Having trouble figuring out what you want to do? Use the Career Center!

Some people come to Berkeley knowing exactly what they want to major in and finish completely satisfied with that major. Others, like me, spend 2+ years deciding on what major is truly suitable for them by going through every other major in the university. And of course, sometimes you start taking classes for a major that you think is for you, and halfway through – you realize that you’ve always wanted to learn more about something else. Similarly, searching for the right field and industry to go into can be one of the most difficult processes in one’s life. Luckily, there are many resources - whether at the Career Center, on campus, or off-campus – that one can utilize to really hone down one’s career goals.

1. Internships: Oftentimes, people speak of internships as ways to stuff one’s resume, land a full-time job at a company, or to impress an employer. While all of these are reasonable, one must not forget one of the main purposes of the internship: to assess whether working in that industry is something that one would truly enjoy. When interning for an organization, one receives much better insight into the inner workings of an industry than solely looking from the outside. Your experiences during the internship period will often be good indicators for whether one would actually enjoy working at the company full-time, and similarly, whether one would enjoy working in that industry. Of course, one internship experience cannot embody the experience of working full-time at the same company, or working in another company in the same industry – but one’s personal experience is one of the most valuable tools in evaluating a career path.
2. Externships: So you might think that interning at a high school for a semester might just give you a headache – but you still want to learn more about teaching? It sounds like taking on an externship would be a better fit for you! Externships are similar to internships in that they both aim to give the participant a grasp of the skills needed in the industry, knowledge of day-to-day life at work, and an opportunity to contribute to the organization. The differences between the two are mainly the duration and the process. Since externships are generally somewhere between one day to three weeks, they are perfect for giving the participant a short, practical experience in the industry. The other difference is that with most externships, the extern is assigned to shadow a specific person or a team in the organization as opposed to being responsible for a unique position (which is often the case with internships). Preference is given to freshmen and sophomores, and one can go to the “Externships” tab underneath “Internships” to find out more information!
3. Career Assessment Tests: You know those personality quizzes on social media websites that tell you that your traits make you a “healer” or a “challenger”? There are also many assessment tests that aim to lead students into career paths where their skills and interests lie. These tests differ in length, scope, and method; some are as short as 5 minutes, while others take up to an hour, and some will provide specific job positions, while others will be much more abstract. The Career Center offers two of these diagnostic programs: the Focus 2 test, and the Strong Interest Inventory. The Focus 2 offers several short assessment tests, such as the “Personality Assessment” and “Values Assessment” that are meant to give insight into the types of careers that one would possibly be interested in. To access the Focus 2, you can log onto Callisto and look for the Focus 2 button on the front page.  The Strong Interest Inventory is similar to the Focus 2, but it can only be given by a career counselor and on that note….
4. Career Counselors: If you have ever wanted to just sit down and talk to a professional about your concerns, questions, or thoughts on your career path, then you probably want to make an appointment with a career counselor. We have fourteen counselors trained specifically to help guide college students on the process of carving out their own career path. If you have some quick questions about how to apply for internships, write a resume/cover letter, or network, making a 15-minute appointment would be appropriate. If, on the other hand, you have more general concerns, such as with your overall career path, your personal goals, or the possibility of graduate schools, the 45-minute appointment would be more appropriate. A student can request to have access to the Strong Interest Inventory, which is a holistic assessment of one’s general interests and takes up to one hour to complete. During the 45-minute appointment, you can go over the results of your assessment with the counselor to talk more about what potential careers you may or may not have considered. Whichever session you decide to do, it is best to make the appointment early in advice –they fill up fast! You can go to the “Make An Appointment” link under the “Counseling” tab on the Career Website to make an appointment.

And of course, there are many other resources that can be helpful in assessing one’s potential career path. Stay tuned for additional posts on topics relating to the career search, such as informational interviews and networking!

Blog written by: Thomas Siu