Exploring Majors/Careers

Having trouble deciding on your major or career that fits you? Wondering what other options are available to you? Do you want to explore a career field that sounds really exciting?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you may want to let us help you clarify your major or career decision. You can:

Talk with a staff member about your choices. Use one of our Discovery Tools to identify career options that might be a good fit. Research career fields in Columbia’s Career Library or through our web resources.

Discovery Tools

1. DISCOVER - DISCOVER is a computer-delivered career guidance and information system from ACT. Through DISCOVER's main menu you can: learn about self and career, choose and explore occupations, plan your education, and plan for work. DISCOVER offers various assessments to fit your needs. There is an interest inventory, an inventory of work-related abilities, and an inventory of work-related values. You can also enter scores from other inventories and assessments, including the MBTI. Students need to see Advisement and Counseling to get a User ID to log into the web system.
2. Self-Directed Search – As Holland states in his manual, the Self-Directed Search (SDS) is a self-administered, self-scored, and self-interpreted vocational counseling tool. It includes two booklets: an assessment booklet and an occupational classification booklet. The SDS is based on a theory of personality types and environmental models. Most people can be categorized as one of six personality types labeled realistic, investigative, artistic, social, enterprising, or conventional.
3. Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) – The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is one of the most frequently used personality assessments in collegiate settings. The results of MBTI indicate student’s preferences for interacting with the environment and for making decisions. Four polar scales are used to describe the student’s preferences. The four scales are: extraversion-introversion, sensing-intuiting, thinking-feeling, and judging-perceiving. The scales are not value-laden meaning there is no negative impact to any type. The results from the MBTI can aid your advisor in guiding your choice of courses, major, or career path.

Resume Writing

A resume is a brief highlight of your education background, experiences, and skills as they relate to the type of job you are seeking. A resume is designed to get you to the next step in your job search -- interviewing.

Whenever you mail or e-mail your resume, you will usually include a cover letter and sometimes references. The Advisement and Counseling Office staff will critique drafts of your resumes and cover letters, so stop by and make an appointment.

The Advisement and Counseling Office has many resources to help you develop quality resumes and cover letters.

Check out our many Tip Sheets