The Counseling and Resource Center
Career Planning
Choosing a Career
Choosing a career is a major life decision: we'll be working for many years. We want to choose the "right" career for us. (Most of us will change careers several times, but making our first or second choice carefully can save retraining time later.)
What are the STEPS to a good career decision?
- Know Yourself
- Know Your Career Choices
- Know How to Determine the "Fit"
(From "Feeling Adrift in a Sea of Career Choices?")
Although choosing a career and choosing a major are related, choosing one doesn't automatically mean you have chosen the other. Choosing a major doesn't limit you to just one career: choosing a career doesn't limit you to just one major. For more information on choosing a major see:
- The CRC brochure "Choosing a Major".
- Wondering what you can do with your chosen major? This site at University of Washington Center for Career Services may be able to help.
- Choosing a Major workshop: A free one-hour workshop that will help you clarify your interests and begin the process of choosing the major that's right for you. This workshop usually runs once a quarter and will be posted on the Advising Home Page.
The Counseling & Resource Center (MLT 145) offers free Career Counseling. Students, potential students and others can explore the "fit" between a career and their skills, needs, values, personality and interests. Self-knowledge and an introduction to career research help students better understand themselves and their career options, and help them make informed decisions. For an appointment call 425-640-1358 or drop by.
Some Basics
- How do you know whether to see a "counselor" or an "advisor"? See "Counseling vs Advising".
- Is there somewhere to go to do career research? See info on the Career Resource Room in MLT 138.
Classes
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Career and Life Planning classes offered at Edmonds Community College.
CCLS 111: Career & Life Planning (3 Credits)-A quarter-long career/life planning class that provides a CORE of career planning tools: interest and personality inventories, examination of values, skills, labor market trends, group interaction and sharing of ideas, and a whole quarter to research, process, discuss, and explore for a thorough career plan.
CCLS 105: Career Transitions (2 Credits)- Offers the same CORE of career planning tools as above, including the interest and personality inventories, etc. Applies them in a shorter format and with a focus on how career changes impact us. Also looks at non-traditional careers and workplace expectations.
CCLS 106: Express Career Planning(1 Credit)- Gives you a late-quarter jump-start on career planning, using the same CORE of career planning tools as above, including inventories, in a condensed format, to devise an Action Plan for successful career planning.
Reading & Links
- WOIS/The Career Information System is a private, non-profit organization that researches and distributes information about Washington careers, schools and training programs. From the WOIS Career Information Page you may access a variety of research and assessment tools.
- Vocational Biographies - With this program, you can career-shadow up to 1,001 persons from across America, research career's, education, training, and success stories.
- Career Trees show you how to climb a career tree in ten industry clusters targeted as high-growth in Snohomish County. There are "Trees" for Aerospace and Manufacturing, Business and Technology, Biotechnology, Biomedical, and Nanotechnology, Construction and Trades, Health Services, Hospitality and Tourism, Public Services and Government, and Retail.
- Washington Career Bridge will help you find the education and training you need to get the job you want. The site includes the Eligible Training Provider List.
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For labor market and career planning information try Workforce Explorer Washington.
To pick up copies of the information above or for more resource ideas, visit the Resource Place:
the EdmondsCC Counseling and Resource Center MLT 145
(425) 640-1358
