Home- Campus Life- Career Services- Explore Majors and Careers- Learn About Careers Learn About Careers “Career exploration” means doing research about different careers, majors, industries, and positions that interest you. Being fully informed about your options is a necessary and incredibly important step in narrowing your career focus and setting goals for your future. What Kind of Information Should you Look for? When researching an industry or career, seek to learn more about the: General work activities that you would participate in Typical work environment – indoors / outdoors, individualized / team focused, etc. The most desirable skills and competencies of successful employees Necessary or desired experience and training Salary expectations Job outlook Opportunities for growth Work culture Similar occupations / industries When researching a particular employer, seek to learn more about the organization’s: Mission / vision Reporting structure Products / services offered Workplace culture Major competitors Stability / job outlook How do you use the information you gather? Your research will help narrow your career focus as you will be able to eliminate options that are not a good fit for your values, interests, personality, and skills, while moving more fitting options higher on your list. It might help you to document your research on a pros/cons list, noting the aspects that both attract and deter you from pursuing a career in that industry. Once you understand the basics of the field and have created a short list of viable options, try each out by pursuing some of the hands-on opportunities listed below. Exploration Resources Vault's Career Insider Information about companies and careers providing the context needed to identify your best job opportunities. America's Career InfoNet Features occupation and industry information, salary data, career videos, education resources, self-assessment tools, career exploration assistance, and more. Spotlight on Careers A comprehensive set of online resources for career exploration and internship, job, and graduate school searching in top career fields for liberal arts graduates. Contact us for the password if you are off campus. O*NET A tool for career exploration and job analysis, including detailed descriptions of the world of work for use by job seekers and students. Ferguson's Facts on File A comprehensive career search database. It is organized by industry covering careers, career resources, and career preparation information. Contact us for a username and password. Occupational Outlook Handbook Published by the U.S. government, is a comprehensive resource describing most career options. WetFeet An online overview of 32+ industries, including fields such as advertising/PR, consulting, new media, nonprofit, and venture capital. It includes information about what's great and what's to hate, industry tables, and job tips. Roadtrip Nation Review video interviews conducted by the Roadtrip Nation team based on your interests (i.e. sports, politics) or a theme (i.e. risk, focus). Campus Life Housing Options Campus Dining The Arts on Campus Clubs and Organizations Sports and Recreation Volunteerism Religious Life Fraternities and Sororities ALANA Cultural Center LGBTQ Life Career Services Pathways to Success Start Here: Self-Assessment Explore Majors and Careers Choosing and Using Your Major Learn About Careers Test Your Options Jobs and Internships Graduate and Professional Schools Toolkit naviGATE iCAN Signature 'Gate Not a Student? About Us Class of 2018 Colgate Bookstore RELATED LINKS Intellectual Engagement INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT Collaborative research by highly regarded faculty is a Colgate trademark. Off-Campus Study OFF-CAMPUS STUDY Colgate has one of the most robust off-campus study programs in the country. Career Services CAREER SERVICES Staff members and dedicated alumni play a key role in students' career exploration. Lucky 13 LUCKY 13 Find out why 13 is the most popular number on campus.