“It’s easier if career exploration and development begins during the first year, not the last.” ~ Ryan Weldon
Most freshman arrive at college undecided as to what they want to major in, and many mistakenly put off getting their resume together until senior year. EWU Career Advisor Ryan Weldon gets it.
“[It’s] a lot for any student to think about,”he admits. “But it’s ineffective to start thinking about it halfway through your education. We encourage freshman to come meet with us early because we help you start thinking about this.”
“Career planning works best when planning backward from the intended career,” he says, “rather than forward from the major.” While certain majors still lead straight to a specific career, (such as nursing, engineering, accounting, or social work), many tend cross-pollinate, especially those in the humanities. “Students have some very linear ideas about majors and careers and how they hook together,” says Weldon. “It’s hard to make decisions about your future if you’re working with an artificially limited set of options.”
College is a whirlwind of classes, studies and social activities. A career search years down the road seems a long way off. But starting to plan your career search and resume your freshman year allows you to make the most of your college experience and get a start in a career “with as little post-graduation angst as possible,”as Weldon puts it.
“We can help you clarify their own thinking and support you in making decisions about your future. The process is much less stressful when you aren’t trying to take it all on at once. You’ll be much more confident as graduation approaches.”
Click here to learn about Career Options or to schedule a meeting, or email a question.