{"id":38,"date":"2017-02-01T21:35:00","date_gmt":"2017-02-01T21:35:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/suny-hccc-first-year-seminar\/?post_type=chapter&p=38"},"modified":"2017-02-01T21:36:27","modified_gmt":"2017-02-01T21:36:27","slug":"learn-what-you-dont-want","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/courses.lumenlearning.com\/atd-herkimer-firstyearseminar\/chapter\/learn-what-you-dont-want\/","title":{"raw":"Learn What You Don\u2019t Want","rendered":"Learn What You Don\u2019t Want"},"content":{"raw":"
\r\n

Jamie Edwards<\/h3>\r\n

For a long time, my plan had always been to be a kindergarten teacher. But when I began my undergraduate degree I fell into that ever-growing pool of college students who changed their major three times before graduation. I was swayed by family members, my peers, and the economy, but I eventually realized that I was investing my education in the wrong areas for the wrong reasons. It shouldn\u2019t just be about salaries and job security. I needed to find that personal attachment.<\/p>\r\n

At eighteen, it\u2019s hard to see your entire life spread out before you. College may feel like a free-for-all at times, but the reality is that it\u2019s one of the most defining times of our lives. It should never be squandered. I started to imagine my life beyond college\u2014what I found important and the type of lifestyle I wanted in the end. I started thinking about the classes that I was actually interested in\u2014the ones that I looked forward to each week and arrived early to just so I could get a seat up front.<\/p>\r\n

A turning point for me was when I took the advice of a campus mentor and enrolled in a career exploration course. I learned more about myself in that class than I had in my entire three years at college prior to taking it. It showed me that my passion was something I had always thought about but never thought about as a career. In high school, I could sit in the Guidance Office for hours on end. I enjoyed listening to others\u2014hearing and helping people work through their struggles.<\/p>\r\n

I had seen firsthand how detrimental the absence of career classes can be to someone\u2019s future. Through this realization and my participation in my career exploration class, I saw a viable future in the Higher Education Administration field. As I dove deeper, I was opened to an incredible amount of unique and diverse opportunities to work with students. My main approach was to get a taste anything to do with student services: I shadowed a career counselor in a career services office, attended graduate school fairs and informational sessions, discussed the Higher Education Administration Program with several staff at my college, and most importantly, I talked with my internship coordinator (my mentor). From there, I completed an internship in my prospective field, which gave me a wealth of insight and skills that directly related to my future career goals.<\/p>\r\n

From where I sit now\u2014my former personal and professional struggles in tow\u2014I offer up some pieces of advice that were crucial to getting me where I am today. Whether you\u2019re an undecided major who is looking for guidance or a student with a clearly defined career path, I suggest the following:<\/p>\r\n\r\n

    \r\n \t
  1. Find a mentor<\/em>\u2014For me, everything began there. Without my mentor, I wouldn\u2019t have done any of the other items I\u2019m about to suggest. Finding the right mentor is crucial. Look for someone who can complement your personality (typically someone who\u2019s the opposite of you). My advice would be to look beyond your direct supervisor for mentorship. It\u2019s important to create an open forum with your mentor, because there may be a conflict of interest as you discuss work issues and other job opportunities. Potential mentors to consider are an instructor on campus, your academic advisor, a professional currently working in your prospective field, someone you admire in your community, or anyone in your network of friends or family that you feel comfortable discussing your future goals with.<\/li>\r\n \t
  2. Enroll in a Career Exploration\/Planning course, or something similar<\/em>\u2014Even if you do not see the effects of this course immediately (such as dramatically changing your major), you will notice the impact down the road. Making educated career choices and learning job readiness skills will always pay off in the end. Through my career exploration class, I learned how to relate my personality and values to potential career fields. These self-assessments changed my entire thought process, and I see that influence daily. Beyond changing the way you think, the knowledge you gain about effective job search strategies is invaluable. Learning how to write purposeful r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and cover letters, finding the right approach to the interview process, and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses are just a few of the benefits you can gain from these type of courses.<\/li>\r\n \t
  3. Complete a Job Shadow and\/or Informational Interview<\/em>\u2014No amount of online research is going to give you the same experience as seeing a job at the front line. In a job shadow or an informational interview, you\u2019re able to explore options with no commitment and see how your in-class experience can carry over to a real world setting. Additionally, you\u2019re expanding your professional network by having that personal involvement. You never know how the connections you make might benefit you in the future. My only regret about job shadowing in college is that I didn\u2019t do it sooner.<\/li>\r\n \t
  4. Do an Internship<\/em>\u2014A main source of frustration for recent grads is the inability to secure an entry-level position without experience. \u201cHow do I get a job to gain experience when I can\u2019t get a job without experience?\u201d This is how: do an internship or two! Most colleges even have a course where you can obtain credit for doing it! Not only will you earn credits towards graduation, but you\u2019ll gain the necessary experience to put on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and discuss in future interviews. Having completed four internships throughout my college career, I can\u2019t say they were all great. However, I don\u2019t regret a single one. The first one showed me the type of field I didn\u2019t want to work in. The second confirmed that I was heading in the right direction with my career. My third and fourth internships introduced me to completely different areas of higher education which broadened my knowledge and narrowed my search simultaneously.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n

