JJC: Career Services - Career Planning

Office of Career Services

Career Services

Students and Alumni
Career Planning

Main Campus
Room: D1010
Office Hours: Monday, Thursday, Friday
                          8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
                          Tuesday, Wednesday
                          8:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Hours may vary during vacation periods.
Phone: (815) 280-2756
Email: careers@jjc.edu

Self-Assessment | Career Exploration | Training & Education

The first step in career decision-making is Self-Assessment. Professional Career Counselors are available to help you identify your interests, values, and skills and how they are suitable to various occupations. Understanding what is needed in your work environment will enable you to feel satisfied with your job. Individuals who can describe themselves to a potential employer in terms of their skills are more likely to find the job they want and will enjoy. Our counselors are available by appointment to help you with this important process. The following section will provide links to resources.

Self-Assessment

If you decide to do your career planning on your own, it may be tempting to skip the Self-Assessment and go directly to finding the HOT JOBS. But consider these questions:
·          Are you qualified for any of these hot jobs?
·          If not, will it still be a hot job by the time you’re done training for it?
·          Will this occupation satisfy your needs (i.e. salary, location, hours)?
·          Will you even like the job? If you take a job only because it’s available and perhaps pays well, how long will you stay with it if it’s not enjoyable?

Take some time now to find out what you like to do and what’s important to you in a job. It’s easy, fun and may save you future career changes as well as time and money spent on education or training.

As a JJC student you have access to Choices Planner, an internet-based, self-guiding assessment tool that does much more than assess your interests and values. View career profiles with real life interviews at Choices Planner. Also learn what skills are needed for a job including math, communication, and decision making. Complete the Career Finder to gain insight into careers that match your skills and interests. Check out Programs and Majors and use the School Finder to search for schools. Start planning using the Career Plan Builder Portfolio.

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Career Exploration

The next step in career planning is exploring careers. Once you have done a thorough assessment, you are ready to identify some possible careers and to research them with the help of books and the Internet. Job Shadowing, part-time jobs, Informational Interviewing, and Internships are activities that can provide you with first-hand information on specific careers that appeal to you. Some helpful career information links:

What Can I do with this Major?
A convenient website that helps you connect majors with careers.
www.bls.gov/oco/
Occupational Outlook Handbook
jobstar.org/tools/career/spec-car.cfm
Guides for Specific Careers
www.acinet.org
America’s Career Infonet. Check out their Career Videos (requires RealPlayer).
online.onetcenter.org
Comprehensive information on job requirements and worker competencies.
http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/healthcareers/default.asp
A Guide to Health Careers in Illinois
http://ilcis.intocareers.org/default.aspx
Illinois Career Information System
http://lmi.ides.state.il.us/joib/JOIBOnline.htm
Illinois Job Outlook in Brief

If you wish to do your research at your local library, look for the call numbers 331.7 to 331.702 in the reference section or ask your librarian for help.

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Information on Training and Education

JJC Occupational Programs
Associate in Applied Science degrees and certificates that are designed to give the student workplace skills in a 2-year (full time) program
Transfer Center

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