Career Planning Services
Published or Revised October 11, 2011
Currently enrolled students and alumni are encouraged to utilize career planning services. The goal of career services is to promote career development by providing students with the knowledge and skills needed to develop realistic career plans and make the appropriate decisions to carry out their plans.
Research has consistently revealed a great many students have career-related problems which hamper the successful completion of their academic and career goals. A career counselor can help students in implementing a career choice, exploring career directions, assessing interests, values, skills, abilities, personal traits and desired life styles, obtaining occupational information and learning about the job market.
Making a Good Decision about a Major and a Career
Deciding on a career path is one of the most important decisions students will ever make, but it is not always an easy task. The selection of an appropriate college major usually results from gathering and exploring results of self assessment instruments.
A good career choice should be based on the results of self assessment and an exploration of the realities of the job market. Self-assessment instruments can help you identify your interests, abilities, skills, personality style, needs, values, and external influences over your life. A good career decision is based on a through knowledge of each of these areas and how they all contribute to the decision.
Students may take number of assessments as recommended by the counselor. Students will discuss their results with a career counselor. No single assessment will ever be able to tell a student what major he/she should select.
These assessments require an appointment with a career counselor:
- Career Ability Placement survey (CAPS) - This is a comprehensive multidimensional battery designed to provide you with information about your abilities to help you in career planning.
- Career Occupational Placement & Evaluation Survey (COPES) - assesses the values you consider to be important in your work.
- Career Occupational Preference System (COPS) - This inventory provides job activity interest scores related to occupational clusters appropriate for the college-oriented as well as the vocationally oriented individual.
- Career Decision-Making system (CDM) - This instrument self-assesses a person’s abilities, work values, school subject preferences, and interests.
- Myers-Briggs type Indicator (MBTI) - This instrument is the most widely used personality inventory in history. This inventory will help you make important personal and/or career decisions.
- Self-Directed Search (SDS) - This instrument is based on John Holland’s “RIASEC” theory. This theory asserts most people can be categorized as one of six personality types. The SDS defines these types and the skills needed to succeed, as well as related activities, competencies, and self-perceptions.
- Study Attitudes and Methods Survey (SAMS) - Assesses your attitudes related to your study habits. The results of this survey may help you improve your study habits.
- The Career Exploration Inventory (CEI) - This test is designed to help you explore and plan three major areas of your life-your work, leisure activities, and education or learning.
- Discover - An internet, research based assessment of career-relevant interests, abilities, and job values to help individuals consider career options that are a good match for them. The system offers complete, current databases of occupations, college majors, schools and training institutions, financial aid/scholarships, and military options. Users can also learn how to develop good job-seeking skills through effective resumes, cover letters, job applications, and interviewing skills. Currently enrolled students and alumni may obtain a token from a career counselor which will enable them to access DISCOVER online.
SIGI-PLUS-is an internet based comprehensive, interactive, computer-assisted career guidance program designed to assist you in making career choices. SIGI combines personal and occupational characteristics to identify potentially appropriate career options. The program introduces you to a systematic decision-making process, and provides strategies on obtaining a job of you choice. Currently enrolled students and alumni must see a counselor/advisor in order to access this online program.
- LASSI - A diagnostic and prescriptive assessment. It provides students with a diagnosis of their strengths and weaknesses and provides feedback about areas where student may be weak and need to improve their knowledge, aptitude, beliefs and skills.
Personal Counseling
A student’s quality of life and ability to learn are often affected by personal difficulties they are experiencing. Counseling can help a student to cope with these difficulties. Personal counseling is provided by a licensed professional counselor (LPC) to assist students with personal and emotional concerns which affect attainment of personal goals, academic progress, and relationships with others.
Confidentiality concerning Counseling Center services is guaranteed within the confines of State and Federal law. When appropriate, students may be referred to other professional services when more specialized assistance is needed. The LPC counselor is trained to assist students in identifying and developing the necessary skills to solve their personal problems.
These services are offered free of charge on a limited basis. Students may contact the counselor at 903-782-0426. All students are eligible to receive free referral information.
The counselor can offer you assistance with:
- Making personal adjustments and life decisions in a confidential counseling session.
- Managing stress, overcoming test anxiety, handling conflicts, and becoming more assertive.
- Handling a crisis.
- Returning to school and adjusting to changes.
- Resolving personal and family problems.
- Deciding about appropriate referrals.
