Starr writes:
I’m in college and will soon face the dilemma of having to choose a major, a frightening concept when I have no real clue. I am an athlete (swimmer) and would like a career in sports/athletics. I don’t think I have the stamina or aptitude to be a sports doctor, like I had dreamt of, but I know there must be other exciting opportunities that await me. My question for you is, where should I begin to look at sports/athletic careers? Teaching is on the low end of the totem pole of excitement, so I’d like to consider everything from physical therapy to perhaps positions held in the Olympic arena.
One of the biggest decisions college students make during their college careers is choosing a major, and while it is an important decision, I truly hope it is not a dilemma for you!
The sports and exercise science and allied health fields are among the fastest growing professions in the U.S., and you do, in fact, have many options ahead of you.
Here’s what I would suggest you do:
- Decide what it is that you enjoy about being an athlete.
- Talk to your coach(es) about various career options for you.
- Contact some recent and not so recent alums who were swimmers — you should be able to get their names from either your career placement center, your alumni office, or perhaps your coach if he or she has been there a number of years.
From this combination self-analysis and networking, you should at least have some directions for doing some research into various majors… which you should conduct by meeting with professors in the various departments housing those majors.
For a lot more tips and advice on choosing a major, take a few minutes to read Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
Anonymous writes:
How did you became doctor, and what did you have to do to become a doctor?
Well, of course, the Career Doctor title is a play on words in a sense — I am a career expert with a Ph.D. — a doctorate degree, thus the Career Doctor. I take the title and this job, however, very seriously. I get a real sense of accomplishment helping people — whether it is through this blog, through my career site, Quintessential Careers, or through teaching undergraduate students.
Earning a Ph.D. is no easy task, but — for me especially — a very rewarding one. I have a dual bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s degree from the University of Florida, and a Ph.D. from Florida State. You don’t necessarily need a master’s degree to get a Ph.D. — though you do need to complete the master’s-level course work — and most people, I believe, do complete a master’s degree before attaining the doctorate degree. The Ph.D. requires more coursework, comprehensive exams, and the completion of a dissertation — a detailed piece of original research on a particular issue related to your field of study.
If you have an interest in learning more about the process I took — and I’m not sure why most people would be — you can read my academic vita.
You can learn more about various degrees by going to this section of Quintessential Careers: Degrees and Certifications Explained.
V. K. writes:
My son, a college freshman, loves history. What other careers besides teaching would be available to a history major?
Since the latest statistics show that the average person will change careers — not just jobs — at least five times over his or her worklife, the most important thing for you to do is to encourage your son to finish his college education — and to fill it with as great a variety of courses as he can so that he can be exposed to a variety of skills and experiences.
As for history in particular, your son could become a government worker or aide, research assistant, lobbyist, journalist, intelligence agent, consumer advocate, foreign service worker, and others. A great source for learning more about this topic is for you to visit the Quint Careers section What Can I do With a Major in…?. Other sources of this type of career discovery information can be found at Quintessential Careers: Career Exploration.
James writes:
I am a first-semester sophomore at a university and I have no idea what to major in. I feel I am very organized and detail-oriented. I do not like to speak in front of a lot of people, but I can communicate to one person at a time. I do not like public speaking is what I am trying to say. I do not have any ideas of neat jobs out there that I could get into. I was wondering if you could help me in narrowing down some cool new jobs that I could look into. I am enrolled in a career explorations class but I am still needing some extra help!
I wish all colleges offered career-exploration courses. Some even offer an entire major directed at helping students discover their true talents and career directions.
My best advice for you is not to panic. You have several years left in college and a lifetime ahead. Statistics show most people will change their careers — not just their jobs — multiple times over the course of their lives.
You can find articles and tools for choosing a major by visiting Quintessential Careers: What Can I do With a Major in…?.
Catharine writes:
I have a bachelor’s in psychology and am not certain what I can do with this degree. I have worked for the last five years in mental retardation, but would like to get out for a while. While I was in school I attended a seminar were they discussed possible careers, but there wasn’t much that they mentioned. Any clues as to were else I could apply?
Catharine, a psychology degree is a good one because it offers you a broad choice of opportunities, though you might also want to think about continuing your education by earning a master’s degree in psychology or some related field to renew your skills, increase your credentials, and make you more marketable.
Some of the other careers you could pursue with a psychology degree include: school counselor, social worker, employment specialist, teacher, researcher, and many others.
I recommend checking out the links at Quintessential Careers: Career Exploration Resources for some great resources for discovering more ideas and resources about careers in psychology - as well as many other careers.
Linda writes:
A lot of my friends already know what they want to do, although we’re only in our sophomore year of high school. Our guidance counselors say go in the direction of something your good at, but I don’t know what my forte is. I thought of acting/singing, but many performers don’t make it (I’d still like to try anyway). What can I do to find what I’m good at?
