Chapter 12 – Choosing a College Major and Career

Choosing a major? Do Preliminary Research (pp. 404-405)

Academic Department the major is housed in

Who oversees the Department? Can you meet with that person before selecting the major?

Pre-requisites to entering the program?

How many students are in the department already?

Where is the department housed (e.g. on what campus)?

What upper level courses in the major most interest you?

1. SWOT Analysis (pp. 405-407)

2. What’s your academic anatomy? (i.e. do you find fulfillment in roles that require you to work with your head, heart or hands?)

3. Which should you select first – a major or career?4. Self Branding

Other Key Concepts from Chapter 12

Job Hunting – Where to Begin

Browse career websites Indeed CareerBuilder Monster Craigslist LinkedIn Be aware some job search website specialize in specific fields and may offer a more specific

and detailed look at prospective employers: mediabistro and dice.com

Advice: “In an interview with Forbes, Robert Hellmann, the author of Your Social Media Job Search, recommends that your job hunt consist of 80 percent personal networking, 10 percent talking to headhunters, and only that last 10 percent for online searches and applications.”

Source: “The Best Job Search Websites & Apps”

Starting a Career with Internships and Entry-level jobs

If you’re not finding jobs for entry-level positions, you may want to search some job sites that cater to college students and recent college graduates:

Research the Companies: glassdoor.com

• Pictures

• Reviews from Employees

• Salaries

• News

• Recent Job Postings

• Benefits

Build your Brand by Effectively Using Social Media

Before a company takes on the risk and investment of adding you to their payroll, be assured that they will follow your DIGITAL FOOTPRINTS beyond your LinkedIn profile. Indeed, they will comb the virtual world in search of potential concerns and liabilities.

Note to Self: Think if you would want your employer to see your post BEFORE you post it (even if your social media accounts are “private”).

Social Media Posts That Work Why social media? Because it helps demonstrate your interests

without sounding desperate

Use social networks to tell everyone you know about what your strikes your interest, as well as your skills and areas of expertise.

Post about topics that genuinely interest you.

Sound curious to learn. And be concise.

Avoid being too political.

Chapter 4 – Managing Your Time, Energy and Money

KEY POINTS

1. Nine Preliminary Academic Time-saving Tips

2. Four Types of Energy

3. Ten Procrastination Busters

4. Ways to track your spending (e.g. spending log, better daily planning, analyze daily expenditures)