The career Exploration Process

Step One:  Conduct Self-Assessment

The first step in the career planning process involves gathering information about yourself to assist in making a decision about a career. You should develop an understanding of self, including values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits, and desired life style, and become aware of the interrelationship between self and occupational choice.

LSSC offers students and alumni access to MyPlan's Career Assessments to find career matches based on your personality, interests, skills and values.

Step Two:  Research Your Academic & Career Options

The second step allows individuals to investigate the world of work in greater depth, narrow a general occupational direction into a specific one through an informed decision making process, and declare a major. Lean more about particular careers or majors by researching career profiles, educational requirements, employment outlook, expected salary, university transfer options  and much more.

Step Three:  Obtain Relevant/Practical Experience

In the third step, individuals evaluate occupational choices and gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, relevant summer employment, volunteer work and campus activities. In addition, more specific decisions about occupational choices are made.

An initial occupational choice is made in this step. Individuals prepare for and begin conducting a job search, or apply to transfer to a university to continue their education.