Define a Career PathAt some point in their academic career, most people find it useful to engage in career counseling in order to develop and define their career path. The Career Development Center is committed to assisting students with the process of choosing a major, determining one's skills, interests and values, and relating those characteristics to the world of work.
What does a career counselor do?
In its simplest form, most career counselors do two things: help people understand themselves and help people understand the world of work. The process of understanding oneself includes clear knowledge of interests, skills, values and past experiences. Each of these elements is important in making career decisions. The process of understanding the world of work includes understanding industries and job descriptions. The role of the career counselor is to help individuals put all of this in context.
What should I expect when I meet with a career counselor?
Students meet with a career counselor to discuss choosing a major, learn about jobs that relate to their major, understand job search strategies, get a resume critiqued and many other topics. In most cases you can expect a career counselor to spend time asking you questions about your interests, skills, values and experiences in order to learn as much as possible about you. In addition, you should expect to be treated with respect; to have your information held confidential; to feel that you have a safe space in which to reveal personal information; and to be listened to and understood.
What will a career counselor ask me?
Career counselors like to have as much understanding about your background as possible in order to put all your information in context. Consequently, they like to ask a lot of questions. Common questions include:
- What brought you into the office today?
- How did you decide to come to Chapman?
- Are you involved in co-curricular activities?
- Do you live on or off campus?
- What were your favorite / least favorite classes in high school?
- What do you like to do for fun?
- What ideas do you have about the kind of work that you'd enjoy?
- What do your parents do?
- Do you have brothers or sisters? What do they do?
- What types of jobs or work experiences have you had?
Do you do career tests?
Sometimes. Career tests are useful tools for helping people understand their values, skills and interests more clearly, but they are not foolproof diagnostic tools that tell you what you should be. Ask anyone the results of a career test they took and you'll see what we mean. An informal poll in our own office showed results as varied as environmental engineer, florist, bus driver and rabbi.
Which career tests do you use?
Primarily the Strong Interest Inventory and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Either call the main office number (714) 997-6940 or use our online request form.
Who can schedule appointments? Any current student (undergraduate or graduate) at the Orange Campus. Alumni are eligible for career counseling appointments up to 12 months after their graduation. If it has been more than 12 months alumni can visit our career counselor referral list.
How long does the appointment last?
Usually about 50-60 minutes.
How many times will I meet with a career counselor?
Depends on your individual needs as well as what you want to do. Perhaps one session is all you need for a resume critique or mock interview. To go through all the stages of career development from assessment and choosing a major, to finding internships, to the actual job search might warrant many appointment over the years you attend Chapman.
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