s a matter of trial and error and learning how to be open and prepared for change and not feel defeated.

Some students may need to start over from the very beginning with more self-assessment while others might just need to do more research. Wherever you start over just know you aren’t alone and career planning is a continual process of growth and change.