Experts in career advising agree that planning for a satisfying work life begins long before an actual career. This strategizing often begins with choosing an appropriate major in college, says Kurt Kraiger, chair of the management department at the University of Memphis College of Business.

In his position, Kraiger sees many college students who have never worked, which makes the choice of a major to gain skills for a job path difficult. However, many campus career centers provide testing and other tools to help students chose an appropriate major, in addition to one-on-one coaching.

For those who may not have access to individual counseling, free tools are available to help guide soon-to-be workers to the right field. These tools not only provide information about how to proceed toward a career path—they can illuminate paths users may have never considered.

Below are some of those tools.

• Indeed.com: Indeed’s downloadable career mapping template is an excellent resource for students who have not yet identified a way toward a rewarding career. It contains a wealth of materials and questions to help users dig into their psyches and determine a starting point, final goal, and potential connections between those two points.
• The US Labor Department: The government agency has also developed free career mapping O*Net is a database containing information on more that 1,000 jobs, including the mandatory skills and knowledge required for each position. It also contains data on any job’s economic potential. CareerOneStop contains self-administered tests for users to assess the best occupations for them with resource links to certification programs, apprenticeships, and scholarships.

Whichever tools you use, it’s never too early—or too late—to prepare for a gratifying career path.

Discussion

1. Can you identify the resources your college offers to help students prepare for the world of work after graduation?
2. Why do career counselors suggest networking with professionals who are actually working in a particular career path before students commit to that path?
3. What are the benefits of planning for a specific career instead of taking any job?