A Major or a Minor?
By Joanna Lynch
When my sister was little she told a family friend she wanted to be a cowgirl when she grew up. A month later, she wanted to be an astronaut. By the time she got to college she wanted to be an interior designer. A year later she switched to children’s ministries—that one she loved and stayed with.
Sound familiar? Most young people “try out” different dreams as they grow, from firefighter to doctor to teacher. As they near college, most have narrowed their goals to a specific field but still typically change their major at least once.
Thorough research, sound advice, and good planning save a lot of hassle, time, and money down the road. Here are some tips to help your young person with the process of choosing a career path.
• Identify skills, not just interests. John likes writing—but does he like tracking down breaking news or spinning science fiction stories? Writing could be a good career or a great hobby, but what else is he good at?
• Research the education. Check out a college’s class schedule for the specific major that interests your child. Mary wanted to be a veterinarian until she saw the major included surgical courses she knew she would hate. She opted for training animals instead.
• Plan the next steps. Find out if there’s a summer internship so Susan can try out that accounting job and get paid for it too! Should she head for a career right out of college or take the time for graduate work, aiming for a higher level or more specialized field? Make a career itinerary.
• Clarify goals. Why does Randy want to be a coach? Is he looking for an active career or a teaching career? Goals should align with values—what option will help him accomplish what he values?
•Use a good plan. There are many guidance tools out there to help. Look for one that helps with planning. Surveys such as Interest Explorer™ can help match interests with majors. For more complete planning, look for a program like Career Direct® that actually helps the student create an action plan.
The difference is like planning a vacation. You could just pick up and head to Switzerland, knowing that you like hiking in the Alps. Or you could contact a local travel agent and know you also picked the right hotel, found the right restaurant, and walked the best trail. You could have fun either way, but having a solid itinerary will get you the most for your time and money—whether college, career, or vacation.