Using Values, Interests, Personality, and Skills to Pick Your Right Major

The Citadel Career Center

Training Objectives• Task

– Determine the correct major for YOU

• Condition– Given instructions from the Career Center

• Standard– Students will make an informed decision about the major which best fits their life

What are the VIPS and how do they impact career choices?• By choosing a major, and an eventual

career, based on what is best for you, you are more likely to enjoy it and stick with it!

• Your major can affect your career because it indicates an area of expertise you have developed and therefore may connect you more easily with certain areas of work that need this expertise/skill set

How can you apply your VIPS to real life?• The Career Center encourages you to constantly search for environments where

you can use your skills and abilities in ways that will help you develop professionally

• Find ways to encourage interests through experiential learning like internships, study abroad, service learning, and/or research

• Seek out opportunities that are compatible with your values and personality style

is the Citadel Career Center’s software program to help you identify your VIPS

• This information can help you:

1. Explore career options

2. Determine if your major is a good fit

3. Set SMART goals

So you can go from here…

…to there!

Intern at Keynote Group

On campus cadet internUnited Nations Ambassador

Meeting with employers for future opportunities

Trends

According to National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), in five years, these will be the expected qualities that students value most in the employers for which they want to work. (Rank order; 1 = Most valued)

Goal setting• Career goals need clarity

• Studies show you are more likely to succeed when your career goals are specific

• They need to challenge you, but also have realistic outcomes

• Therefore, you must create the right conditions for success

Think about these things when setting your career goals!

What makes a goal a GOOD goal?

Specific & MeasurableGeneral goal:

“I will be a good student this year.”

Specific or measurable goal:

“I will visit my instructor during office hours or after class.”

“I will create an assignment calendar to meet due dates.”

“Visit the Academic Support Center and the Career Center at least once in my first semester.”

AchievablePick a goal which will move you to your next goal

General goal:

“I will own my own supply chain management business one day.”

Achievable goal:

“I will join the supply chain management club in order to obtain information and I will attend the Career Fair to see which companies I can gain experience from by interning or working for them.”

Realistic & TimelyA goal must represent something to which you are willing and able to work within a specific timeframe

General goal:

“I will go to graduate school.”

Realistic & timely goal:

“I will research graduate school options to be prepared and I will start graduate school within one year of finishing undergrad.”

1. Log in to Sigi 3 from the Career Center’s Resources tab: http://www.citadel.edu/root/career

2. New user – Create an Account

3. Access code: yourplan

4. Desired ID: Use your student Lesesne Gateway information

5. Hit start

6. Complete action items in red. Select continue

7. Under “Self Assessment” click each bold link to take the assessment

After your assessment is done it will look like this:

Now you can utilize Sigi 3 to determine what your VIPS are!

1. Click “Portfolio” in upper right hand corner2. View the information on this page to evaluate your VIPS3. By clicking “Suggested Occupations” in the upper right hand corner of this screen you

can see recommended jobs for you based on your Sigi 3 assessment and VIPS!

Citadel Career Center• 573 Huger St. outside of Sophomore gate

• Drop in hours Monday – Thursday, 1:00 – 4:00; no appointment necessary

• Email: careercenter@citadel.edu

• Phone: 843-953-1617