By Nora Fogarty
If you’ve made it this far and at least set foot on a college campus, chances are you’ve heard some variation of this question at least once, if not multiple times. These days, it can sometimes seem like everyone and their mother wants to know exactly how your life is going to go, down to your plans for majors, graduation dates, and the big one: your career.
It’s a big, scary buzzword on college campuses right now. But while the generations prior might have worked in only one field for their whole workplace experience, many of today’s university students may find that they change jobs and even career fields multiple times.
This is a prospect that might make freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors alike wince and want to do nothing but binge-watch Netflix for a few hours to avoid the stressful subject, but here’s the thing: changing jobs, or even working outside the field of your major, might not be such a bad thing.
In light of all the sometimes-accurate, sometimes-alarmist news articles and op-ed pieces about the state of the job market for new graduates, the Career Center has a message for you: Don’t necessarily feel pigeon-holed by your major or field of study. Bring the skills you learn on UP’s campus to your job search, whether that means landing your dream gig right after graduation, or trying out different jobs and different fields.
A career will look different for everyone. While some degrees might indicate a more direct path than others – engineering, nursing, etc. – it seems that working a variety of places and positions is the new normal.
For a more in-depth discussion about careers and change, consider checking out this article, shared on the @UPcareers Twitter page earlier this week. And remember to stop by or get in touch with the Career Center staff if you have questions, concerns, or just want to get a few words of advice from the pros.
Additionally, mark your calendars for some events this week: Join us in the Career Center TODAY for a Job Search Workshop, at 4:15 pm. We’ll be discussing tips and strategies for finding on and off campus jobs. On Friday, 9/11, Undeclared students should plan to stop by for a panel on majors as well, from 4:00-5:00 pm.