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Self Assessment
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.
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 a job.
Consider these questions:
- Are you qualified for any of these jobs?
- If not, will it still be a good job by the time you are done training for it?
- Will this occupation satisfy your needs (salary, location, hours)?
- Will you even like the job? If you take a job only because it is available and perhaps pays well, how long will you stay with it if it is not enjoyable?
Take some time now to find out what you like to do and what is important to you in a job. It is 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 a self-guided assessment tool that also provides detailed insight into many occupations, SIGI 3. Login using your JJC username and password.
Use this career planning tool to learn about yourself and explore careers. This resource is useful for high school and college students as well as adults seeking new career options.
The Portfolio system can help you with your career and college planning. When you create your account and sign in, the system will:
· Show you tools and resources that are appropriate to your grade or stage of life;
· Save your work so you can return and pick up where you left off;
· Provide you with a lifelong portfolio to help with future career transitions;
· Make suggestions based on your previous work.
SIGI 3
SIGI 3integrates self-assessment with career information that is easy to use and provides students and adults with a realistic view of the best educational and career options for their future success. It helps you pinpoint your career options based on your interests, values, and education. It searches and creates printouts of occupational information with critical major and education requirements and includes links to the best educational and career planning Web sites. It also features college and graduate school selectors to help you make the best match.
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 Web sites:
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.
What can I do with this major?
Wondering what careers you should be searching for? Haven't decided on a major yet, and would like to see what career opportunities are available in a chosen field? Use our "What can I do with this Major?" guide to get all the information you need.
More JJC Resources
JJC Occupational Programs
JJC offers Associate in Applied Science degrees and certificates that are designed to give the student workplace skills in a 2-year (full time) program. See the
AAS page for more information.
GSD 110: Career and Lifestyle Planning
This 3-credit, transferable course will provide you with a systematic approach to career and lifestyle planning, and decision-making. This class is offered online as well as in a traditional classroom setting. Visit the class schedule to search for class times and locations.