Career Decision-Making Steps

Career Decision-Making Steps 

Making a career decision, or any decision for that matter, can be very easy or very difficult depending on the amount of information you have about your choices. In choosing your career path it is important to think about many factors. Use the steps below to guide your through your career decision making process. 

Step One: Identify the Decision to be Made 

Before you begin gathering information, it is important that you have a clear understanding of what it is you are trying to decide. Some decisions you might be facing could include: 

• Should I have pursued a college or university education?

• What should my major be?

• Do I want to be a full-time or part-time student? 

• How soon do I want to transfer to university?

• What do I want to do when I finish my education? 

Step Two: Know Yourself (Raise Consciousness) 

To make an informed career decision and prior to any exploration of the world of work, it is important to have a good understanding of your own personal attributes. 

Think about some of these questions; Interests:

• What do I enjoy doing? 

• What activities do I enjoy he most? 

• What kinds of people would I like to work with? 

• What kind of job settings would I most enjoy? Skills: 

• What can I do best? 

• What are my strengths and weaknesses? 

• What are my strongest skills and abilities? 

• What skills do I want to use on the job? 

• What skills would I like to acquire? Values: 

• What kinds of things are important to me in a career? 

• In what ways must I be challenged and rewarded on the job? 

• What types of work environments would make me happy? 

Step Three: Identifying Options and Gathering Information (Explore Options) 

To continue gathering information and researching careers, you will need to start identifying your options. 

Some things to think about are: 

• At this point in my life, what choices do I have? 

• Do I have a strong interest in specific careers? 

• What other types of careers should I be considering? 

• What information do I already have about my career preferences? 

• How can I get more information and access more resources about the career(s) I am interested in?

Step Five: Evaluate Options that will Solve the Problem

After completing your research, you are now ready to evaluate each of the options you have been exploring. 

• Identify the pros and cons of each option. 

• Identify the values and needs that are being satisfied by each option. 

• Identify the risks involved with each alternative. 

• Vision the probable future consequences of selecting each option. 

Step Six: Select One of the Options 

Based on the information you have gathered and analyzed, you should now be able to choose one of the career options and start creating a plan of action. 

Good luck with making your career decision!!

Planning Your Future

Puzzled about your future?

Making choices about your major, career, or graduate school is an important part of your experience at Cal.

To help you piece everything together, we've prepared these resources for you.

Select any of the topics to help you explore options for your major, your career, or your graduate school path.

Planning Your Future

Planning Your Future - Know Yourself

Career exploration is a lifelong process for most people, and that journey can begin in many ways -- through both reflection and action.

If you're seeking greater career clarity or hoping to choose a major or a professional path, start with what you already know about yourself. This is called career self-assessment.

How Do I Start?

	Begin your exploration by envisioning your ideal life; this vision will serve as an interesting foundation to build upon. Vision Activity/Ideal Life (PDF)
	Then, continue with the exercises from the remaining groups to build upon your vision. Areas of Interest Skills & Abilities Personal Values Personality & Preferences Putting it all Together

In addition to the activities above, consider exploring California Career Zone: An interactive, user-friendly career exploration and planning system designed specifically for students. Includes four self-assessment tools, career informaiton for over 900 occupations, and 300+ short career videos.

Curious or unsure about career self-assessment? Read on...

Career self assessment is an essential aspect of career planning and development. It's important to recognize key characteristics about yourself so you can make informed career choices that are well suited for you. Just as when you're shopping for a car you gather as much information as possible to help inform your decision, when you are considering a career you should do the same.

We can get an image of what we look like physically through photographs and mirrors, but we need other ways to capture important information to create a more complete image about ourselves; how we act, what motivates us, and what inspires us. One way to uncover such personal characteristics is to use self-assessment tools and activities. Assessment tools are designed to help you identify your values, interests, skills, and personality type ("VIPS") and how they can be best matched with school or career pursuits.

Once you have a clear understanding of your VIPS you will feel better equipped to choose a major, career field, or advanced degree program.

If you'd like to meet with a counselor at any point to discuss your process, please schedule an appointment.

LADDER OF INFERENCE

Career Decision-Making

Making career decisions is a lifelong process. It is all about exploring and experiencing the world of work. It is also about understanding abilities, interests, skills, and values and combining these to create a meaningful framework for life. Your student will have many opportunities to discover and rediscover careers that match a changing lifestyle. It is important that you are an active participant in this decision-making process.

