Embarking on a career journey requires understanding how your unique skills and interests can help you navigate the many professional options available. By utilizing the research process of career exploration, you will be able to identify your strengths and passions to help you discover a variety of pathways for your professional growth.
What is Career Exploration?
Career Exploration is the process of researching and learning about your own interests, values, and skills in relation to the vast array of career industries, job titles, and job functions you can pursue. When considering your interests, values, and skills, spend time reflecting on the following questions when doing your research:
- What are your long-term and short-term career goals?
- Why are you pursuing the degree that you’re in?
- What do you love about what you’re doing or have studied? What do you dislike about it?
- Do your skills and career experiences so far meet the needs of the positions that interest you? What are you currently doing?
- How does it support or not support what your long-term goals are?
If you are unsure of where to start, consider taking the SteppingBlocks personality assessment to explore careers options aligned with your personality, strengths, and interests.
Resources for Career Exploration
There are several UMGC resources that students and alumni can access 24/7 to assist with this information gathering. These resources will offer you a perspective into different industries through industry professionals.
SteppingBlocks is a data-powered career exploration tool where you can take a deeper look into over 60 million personal career journeys and unlock the skills and education needed to get hired.
Vault is a career intelligence platform designed to help you research career fields and employers, plan your best career path, and prepare to land that highly competitive position.
Candid Career+ provides thousands of informational interview videos featuring industry professionals. Get the inside scoop on careers and advice to help you with your job search.
InternPLUS is a resource center to help UMGC students get work-based relevant experience to be competitive in the job market. This includes project-based and virtual internships, volunteer opportunities, full-time and part-time internships, and more.
Forage allows you to develop professional skills and get a free taste of industry experience by “trying out a role” through completing short, real-world, company-backed online projects.
CareerQuest empowers you to explore a variety of employers and job titles with CareerQuest’s and Handshake’s open positions tab.
Schedule an Informational Interview
You can quickly and easily schedule informational interviews with UMGC Alumni through the Community Connect Program.
An informational interview is generally a 30-minute professional meeting opportunity to speak with an industry professional to gather knowledge on various topics. You can use the following talking tips as starting conversation points during your next informational interview.
- How did the professional’s career journey get them into the role?
- What does the professional enjoy or not enjoy about the role?
- What skills were helpful when graduating from their program, and what skills did they wish they had?
- What trends are they seeing within the field?
Understanding your unique blend of skills and interests is key to finding the right path for your career development. By delving into the process of career exploration, you'll uncover your strengths and passions that will aid in your journey. Whether you're constructing long-term goals or considering immediate steps, take advantage of the many resources provided by UMGC’s Office of Career Services. These tools will equip you with invaluable insights as you navigate the world of career possibilities and pave the way for a successful future aligned with your aspirations.
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