After gathering information about yourself, you can begin exploring
concentrations and career options - just what is out there? You should not be
making a decision at this point; instead, you should simply be increasing your
knowledge of various academic disciplines and careers. There are a number
of methods for researching your options:
- Utilize resources in the Career Services library. A number of books, periodicals, and newsletters are available to help you explore careers. You can usually find an overview of a profession, typical activities performed, qualifications required, job outlook for the future and salary potential.
- Explore online. The World Wide Web is a vast source of information that should be tapped when researching careers. Visit the links we have compiled to help you in your exploration [click here]. On your own, utilize a search engine to perform keyword searches, using job titles and industry names to cultivate information.
- Talk to people about what they do. Once you have identified an occupation that sounds interesting, talking with people who already work in that field can be tremendously informative. They can provide special insight into the rewards and rigors of a particular occupation, as well as tell you specific information about their organization. People with the same job title, in the same type of industry, might perform very different functions (e.g., consulting with Andersen Consulting might be quite different than with Bain & Company). Use the Penn Career Network to identify alumni to speak with. Network with friends, family, professors and others to learn more about the "world of work."
- Volunteer or pursue work experiences. A valuable way to research careers is by getting involved in them early. Volunteering, working part-time, conducting research with a professor, or securing an internship are all great ways to gain a deeper appreciation of day to day life in a particular field or industry. Practical experiences help you evaluate and "reality test" your choices.
Utilize as many different resources and gather as much information as
possible. Use what you have learned about yourself to rule out the obvious
choices that are not for you. This is time consuming and, at times,
overwhelming, but the investment you make in gathering good information often
aids good decision making.
_________________