I so enjoy receiving emails from my teen readers because you have so much ahead of you in your lives and there is no need to feel rushed to find your “one right thing,” especially since that one right thing will probably change about five to seven times over the course of your life, according to most recent studies.
There are lots of ways of discovering what you’re good at … sit down at your PC or with a piece of paper and make a list of things you like to do and things you do not like to do … then make a list of things you are good at, such as acting/singing. Then see if you can combine the things you like doing with the things you are good at … and then you can investigate careers that use those strengths and skills.
You can also take some assessment tests. There are many available both on and off the Web. You can take a look at some of the better ones on the Web by visiting Quintessential Careers: Career Assessment.
Finally, while it may be a little early for you to start thinking about a major in college, you can use the same thought process for where you are now, so you should probably read, Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
Marylyn writes:
I’m a college student on the verge of declaring a major, hotel and restaurant management; yet I’m unsure of a minor that best fits this major. I’m not sure if this is true, but I heard that graphic communication is a good minor, but is there anything else?
Let me start by saying that the best people to ask your question to are your professors and any former managers at any internships you may have completed.
Having said that and after conducting a little informal research, I would have to say one of the best minors would be computer technology/systems. Technology plays a major role in hotel/restaurant management. Other minors that make sense are communications, marketing, and management. Other minors mentioned include psychology and sociology (since it’s a big people business).
Tiffany writes: I am an international studies major with a minor in Spanish, and I am also getting an international business certificate (which indicates that I took a few business courses). I’m getting ready to graduate and I’ve been looking all over the Internet for jobs and there don’t seem to be any for liberal-arts majors. Employers seem to want people who are highly skilled in one area. I’m slightly skilled in only a few areas. What should I do? Do I have to go back to school and start all over in a different field. I don’t have the money to take any more classes or I would. HELP!
You obviously have an interest in international affairs and you have some skills in Spanish. You should start there. What is it about international studies that excites you and got you interested in the field? Do you like the idea of traveling abroad? Working in a foreign country? Spend some time identifying the various aspects of your education that you enjoyed. Did you have one or more internships or other work experiences? Did you travel abroad while in college?
In the end, the dirty secret of an international studies major is that you can really go into any number of career fields, though some may require an advanced degree. Your strengths lie in the skills you acquired while getting your degree: the ability to understand and appreciate different cultures, economies, and political systems; the ability to communicate in two languages; the ability to analyze and see the world from a broader prospective.
The key for you is to marry your interests with your skills, then find jobs that use that combination of interests and skills, and then find employers hiring people in those jobs.
I suggest you also take the time to read my latest article published on Quintessential Careers: 10 Tips for Landing a Job Overseas.
One final piece of advice. While there are some good job sites for people with “international” skills, such as LatPro.com, job-hunting on the Net should only be a VERY small part of your overall job search. I think you’ll benefit greatly from spending some time in a free tutorial we have on Quintessential Careers: Job Search 101.
Rosemary writes:
I am 17 years old and interested in a career in research. I think I would like to work for the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). I have been trying to find a list of disciplines/occupations employed by the CDC, and I can’t find one. Can you help me locate a listing of potential research oriented occupations?
Rosemary, research is a huge field … and there are many possibilities within it to specialize — all sorts of scientific specialties, with many jobs requiring advanced degrees.
The CDC has a section of its Website geared to Training and Employment Opportunities.
I also suggest you search the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook for more detailed information about careers in various areas of research. The information here will help direct your focus in a career direction as well as toward a specific major in college.
Jen writes:
I am 16 years old. I need help finding a career because I think it is so important to start making these decisions now. I am thinking of a career in the sciences, most likely biological studies, or perhaps psychology. I am much better at the arts, but I want a career where I can make good money. I get really good grades at school, so I am up for a challenge. I would very much appreciate any help you could give me.
The Career Doctor responds:
Jen, I first want to praise you for thinking ahead about your future education and employment goals, but I also want to let you know that it is okay not to have everything set in stone at age 16. My advice for you between now and college is to continue taking college-prep courses that you need and that interest you, work or volunteer at a couple of different companies and organizations (such as an art gallery?), and continue to discuss your career goals with family, teachers, and counselors … you might also consider reading the job descriptions available at our Quint Careers job board and other job sites to get a feel for the types of jobs available in a variety of fields.
In fact, an article on Quintessential Careers may be perfect for you. Check out Choosing a College Major: How to Chart Your Ideal Path.
One final piece of advice: don’t eliminate any possibilities just yet. The key to a successful work life is finding employment that you love to do — not just a job that pays well. If you like the arts, there are plenty of jobs that offer a good salary while allowing you to work at something you enjoy… but keep in mind that your interests may change as you further mature and continue your education.
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