Choosing a degree
Sep 13, 2013
You were probably asked what you wanted to be when you grew up your whole childhood. Now that you’re finally “grown up” and ready to go to college, it’s decision time. You’ve got to know what you want to do in your career to know what your major will be. Here are some tips to figuring it out.
Know you’re not alone: If you’re ready to enroll and still don’t have a clear career goal, don’t worry. Many students are undecided about a major when they enroll in college. Know that majors aren’t set in stone. Taking a few classes your first couple semesters can help you decide what you do and don’t like.
Know yourself: Who’s a better judge of you than you? You know what you like to do and where your strengths lie. Is there a career field that will capitalize on them?
Conversely, know what doesn’t mesh well. If you love the outdoors, maybe a cubicle job isn’t for you. If you’ve always wanted to be an accountant but struggle with math, you may want to look at other options.
Know what’s out there: Do your research. Research job outlook and salary expectations for the fields you’re interested in and know how much education these positions require. Talk to as many people in your chosen field as possible. The more direct, unfiltered conversations you can have with people who are where you one day want to be, the more you’ll know what the job is like on a day-to-day basis. For an up-close-and personal look, explore opportunities for job shadowing and internships. The best way to know what a job will entail is to watch someone doing it.
Following these tips will help you narrow down which jobs you can actually see yourself doing, and give you some direction regarding the degree that will help get you there.
More LifeNotes Articles
Familiarity with technology is becoming a necessary part of career training because... read more >>
Although they appear deceptively simple, these commonplace inquiries could lead to potential pitfalls -- an outcome you'll want to be sure to avoid! read more >>
For any given job opening, HR personnel and hiring managers are deluged with résumés. Since they don't have the time or resources to interview everyone, they are always looking for ways to weed out candidates as quickly as possible. read more >>
You need to be on LinkedIn... It doesn't have to take a lot of effort. read more >>
Tips for Matching Your Resume and Cover Letters to Jobs read more >>
Even the simplest questions, like “Can you tell me a little about yourself?” can trip up the most qualified candidates. read more >>
How can you make sure your application gets read and, more importantly, noticed? read more >>
If you're a job seeker, one of the things you should have at the top of your to-do list is creating a successful and unique elevator pitch. read more >>
Although search engines provide some sense of order to the Internet, this online frontier is still a wild place. read more >>
Before you schedule your next interview, be sure to review this list of the six worst things to wear for a job interview. read more >>
Before you enroll in online courses, consider a few things. read more >>
You may love the smell of new textbooks. You may jump for joy when you’re assigned a term paper. You might have book bags, highlighters, and pens in every color. But no matter how much you love college, at some point, you’ll need to use the skills you learn here to transition to your chosen career. read more >>
Are you considering changing careers? Whether your field is becoming obsolete or you’re just not as interested in it as you once were, the choice to begin a new career takes a lot of research and planning. read more >>
Furthering your education is an important investment. But unless your tuition is fully covered by scholarships, college is also another expense in what may be an already tight budget. Here’s some tips to help you pay for school-related expenses while still enjoying your life. read more >>
They say it’s all about who you know. When it comes to the references you provide a potential employer, however, it’s all about who knows you. read more >>
Bigger is not always better. Smaller colleges offer some advantages that students at larger schools don’t get. read more >>
Every time you put a disc in your computer or type up a term paper using a word processing program, you have a software developer to thank. They design applications that allow users to complete tasks on computers or create underlying systems that run devices or control networks. read more >>
Returning to school after many years to change your career or qualify for a promotion? It’s natural to feel a little bit uneasy in a classroom after so many years in the workforce. But remember, you’re not alone. read more >>
All National College campus locations are easily accessible, and offer a wide range of degree and diploma programs in business, healthcare, and computer technology.
