Article Surfing Archive

Choosing your major in college or university may seem like the decision of a lifetime. It certainly may be the most important decision to date in your lifetime and possibly you feel poorly equipped to make the decision.

You should take this decision seriously and give it some time to think on it. Your major will make a big impact not only on your course of study over the next few years, but it will prepare you for career selection and put you in a position to find a job that you may wind up sticking with for a long time or the rest of your working life.

Take an Aptitude Test

Ideally, your major should focus on a subject that you enjoy or for which have an aptitude. After all you are going to be studying this field and may possibly be in this line of work for a long time. Aptitude tests available in your career counseling center can really help point you in the right direction.

Study the Majors Available

Study your course schedule and talk to some of the professors in your chosen field of study. Talk about the skills that will be required and see if this is something that interests you. You may find that some fields of study require courses that you aren't certain about. That's okay. Don't be worried too much if it seems that some difficult classes might be required for your field of study. Be certain to ask about those classes and try to find out why they might be included. There are good reasons for including those classes even if they are just there to round out your education.

Check It Out Online

You have more resources available to you on the internet than any other generation before you. Make sure to spend some time checking blogs and discussion forums dedicated to your chosen industry or field of study. You may learn some interesting background information that you might not discover elsewhere.

While you're online, do some checking on growth patterns in your chosen industry. There's nothing worse that finding yourself locked into a career choice that is stagnant and not looking for new job candidates. This requires a little bit of a crystal ball type approach. But a little bit of digging can help uncover the trends. You might consider checking with some professional associations for your chosen industry. Sometimes these associations have just the crystal ball type of outlook that you are searching for.

Interview Professionals in your Chosen Career Path

You may also take some time to interview people who are already working in your chosen field. If possible, spend a day or at least a few hours, with someone already working in your chosen field. This can really shed some light on any potential career decisions. You will find that most career professionals will gladly take some time, if they are able, to help you in your search for the perfect career. Don't be shy. Ask around in your counseling center or people that you may know to see if anybody is available to help you in your quest. Who knows, if you choose a career based on your interview, this may help provide a job contact later down the road.

Consider an Internship

If you are commited to a major or a field of study, consider doing an internship in your chosen career. This can do more than any of the above steps to reveal how you may like the industry and the personality types that are attracted to that industry.

In Conclusion

If you discover that you might be barking up the wrong tree, don't hesitate to make an adjustment in your training. Every day people discover that they have trained for a career that they hate or don't enjoy. Life is too short to spend in a job that you don't like. Search for something that will bring you happiness for years to come.