Choosing a Career

1. Watch these videos.

2. Take an online assessment.

Here are our favorites:

• NYCareerZone
• MySkillsMyFuture
• MyNextMove
• O*NetOnLine
• Use the Self-Discovery and Career Section in Naviance (account required).

3. Gain experience in the field.

• Building Experience

4. Keep a career journal.

Use it to answer the following questions:

• If you could do anything and money was no option, what would you do?
• What do you like to do with your spare time?
• What do you like to learn about outside of school?
• What are your favorite subjects? Least favorite subjects? Why?
• What is important to you?
• What are your hobbies and what do you like about them?
• What jobs, school activities, or volunteer activities have you done? What did you enjoy and what did you not enjoy?
• What areas do others (friends, family, teachers, etc.) say you excel in or come to you for help?

5. Do your research.

Make a list of careers that interest you and a list of careers that don’t interest you, then learn more about them by doing the following:

• Check the LinkedIn profiles of professionals based on their major or career.
• Review the career section of company websites.
• Look at career videos on YouTube. (You can start by searching “What can you do with a ______ degree?)
• Interview people about their careers. Informational interviews are a great way to learn about a career to decide if it is right for you. Even if their career doesn’t interest you, you can learn about the pros and cons and the decision process.
• Shadow someone at work.
• Go to events that expose you to careers/majors, such as Mt. Sinai Med Start, NYU’s ARISE, or Columbia’s Splash Educational Outreach. Learn more about free programs in New York City.