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Career Exploration

It’s never too early to start exploring career options, and doing so can help you get the most out of your time at SPU. A career is not something that is chosen at a certain moment in time, but rather something that is built throughout life.

Knowing how to explore a range of possibilities, to gradually build a professional reputation and network, and to be prepared to respond to opportunities as they arise will serve you well not only at graduation, but immediately — as you make choices about your major, extracurricular activities, summer jobs, internships, and more.

Many students come to college with a short list of career ideas. But there are more than 30,000 job titles in the U.S. today, and more are being created every year! The following resources are a good place to start learning about career options:
  • Pathway U. A science-based tool designed to help you understand your interests, values, personality, and workplace preferences. It provides a predictive fit and pathways to design your educational journey towards a career and employer you will love.
  • O*Net. A comprehensive database of worker attributes and job characteristics. Find in-depth information about jobs, or use a list of your skills to find matching occupations.
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook. A nationally recognized source of career information produced by the U.S. Department of Labor and revised every two years. Describes working conditions, what workers do on the job, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations.
  • Riley Guide. A gateway for job searches and career exploration, with links to more than 1,600 high-quality resources.

Although the internet can provide a seemingly infinite amount of information, the best way to find a career that is a good fit for you is to leave your laptop to meet with people who are willing to share their insights and to visit various work environments.  Do this by:

Additional Resources

Professional Associations

Why Professional Associations Matter

Professional associations are an excellent resource for career exploration when you are starting out, and for networking as you grow in your new profession.

Learn more
Networking

All About Networking

Networking is a powerful way to learn about careers, employers, and opportunities. Statistics show that about 80 percent of all jobs are hired via networking. Check out “Networking” (PPT).

CCC Classes

Students: Take a CCC Class

The Center for Career and Calling offers five career classes several times each year to help you navigate your career path.

Learn more