Gabriela joined the Office of Career Development in July as a Career Adviser for Experiential Education and Learning. She believes that it is important to be student-centered and is excited to work with first-time college students on this initiative for Nova Southeastern University.
Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t believe everything you hear?” That saying is very true when it comes to Career Development Services. Below I have broken down what I believe to be the top five common myths about choosing a career.
Myth #1: Your choice of major is your career
Many individuals believe that what you choose as your major is going to transcend directly into a career. That is false. Nowadays you can go into almost any field, as long as you have the experiences to match what they are looking for. Your major is a field of study you are interested in, but just studying something doesn’t automatically guarantee you a job in that field or prevent you from getting a job in another field. Experience is the key to landing any job, and you should be strategic with the experiences you gain during undergrad to ensure that you are prepared for the job you want when you graduate.
Myth #2: A Career Advisor can tell you what career to have
As a student, it is best to remember that a Career Advisor’s role is to guide you as a student and as an alumnus. It is unethical to tell you what career you should go into. We are here to have conversations so that you can figure it out for yourself and have that “aha” moment.
Myth #3: Completing a Career Assessment will tell you exactly what you’re going to do
It is very common for students to ask to take a career assessment. If you believe that this assessment will instruct you on what to do, think again. It will, in fact, give you options based on your personality, skills and values. Once you have some options, a Career Advisor can help you to narrow them down and figure out what would be a good fit for you.
Myth #4: Being Undecided is a negative
If you are still deciding on a major or career path, don’t think that this is a bad thing. Actually, it can be a positive. Being undecided is a way for you to explore the things you like and don’t like about certain careers and fields. It is also a way for you to make sure that you are going into a field that you enjoy and see yourself staying in.
Myth #5: Career Services are only for seniors
Career Development Services start from freshman year all the way until after graduation. In fact, it is better to start early. The earlier you start working with career services the sooner you can begin working on your career goals.
Don’t just absent-mindedly believe everything you hear. It is never too late to visit career services and ask questions. Who knows, maybe the visit will open your eyes to new possibilities you’ve never thought of before.
