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lucy
Student
Bothell, Washington
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Major for Job?
How do you go about finding a major for what you want to do for a job?
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James Constantine Frangos
Consultant Dietitian & Software Developer since 1972 => Nutrition Education => Health & Longevity.
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Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Updated
James Constantine’s Answer
Hello Lucy,
Discovering the Perfect Major for Your Dream Job
Selecting a major in college can seem like a mountainous task, particularly if you're not certain about your post-graduation plans. But don't worry! With a bit of research and some soul-searching, you can discover a major that perfectly syncs with your career aspirations. Here are some steps to guide you on your journey to finding the ideal major for your dream job:
1. Pinpoint Your Interests and Strengths
Begin by jotting down your interests, strengths, and passions. Think about the subjects that captivate you, the activities that you find most stimulating, and the areas where you naturally excel. This will provide a foundation for exploring potential majors.
2. Investigate Career Options
Once you've identified your interests and strengths, delve into potential career paths that align with them. Examine job descriptions, salary ranges, and opportunities for advancement. Online resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook or websites like Glassdoor or LinkedIn can be excellent sources of information.
3. Delve into Related Majors
After you've compiled a list of potential career paths, explore the majors that are frequently linked with those careers. For instance, if you're drawn to becoming a software engineer, you might look into majors like computer science, information technology, or software engineering.
4. Evaluate the Skills and Knowledge You'll Require
Beyond considering your interests and strengths, ponder the skills and knowledge you'll need to thrive in your chosen career. Seek out majors that will equip you with the necessary training and experience.
5. Consult Advisors and Professionals
Don't hesitate to connect with advisors and professionals in your field of interest for advice. They can offer valuable insights into the majors that are most relevant to your career objectives and the courses and experiences that will be most beneficial.
6. Maintain an Open Mind
Remember, it's perfectly fine not to have everything figured out from the start. Feel free to explore various majors and career paths before settling on a final decision. It's quite common for students to shift their majors or career goals during college, and that's perfectly okay.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). Majors and Careers. Retrieved from <https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/career-majors.aspx>
2. The Balance Careers. (2020). How to Choose a Major in College. Retrieved from <https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-choose-a-major-2061929>
3. Forbes. (2020). The Best Majors for Your Career. Retrieved from <https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2017/05/11/the-best-majors-for-your-career/?sh=79c93f0e7f6c>
\space
Organic Web Results:
www.bestcolleges.com
The Student's Guide to Choosing a Major
Understanding your interests and strengths can guide you to the right major. Consult with your academic advisor to learn more about your degree options.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Choosing the Right College Major for You - BigFuture
Begin by considering your interests and strengths as these can guide you towards a major you'll enjoy. Investigate different majors and their requirements ...
MAY YOUR EFFORTS BE BLESSED!
Discovering the Perfect Major for Your Dream Job
Selecting a major in college can seem like a mountainous task, particularly if you're not certain about your post-graduation plans. But don't worry! With a bit of research and some soul-searching, you can discover a major that perfectly syncs with your career aspirations. Here are some steps to guide you on your journey to finding the ideal major for your dream job:
1. Pinpoint Your Interests and Strengths
Begin by jotting down your interests, strengths, and passions. Think about the subjects that captivate you, the activities that you find most stimulating, and the areas where you naturally excel. This will provide a foundation for exploring potential majors.
2. Investigate Career Options
Once you've identified your interests and strengths, delve into potential career paths that align with them. Examine job descriptions, salary ranges, and opportunities for advancement. Online resources like the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook or websites like Glassdoor or LinkedIn can be excellent sources of information.
3. Delve into Related Majors
After you've compiled a list of potential career paths, explore the majors that are frequently linked with those careers. For instance, if you're drawn to becoming a software engineer, you might look into majors like computer science, information technology, or software engineering.
4. Evaluate the Skills and Knowledge You'll Require
Beyond considering your interests and strengths, ponder the skills and knowledge you'll need to thrive in your chosen career. Seek out majors that will equip you with the necessary training and experience.
5. Consult Advisors and Professionals
Don't hesitate to connect with advisors and professionals in your field of interest for advice. They can offer valuable insights into the majors that are most relevant to your career objectives and the courses and experiences that will be most beneficial.
