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 Throughout each and every day
you make hundreds of decisions. From what to have for breakfast, to the
clothes you choose to wear, to how you spend your day - you are making
decisions all of the time.
The more important a decision is, the harder it is to make the decision.
It may be easy to decide what shirt to wear on a particular day, but
deciding what career to choose is not so easy.
Career decision making would be easy if we could completely predict
the outcome of each career choice. However, each choice will involve
some risk and uncertainty since we cannot predict the future.
Many students have difficulty making a decision about major or career
choices. They fear making the wrong decision will result in being stuck
in the wrong career forever. Frequently, those that avoid making a career
decision hold onto false hope that somehow the perfect career will present
itself without any risk or effort on their part.
Students who avoid making an informed career decision take a different
type of risk: they may find themselves in a job that is not something
they truly enjoy or are even interested in. Without a clear career goal,
a person is more likely to take any job they can get because of family
responsibilities and financial obligations. Years later they may have
a job that was not a conscious choice, one that they do not enjoy and
that doesn’t meet their career wants and needs.
Keep in mind there are few decisions in life that are unchangeable.
Even if you initially select the wrong career, you can choose another
occupation that may be more compatible. It’s important to generate
more than one serious career possibility. If your first career choice
doesn’t work out, you can always follow an alternative path.
Reduce the risk associated with career decision making by reflecting
on your values, interests, personality, abilities, and strengths. Examine
the occupational outlook for each career you are seriously considering.
Click
here to review The Wise Choice Process by Skip Downing.
For information about self-assessments, contact The Student Development Center,
(360) 417-6340, or Career
Services, (360) 417-6373 (both toll free 1-877-452-9277).
The following self-assessments are among those currently available:
WOIS (Washington Occupational Information System), an up-to-date career
information website about Washington careers, schools, and training programs.
Also available at all WorkSource Centers.
CHOICES, an easy-to-use, comprehensive career exploration and information
system with databases of occupations, schools and financial aid awards.
Explore career alternatives based on your personal values, interests,
strengths, and abilities.
COPS. The COPS Interest Inventory consists of
168 items, providing job activity interest scores related to the 14 COPSystem
Career Clusters.
Each Cluster is keyed to high school and college curriculum, as well
as current sources of occupational information. The COPS interpretive
material emphasizes a "hands-on" approach to career exploration,
featuring career and educational planning worksheets, along with a listing
of suggested activities to gain experience.
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