    My takeaway is that sometimes you have to learn what you don\u2019t want in order to find out what you do want. The more informed you are about career options through real life conversations and experiences, the better prepared you will be for your future and the more confident you will be in your career decisions. Always explore your options because even if you learn you hate it, at least you\u2019re one step close to finding what you love.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"

    \n

    Jamie Edwards<\/h3>\n

    For a long time, my plan had always been to be a kindergarten teacher. But when I began my undergraduate degree I fell into that ever-growing pool of college students who changed their major three times before graduation. I was swayed by family members, my peers, and the economy, but I eventually realized that I was investing my education in the wrong areas for the wrong reasons. It shouldn\u2019t just be about salaries and job security. I needed to find that personal attachment.<\/p>\n

    At eighteen, it\u2019s hard to see your entire life spread out before you. College may feel like a free-for-all at times, but the reality is that it\u2019s one of the most defining times of our lives. It should never be squandered. I started to imagine my life beyond college\u2014what I found important and the type of lifestyle I wanted in the end. I started thinking about the classes that I was actually interested in\u2014the ones that I looked forward to each week and arrived early to just so I could get a seat up front.<\/p>\n

    A turning point for me was when I took the advice of a campus mentor and enrolled in a career exploration course. I learned more about myself in that class than I had in my entire three years at college prior to taking it. It showed me that my passion was something I had always thought about but never thought about as a career. In high school, I could sit in the Guidance Office for hours on end. I enjoyed listening to others\u2014hearing and helping people work through their struggles.<\/p>\n

    I had seen firsthand how detrimental the absence of career classes can be to someone\u2019s future. Through this realization and my participation in my career exploration class, I saw a viable future in the Higher Education Administration field. As I dove deeper, I was opened to an incredible amount of unique and diverse opportunities to work with students. My main approach was to get a taste anything to do with student services: I shadowed a career counselor in a career services office, attended graduate school fairs and informational sessions, discussed the Higher Education Administration Program with several staff at my college, and most importantly, I talked with my internship coordinator (my mentor). From there, I completed an internship in my prospective field, which gave me a wealth of insight and skills that directly related to my future career goals.<\/p>\n

    From where I sit now\u2014my former personal and professional struggles in tow\u2014I offer up some pieces of advice that were crucial to getting me where I am today. Whether you\u2019re an undecided major who is looking for guidance or a student with a clearly defined career path, I suggest the following:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Find a mentor<\/em>\u2014For me, everything began there. Without my mentor, I wouldn\u2019t have done any of the other items I\u2019m about to suggest. Finding the right mentor is crucial. Look for someone who can complement your personality (typically someone who\u2019s the opposite of you). My advice would be to look beyond your direct supervisor for mentorship. It\u2019s important to create an open forum with your mentor, because there may be a conflict of interest as you discuss work issues and other job opportunities. Potential mentors to consider are an instructor on campus, your academic advisor, a professional currently working in your prospective field, someone you admire in your community, or anyone in your network of friends or family that you feel comfortable discussing your future goals with.<\/li>\n
    2. Enroll in a Career Exploration\/Planning course, or something similar<\/em>\u2014Even if you do not see the effects of this course immediately (such as dramatically changing your major), you will notice the impact down the road. Making educated career choices and learning job readiness skills will always pay off in the end. Through my career exploration class, I learned how to relate my personality and values to potential career fields. These self-assessments changed my entire thought process, and I see that influence daily. Beyond changing the way you think, the knowledge you gain about effective job search strategies is invaluable. Learning how to write purposeful r\u00e9sum\u00e9s and cover letters, finding the right approach to the interview process, and recognizing your strengths and weaknesses are just a few of the benefits you can gain from these type of courses.<\/li>\n
    3. Complete a Job Shadow and\/or Informational Interview<\/em>\u2014No amount of online research is going to give you the same experience as seeing a job at the front line. In a job shadow or an informational interview, you\u2019re able to explore options with no commitment and see how your in-class experience can carry over to a real world setting. Additionally, you\u2019re expanding your professional network by having that personal involvement. You never know how the connections you make might benefit you in the future. My only regret about job shadowing in college is that I didn\u2019t do it sooner.<\/li>\n
    4. Do an Internship<\/em>\u2014A main source of frustration for recent grads is the inability to secure an entry-level position without experience. \u201cHow do I get a job to gain experience when I can\u2019t get a job without experience?\u201d This is how: do an internship or two! Most colleges even have a course where you can obtain credit for doing it! Not only will you earn credits towards graduation, but you\u2019ll gain the necessary experience to put on your r\u00e9sum\u00e9 and discuss in future interviews. Having completed four internships throughout my college career, I can\u2019t say they were all great. However, I don\u2019t regret a single one. The first one showed me the type of field I didn\u2019t want to work in. The second confirmed that I was heading in the right direction with my career. My third and fourth internships introduced me to completely different areas of higher education which broadened my knowledge and narrowed my search simultaneously.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      My takeaway is that sometimes you have to learn what you don\u2019t want in order to find out what you do want. The more informed you are about career options through real life conversations and experiences, the better prepared you will be for your future and the more confident you will be in your career decisions. Always explore your options because even if you learn you hate it, at least you\u2019re one step close to finding what you love.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t

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      Candela Citations<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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      CC licensed content, Shared previously<\/div>