Undecided about what career you want to pursue? You’re not alone. Many students struggle to zero in on that one career that is a best fit for them. Spending some time exploring possible careers can help you avoid this predicament. Here are four things you can do this summer to explore careers.
Get Some Work Experience
There’s nothing like actually doing the job to know what it’s like. You may think working in a fashion magazine is all glamour and no real work. But the reality is starkly different. There’s a lot of hard work that goes on behind the scenes to publish every issue. Only those who work in the publication realize this.
It’s the same with every career path. A career may look exciting on the outside but the reality behind the scenes may be quite different. Getting work experience in a career you wish you pursue is the only way to understand what it’s really like. Understanding if you are up to the task and if this is something you’ll enjoy doing is the first step in exploring possible careers.
Apply For An Internship
Doing an internship is almost similar to work experience but there are a few differences. As an intern, you will work under a mentor. Your mentor will set tasks for you to complete but they generally won’t just leave you to figure out how. A mentor will typically guide you and help you get a better understanding of the workings and daily tasks of the job. It’s a great way to get a closer look at a particular career that you’re interested in pursuing.
Look for Job Shadowing Opportunities
Work experience or even interning may not be possible with some careers such as healthcare. First of all, you need a license to practice medicine. Job shadowing is one way to get a first-hand look at a career in medicine without actually dealing with patients.
Job shadowing opportunities allow students to follow their mentor throughout the work day. The duration of a job shadowing opportunity could vary depending on the organization. Typical duration is about a week to two weeks. Students are not allowed to carry out any real tasks. They are mere observers. When you shadow a professional, you will get to watch what they do as they go about their work. You can make notes about your observations and any questions that come up, which you can then get clarified. This is an excellent way to learn more about a career where you are not allowed to get any hands-on training.
Online Research
Hands-on experience is all well and good, but don’t underestimate the importance of research either. Luckily the internet is chock-full of good information about careers. In fact, College Raptor has its own in-depth data-base of careers!
At our Careers Center, you can learn just about everything related to your dream job. Median salary, job opening rates, projected growth, relevant majors, and more. Check it out!
Spending some time exploring careers is important. It will boost your chances of zeroing in on a career that you will enjoy and that is a good fit for you.
