Ask the Experts: Can’t Decide on a Career
Question:
I am on my third year of college and I still haven’t decided what I want
to major in. I feel I am being slowed down by taking classes that aren’t
getting me anywhere. I was leaning toward the arts but I know that’s a very
difficult area to succeed in as far as recognition and pay. I recently signed
up for adult ROP/hands-on training classes in electronic publishing – just
to get started somewhere. Everyone tells me it’s never too late to go back
to school but I feel that I am already so far behind. Does it look bad to
employers if most of your learning was attained from ROP classes?
Answer:
What do you love? Your long-term career focus needs to be on how your job
will increase your quality of life. If you spend your working time doing
something that you love, then getting a focus is not difficult.
Many people do not think their ideal job is out there. But regardless of
what yours might be, do not dismiss it out of hand. Check it out first. Use
the Internet to explore the job. Find people that do that job now and talk
to them. Perhaps you can arrange an internship. Absorb yourself in the
details of what it is and see if it is truly something that you want to for
the next 40+ years.
Then address the education issue. If you have thoroughly researched the rest
of your life first, the things you need to do to make it happen will become
more clear. Employers by and large do not take issue with your major.
(Unless you are in a field like medicine or law– where strict requirements
are well known). Employers want to know that you have learned to learn.
Learning is a skill.
—Kelly Stone, myjobsearch.com
