However, even with the help and guidance of other people, there will be obstacles you have to overcome and be ready to face it. First, choosing to focus on a subject that you enjoy is the most important factor in determining a major. Getting a degree in a career for which you have no passion is an unpleasant position. You might make all the money in the world, but if you''re not happy with your work, you will never be satisfied. For example, my aunt''s best friend always wanted to be a photographer since her childhood.
She loves to take photos of nature, her kids and family. She is passionate about photography, but her parents wanted her to be an Engineer. She works at a Consulting company and has a great paying Job but she is not happy with her fulltime Job as much as she likes her part-time photography Job. Secondly, knowing your skills, abilities and interests are important in choosing what you want to do in life. Now a day, there are many online quizzes and evaluations available to help discover your strengths and talents.
The key to my self- assessment are Strong Interest Inventory, MBTI and Holland Code. These tools indentified my hidden skills and reveal some fascinating career paths to consider. According to Strong interest inventory I have high social, high conventional and realistic skills and less of artistic, enterprising and investigative skills. To narrow down my career options I looked at the major choices that go with SCR Holland code. Skills and interests in particular career choices are so much similar to what I am looking forward to do in my life.
For example, I always wanted to make a difference by working with elders or children in need to improve their skills and development and make a better living for them. There are many majors that have the same outcome, so which one to pick? With the help of Holland code, MBTI and Strong Inventory which I narrowed down my search to ten career options, and my interests and values like helping others, planning, organizing, influencing other, supporting, knowing what is expected, working with others and being part of an organization or institution.
In addition, after knowing my skills, strengths and weaknesses, I asked my friends and family what industry they think I would perform well in. After their unbiased and objective opinion I have learned to look things from different perspective. I have never considered being a counselor or clinical psychologist till my cousin (38 years old- Enterprise Account Executive at Microsoft Corporation) shares some ideas on being a therapist. Clinical psychology is already on my top ten career list and now I narrowed it down to 3 career options by researching.
Once IVe got a good idea as to where I think I could be successtul, I tully investigate each industry. I research Job descriptions, average starting salaries, advancement potential, and the future Job prospects for each industry using ONET website, books, and other online tools. I also found that the perfect major that could lead to a dream Job can have a big problem if nobody is hiring. One of the major steps in my action plan is internship and networking. By interning, I am willing to receive an in-depth look at the organization or institution, hile establishing contacts with professionals in the field.
It will be helpful in long run during the process of applying to graduate school and also when it comes time to look for a Job. I am interested in gaining experience through paid or unpaid Jobs, volunteering, research study, academically focused clubs, such as psi-chi, and importantly connect and communicate with professors. In past few months, I have learned that it''s extremely beneficial to utilize school''s resources when it comes to choosing a major. I have worked very closely with the career services at University of
Indianapolis to determine my major, took personality tests and worked with advisors to finalize my major. My long term career objective is to become an occupational therapist working within hospital organization or rehabilitation centers. I aim to complete master''s degree in occupation therapy. At present, I am in school for my bachelor''s degree in Psychology. Meanwhile, I am preparing for graduate school. Doing research and trying to gain experience and knowledge from possible sources.
I believe that by gaining a broader knowledge and understanding in specific field will ffer a better Jobs and life experiences. One of the main reasons for choosing occupational therapy as career path is the work environment, interest in Job skills and abilities, and Job demand. Projected growth from 2010-2020 is 29% or higher for occupational therapist (ONetonline. com) Occupational therapy has many advancement opportunities. Master''s degree level considers the highest for OT, which means I will not be struggling to find a Job in future with Master''s degree nor require higher level education.
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