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Effective Career Planning Process

Planning for your future career can be tough. We're here to help you through the process.

A process can be generally followed when career planning. These steps are explored more below:

  1. Assessment of your Interests
  2. Examination of your abilities
  3. Examination of your value in work
  4. Exploration
  5. Reality check

As you start your career planning process, it's good to know the resources available to you. At UL Lafayette, you have a number of resources to help you plan for your future.

Available Resources

Assessment of Your Interests

  • What types of things excite you? 
  • What types of jobs or careers appeal to you? 
  • What books or magazines do you like to read? 
  • Where have you worked or volunteered? 
  • What did you like about these experiences? 
  • What are your hobbies? 

If you are not sure, please visit the Major and Career Exploration Center and take advantage of the variety of self-assessments you can take to help you answer some of these questions.

Examination of your abilities

  • You can begin this self-examination by looking at the courses you took in high school and college. 
  • What are your strengths? 
  • What are your weaknesses? 
  • What kind of skills do you have? 
  • What were your best subjects? 
  • What kinds of extracurricular activities did you participate in while in high school or college? 
  • What kinds of things did you learn from part-time or summer jobs?
  • Is there a pattern there? 

Examination of your value in work

Examples of values include: 

  • Helping society
  • Working under pressure
  • Group affiliation
  • Stability
  • Security
  • Status
  • Working alone or with groups
  • Having a positive impact on others
  • And many others

Exploration

Meeting with an Academic Counselor in the Academic Success Center and visiting the Major and Career Exploration Center along with reviewing the Online Occupational Handbook are all ways to start the exploration process. You can also view the "What Can I Do With This Major" link to connect with other majors.

Reality check

You need to honestly evaluate your options. 

  • Do you value physicians and have an interest in being a doctor, but have little skills in science? 
  • Does your desired occupation require an advanced degree, but your future commitments preclude graduate study? 
  • Do you have a strong interest in the arts, but your family is convinced you will become a CPA like your father? 

There are often ways to get around some of the obstacles during the reality check, but it is still important to face these obstacles and be realistic about whether you can overcome them.

If you need assistance choosing a major, meet with an Academic Counselor in the Academic Success Center in Lee Hall, room 115 or (337) 482-6818 or Success@louisiana.edu.