Career decision-making begins with an awareness of the world around you and the ability to understand what is personally important.

The following checklist may help your student begin:

• Learn about yourself: interests, abilities, skills, and values
• Observe individuals in the workplace
• Talk with family and friends about their work experiences
• Collect information about specific careers and companies
• Experience different careers through volunteer or part-time work, or school internship, co-op, and apprenticeship programs
• Consider your personal short-term and long-term goals

Frequently Asked Questions by Students

What is career decision-making? 
This is the process of making informed career choices based on personal experiences.

Where do I start?
A good way to start is by learning about yourself. You will be happiest if your career is a good fit and brings you satisfaction. Make a list of your interests, abilities, skills, and values. Consider careers that require some of the same traits.

How do I determine my interests? Why is this important? 
Your interests are the things that you like to do. Some people have hobbies like cooking or gardening. These hobbies might transfer to a career as a chef or landscape designer. Careers that have a close match to your interests may be more personally rewarding.

How do I determine my abilities? 
Abilities are those physical and mental activities that you seem to do easily. Perhaps you can draw animals or comfort people in need. These abilities might help you obtain a career as an artist or a counselor. Sometimes, additional education will help you enhance your abilities.

How do I determine my skills? 
Skills are activities that can be learned or developed by education or training. You can increase your math skills by going to school or you can attend a conference and learn about a new computer software package. Every job will require you to do certain activities or tasks, and each task will require a variety of skills. Your skills will continue to increase over your lifetime.

What are values? 
Your values are the principles that you use to determine how much something means to you. For example, you like to work on cars and you are concerned about the environment. Then perhaps a career working on electric cars or designing alternate fuel vehicles would be right for you.

Who can I talk to? 
Family and friends are a good place to start. People who know you can tell you about their jobs in a casual setting. School counselors and other community members will also talk with you. Think about the questions and make a list before you begin.

Where can I get information about careers? 
You can get information from many different sources. Public, school, and church libraries have materials available to you. Newspapers have job listings and articles about people at work. Human resources departments of government employers have job descriptions. Job centers and personnel agencies also have information. If you have access to a computer, there are multiple sites that can help you explore.

How can I experience different careers?
It might be a good idea for you to "try out" some different careers. Hospitals, libraries, churches, professional and civic associations all have multiple opportunities for volunteers. Many high schools offer programs like apprenticeship, internships, and job shadowing. Colleges and universities may provide co-op and internship programs. Part-time or temporary jobs will also give you career experiences.

What career information should I collect?
You should ask questions about things that are important to you. Here are some examples to help you begin exploring:

• What are the tasks performed by this occupation? Do the tasks require interests, abilities, skills, and values that match mine?
• What education does this career require? Where can I get this kind of training? How can I pay for this education? Will I need periodic retraining to stay in this career?
• What is the future of this career?
• What is the typical work attire?
• What are the normal work hours? Are flexible schedules available? Can I work from home?
• Does this job require travel?
• What is the path of advancement?
• What are the health and retirement benefits generally found in this line of work?
• How much money will this career pay?
• Do I need to relocate to take this job?

How do I know what my career options are?
The options are endless and constantly changing. Today's list of careers may look different next year. In addition, your career needs will be constantly changing. First, know yourself. Next, learn about the world of work. Then, find your place. You will repeat this process many times during your life.

The ACIP Decision Making Method

A simple, science-based way to make a good decision

Choosing a career path, making a career decision, or deciding on a college major - all are critical decisions. They demand high-quality decision making.

Scientific studies show that there are four essential steps you will want to follow.  They are abbreviated ACIP, like “a sip” of tea!

A stands for Alternatives. When making an important decision, look at all your choices. Ask yourself, "Are there any other ways I can solve this problem? Ways that I haven't thought of?"

C stands for Consequences. Once you have narrowed down your choices to those that look best, weigh the pros and cons of each.

I stands for Information. Search for new information about each option you are considering.

P means Plans. Make detailed plans for (a) how you will carry out your decision, and (b) what you will do if one of the negative consequences that you thought of under "C" occurs.

* Many of the ideas in this section are drawn from the extensive research of the internationally known and respected psychologists,  Irving L. Janis and Leon Mann.