Your fantasy takes place in cyberspace, where you begin by perusing the Career Services website at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania(http://departments.edinboro.edu/careerservices/index.html). Here, you review important information and links addressing each step of the career development process, from self-analysis to life planning.

While continuing to close your eyes and taking deep breaths, you then think about the beginning questions for your career search ...Do I have what it takes to be successful and happy in various majors and careers? What exactly are my current or renewed career goals? What kinds of tasks get me really motivated and excited? What skills do I have that will help me to effectively fulfill my various needs? To answer these Self-Knowledge Questions, you need to learn more about yourself. So, you beam yourself over to the Job Hunters Bible website (http://www.JobHuntersBible.com). This site is developed by the author of What Color Is Your Parachute?, Richard Bolles (2003), and comes with a “Free Online Tests Dealing With Careers” section, a brief review of test-taking procedures called “The Seven Rules About Taking Career Tests,” links to John Holland's Self-Directed Search, The Career Interests Game, and The Career Key. Other sections of the site include links to help you create and post your resume, salary information for specific jobs, and a search engine for contacts.  Click ...Whiz ...Whoosh ...you could be off to Career Cruising, a site that offers another assessment and information and much more, but only if you meet with your Career Services counselor to get the username and password.  They provide you with much food for thought. You notice the joy and sense of peace that comes with advanced self-understanding.  

Now you transport yourself to your next stop--Franklin Covey's Create a Personal Mission Statement site (http://www.franklincovey.com/missionbuilder/). This fun and enlightening exercise helps you to create your own personal mission statement by first defining your values, principles, and what matters most to you in your life. At the speed of thought, you then go to www.keirsey.com to take the Keirsey Temperament Sorter. The results of this free online questionnaire are similar to the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). Your results inspire you to know more and so you quickly click over to www.typelogic.com to read the details about your profile. You are intrigued by the insights you gain about yourself and notice that your curiosity only elevates. 

Now consider the personal profile information you have just gathered as a career criteria list against which to apply Information about the World of Work. Your first stop is the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco), one of the best resources of general occupational information. Its Web version, like its printed predecessor, is revised every two years and describes what workers do on the job, working conditions, the training and education needed, earnings, and expected job prospects in a wide range of occupations. You hear your mind buzzing with potential. You jump over to O’NET OnLine! (http://online.onetcenter.org/), a database that includes information on skills, abilities, knowledge, work activities, and interests associated with occupations. You realize that you've hit the jackpot with this massive supply of information which is composed largely from data supplied by occupational analysts using sources such as the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT).

You are ready to continue. You open the next virtual door which takes you to ACT's World of Work Map(http://www.act.org/wwm). According to the site, the map “organizes occupations into six clusters (parallel to John Holland's six occupational types), 12 regions, and 26 career areas (groups of similar jobs). It shows you how occupations relate to each other according to primary work tasks.” You take the map with you to further help you navigate the world of work. A career path that you perhaps never before imagined becomes apparent as one that can potentially meet your interests and values. You need to find a search tool that can help you locate a post-baccalaureate certificate program in this area. You find just the thing at www.gradschools.com and proceed to investigate.

You will also want to peruse the links to “What Can I Do With a Major In _____?” to determine the careers for which majors may prepare you. In addition you can learn about course requirements for all Edinboro degree programs by following the link to Degree Programs (http://www.edinboro.edu/cwis/studaff/emr/records/degree_programs.htm.)

While your work online is a resource to understanding yourself, the world of work, and academic majors and programs, it is only one step in the career development process. If you are experiencing confusion or frustration about your educational and career plans, your next step is to make an appointment with a career counselor in Career Services (814-732-2781). The career counselor can guide you through the exploration and decision-making phases until you feel confident in your plans.

We can help you get there from here!