By Katrina Hefele ’13
“Hi parents, how are you doing today? Good? Good. Oh yeah that’s right, I did have to declare my major today. No, I’m not an engineer, I chose to follow my own path and not become an engineer just because you are one. Why are you yelling at me? There are so many things that I can do with this major! What can I do with it? OK, let me tell you…”
Have you gone through this conversation before? Well, I have and let me tell you that I was extremely glad that I work at the CDC and was able to back up my decision with the resources which the CDC offers.
You have no idea what you can do with your major? That’s perfectly fine! Come to the CDC and utilize our resources to help you find your path. Where do you start? First, go to myBucknell and add the “myCareerCenter” tab, which contains links to The Bridge, The Vault, Career Search and many other useful resources. Trust me, it will come in handy! Once you’ve added the “myCareerCenter” tab, follow the “What Can I Do with This Major?” link to explore your potential occupations!
This resource will provide you with a list of many majors, from Physics to International Relations, and Accounting to Women’s and Gender Studies.
First, you find your major, then you will be brought to a page that lists specific areas within that major, employers within those areas, and strategies to promote yourself and find a job within that chosen area. For instance, if you are an Art History major you could work in a museum or gallery, and then you can narrow that down even further, you could work in education, curatorial sections, sales, development, archiving, and the list continues. Some strategies to get into that field would be to intern or volunteer in an art museum, and earn a business minor. Other areas within the art field are commercial art, art therapy, media, fashion, textile, interior design as well as many others. These extensive lists should provide you with many occupations which spark your interest.
This source provides a place for you to start your exploration, and take a calm breath knowing that you have many possibilities for career paths. Then once you have your general inspiration and plan, you should come into the CDC and speak with a counselor about your choices and other ways to pursue your interests. There are so many things to explore, and this provides a great place for you to start your search.