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Your interests can function as a springboard for research into
your career options. Chances are that if you found a particular
activity enjoyable and stimulating, then you would want to perform
that activity again. Using only positive interests in the beginning
of your career research will eliminate some career possibilities.
Remember, don't limit yourself to just the standard occupations
when considering career options evolving from your interests.
Open yourself to the possibilities!
Interests
CX Online, Bridges, offers an interactive magazine style format
for obtaining career information. There are over 2,000 articles
and 700 career profiles. The career profiles feature includes
many new and unusual careers. The articles are about careers,
recreation, education, and skills. Occupations can be browsed
by career cluster and interest zones or can be searched using
key words. Try the Career Finder, a quick self-assessment of interests
and skills, and discover career research leads.
A username and password must be used to access Bridges. This information
can be obtained in the College and Career Center.
Bridges
Website
Values
Values are what you believe to be important and help toguide you
through everyday life. The psychologist Abraham Maslow theorized
that values are adopted to fulfill certain psychological or physical
needs. Keeping this in mind, it follows that making decisions
consistent with your values about work and life is imperative
for happiness and success.
The concept of values can be fuzzy because they are often lumped
together in an undifferentiated mass. This is probably because
your values were shaped by several sources that may include your
parents, friends, religion, culture, and society. By separating
your values into clear categories, not only will you feel greater
autonomy as you become the creator of the values you live by,
you also will have a greater sense of direction when making career
decisions.
There following are exercises that you can do to help you clarify
your values.
a. For instance, you may want to list your values, rank them
as to the level of their importance, and then categorize the ones
that you feel are crucial in work or in life.
An Example List of Values
b. Another exercise would be to imagine that you have died and
your friends and family have gathered for a memorial to celebrate
your life. What do you want to be remembered by?
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