Not sure what you want to be?

Sally Rowe, Assistant Director of the Missouri State Office of Career Services (Carrington Hall Room 309, phone 417-836-5636) sent me a brief description of several of the career search tests available to students today. If you see something you're interested in, call or visit the office for an appointment.

The Self-Directed Search (SDS) is an easy-to-take tool that allows students to gain insight into their skills and interests and discover career “matches” that fit. Dr. John Holland developed this assessment that suggests that both people and work environments can be classified according to 6 basic types: Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social Enterprising and Conventional (RIASEC). Research has shown that people whose job and work environments most closely match their personal style and interests consider themselves satisfied and successful with the occupational choices they have made.

The Myers-Briggs (MBTI) Type Indicator is used in career counseling to assist students in understanding how their personality preferences can help them decide what they want to do and how to improve their chances of getting what they want. The MBTI was developed by Isabel Myers and Katharine Briggs as a measure of Dr. Carl Jung’s theory of psychological types. Results provide students with information on career options, potential strengths associated with their type, as well as workplace needs.

Focus II is a web-based computerized career and educational planning system that guides students through a process enabling them to do the following: assess interests, skills, personality, values and leisure activities; get the facts about occupational options that are aligned with results of assessments; look at educational paths and training programs compatible with their personal attributes; identify career development needs.

The Multiple Intelligence Checklist evolved from research done by Howard Gardner, Ph.D. The checklist is designed to evaluate the way a person thinks and learns based on life experiences in childhood and the present time. Strengths are identified and associated with nine intelligences. Sample professions are listed under each intelligence area. This tool helps students put their full range of abilities “to work”.

Skills are acquired through life and work experiences, as well as education. Every job requires certain skills. Discovering and developing skills is essential to career success. Career Services has a variety of skills exercises and activities to help students identify the skills they have and most enjoy using. The skills they find they have can be the foundation upon which they are likely to build their career. They can also learn to evaluate how well their skills match the skills needed in various jobs.

Work Values are often the determining factors when making career decisions. The Review of Work Values has statements reflecting values associated with occupational choices such as achievement, leadership, creativity, security and adventure, to name a few. Students give a numeric value to each of the statements to rate the degree of importance it would have in bringing them career satisfaction. Results show clearly the value students place on certain conditions within a workplace setting. This inventory can be quite revealing to students, enabling them to reflect on what conditions are most important in their work.

There are other things you can do to get a better understanding of the kind of job you might like to do and visiting the Office of Career Services is an excellent place to start! They offer mock (practice) interview workshops, a job-finding service and much more. You have already paid for these services in your student fees and tuition, so please use them.

Taking More than One Academic Major or Minor

If you take more than one Major you need not have a Minor to graduate. Nor do you need a Minor if you complete a "Comprehensive Major." The CAS Major is comprehensive, but I recommend you consider taking a Minor in addition to the CAS Major.

One of my best students graduated with 125 hours and tucked two Majors and two Minors into her academic program. Not only was this evidence of her determination, degree of focus and organization, she also did well in all of those areas. She was offered full time employment directly upon graduation.

If you haven't already visited "The Crime and Society Degree Programs at Missouri State University" link on the Main Menu of AdviseNet, please visit it now. It addresses this issue in more detail.

What to do to help decide on a career.

Here are a few things you can do to enhance your understanding of the career you anticipate entering:

1. Read everything you can lay your hands on that has to do with the job you think you would like to have (being a probation or parole officer, a cop, a lawyer, etc.). Meyer Library and the Internet are invaluable resources in this respect.

2. Get to know people who are doing the kind of work you are thinking about doing and meet with them individually for an interview. Prepare your questions prior to the meetings and learn as much as you can about that job - at least the way each of those people see it. By talking to more than one such person you will gain a more accurate impression of the job they do and what you need to do to get a job like that.

3. Talk to your faculty. The professors who teach the CAS courses are a good source of information.  They can often provide input on job descriptions, job opportunities, and can sometimes provide contacts for you in the practitioner community and with graduate schools. They are also a potential source for letters of reference as you apply for employment or graduate study.

4. Enroll in an internship in that field. Always arrive at your internship setting on time, do the best job you can do, ask questions, volunteer for extra assignments, maintain a positive attitude and be courteous. The image you establish in the eyes of others will determine not only the grade you receive, it will have an impact on the assignments you are given and the recommendation of the agency to your  future employers.

In addition to knowing how to do your job, you should be viewed as someone who is a team player - someone who works well with others and taking directions well.

5. Volunteer. Do you have any time you can put aside to volunteer for an organization which touches on your career interest? For example, if you are interested in working with at-risk-children or children in trouble, you could volunteer for an organization that offers help to such children or with their families.  The university has a volunteer site here.

If you are not sure where to volunteer, contact the kind of agency you would like to work for (probation/parole, police department, department of corrections, etc.) and ask them for a lead. For example, if you want to enter the field of policing, call your local police department and ask if they have connections with any local organizations where you might volunteer. If they have a "Gifts for Tots" program in the winter, maybe you can volunteer to collect toys. Get the idea?

6. Visit with the good folks in the Missouri State Office of Career Services.  Located on the third floor of Carrington Hall, the Office of Career Services can arrange for mock interviews, real interviews (both on-campus and off), and provides an opportunity for you to register so they can contact you when relevant openings appear.  You've already paid for this service in your student fees.   Why not use it!?

7. Talk with your advisor! Like anything else you are reading here, if you have questions about them, please contact me and let's talk! Between the two of us, and with the other resources we have available at the university and in the community, we can surely come up with something that will help you.

There are many things you can do while at Missouri State to enhance the likelihood of being offered a position in your chosen field upon graduation. Click here to find out more about what it takes to succeed. And if you're thinking of graduate study, click here.

Careers | AdviseNet | CRM  | Missouri State | E-mail Dr Carlie