6. Maintain an Open Mind
Remember, it's perfectly fine not to have everything figured out from the start. Feel free to explore various majors and career paths before settling on a final decision. It's quite common for students to shift their majors or career goals during college, and that's perfectly okay.
References:
1. National Center for Education Statistics. (2020). Majors and Careers. Retrieved from <https://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cool/career-majors.aspx>
2. The Balance Careers. (2020). How to Choose a Major in College. Retrieved from <https://www.thebalancecareers.com/how-to-choose-a-major-2061929>
3. Forbes. (2020). The Best Majors for Your Career. Retrieved from <https://www.forbes.com/sites/jennagoudreau/2017/05/11/the-best-majors-for-your-career/?sh=79c93f0e7f6c>
\space
Organic Web Results:
www.bestcolleges.com
The Student's Guide to Choosing a Major
Understanding your interests and strengths can guide you to the right major. Consult with your academic advisor to learn more about your degree options.
bigfuture.collegeboard.org
Choosing the Right College Major for You - BigFuture
Begin by considering your interests and strengths as these can guide you towards a major you'll enjoy. Investigate different majors and their requirements ...
MAY YOUR EFFORTS BE BLESSED!
Hey James, some of the links didn't make sense to include (as they were general landing pages for universities), so I've removed them.
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Yolonda Gaskin
Consultant
2
Answers
Orlando, Florida
Updated
Yolonda’s Answer
In high school and even in college, don't hesitate to have a chat with your guidance counselor or academic advisor. They're there to help you! During a career coaching session, you can explore your interests and they can guide you on choosing the major that matches your goals and passions. Also, a lot of schools provide discovery assessments. These can be a great tool to help you figure out your educational path and find a major that fits your personality and interests.
Remember, this is your journey, so make the most of it. Best of luck!
Remember, this is your journey, so make the most of it. Best of luck!
Garrett MacCracken
Software Developer
2
Answers
Seattle, Washington
Updated
Garrett’s Answer
Hi Lucy,
Depending on where you are in school, high school is a great place to take advantage of any elective classes that are offered. Art, music, computer science, econ, psychology, etc. are all great opportunities to explore subjects that you may not have any experience in. As mentioned above, talking with your school counselor may be a great resource for suggesting options based on your interests, desired career, and lifestyle.
Many programs and majors in colleges also gear their first year toward exploring different fields and trying a variety of classes. If you find a class or series particularly interesting you can again try to find the counselor associated with that department or even use the professor or teacher's assistant as a resource to see if you'd like to continue to take courses from their department.
It's important to note that not all jobs require college degrees. There are many vocational programs that may allow training programs or on-the-job training that may be more in line with the type of job you are interested in. Attending college can be very expensive depending on what types of scholarships and loans you are able to utilize, so if possible, I would encourage you to try to think about how your interests may translate into a job or career and then pursue a major that maps to that goal. Regardless of your major, attending college does provide you with skills that directly apply to many industries including, time management, team collaboration, and networking. You can always decide to change your major after your initial decision if you discover a certain subject or class that drives your interests in a different direction.
Best of luck!
Depending on where you are in school, high school is a great place to take advantage of any elective classes that are offered. Art, music, computer science, econ, psychology, etc. are all great opportunities to explore subjects that you may not have any experience in. As mentioned above, talking with your school counselor may be a great resource for suggesting options based on your interests, desired career, and lifestyle.
Many programs and majors in colleges also gear their first year toward exploring different fields and trying a variety of classes. If you find a class or series particularly interesting you can again try to find the counselor associated with that department or even use the professor or teacher's assistant as a resource to see if you'd like to continue to take courses from their department.
It's important to note that not all jobs require college degrees. There are many vocational programs that may allow training programs or on-the-job training that may be more in line with the type of job you are interested in. Attending college can be very expensive depending on what types of scholarships and loans you are able to utilize, so if possible, I would encourage you to try to think about how your interests may translate into a job or career and then pursue a major that maps to that goal. Regardless of your major, attending college does provide you with skills that directly apply to many industries including, time management, team collaboration, and networking. You can always decide to change your major after your initial decision if you discover a certain subject or class that drives your interests in a different direction.
Best of luck!