Introduction

Choosing a major and choosing a career are two of the crucial decisions faced by all students. The staff of the Counseling, Testing and Career Center can help you with these complex and often confusing tasks. A counselor can help you can make an assessment of your interests, goals, values and personality characteristics. Then, armed with greater self-understanding, and with some of the most relevant career theories and instruments, you will be able to explore a variety of majors and occupations that have the potential to lead to a satisfying career. Our Career Services include:

Career Services

Individual Counseling

Career counseling is a process in which a knowledgeable and objective counselor helps an individual identify and understand his/her career issues and provides the necessary tools and support which can lead to good vocational decisions. Psychological inventories, computer guidance programs, as well as books, kits, and workshops are useful, but it is an expert counselor who helps assemble this information in order to come to workable solutions about students' career paths. We recognize that good career decisions do not come easily and we will work with students to help them make optimal choices.

SIGI

SIGI stands for the System of Information and Guidance. Published by Valpar International, SIGI is an extensive computer program designed to help you assess your values and interests, and connect you with occupations. SIGI is best utilized in conjunction with expert career counseling as well as other career tests. SIGI is like sitting down in a room with someone who may not know the right answers, but they know the right questions to ask. The program is now web based and available by clicking here.

Ohio Career Information System (OCIS)

OCIS is a second computer program available at the Counseling, Testing and Career Center. Occupational information in books can often be obsolete information by the time the book is published. OCIS is updated twice a year from a national database, so the information is relevant and helpful. You could find out how much accountants make in Akron as opposed to Cleveland and the data on which these statistics are based may be no more than one or two months old. Printing this information saves you considerable library time. The software is now web based and you can use it by clicking here.

Career assessment

Career testing often helps in the process of deciding on a major or career but it does not provide simple, absolute answers. There is not a test which will tell you what you should be. Career assessment contributes to a better sense of self awareness and self-acceptance, two attributes which make career choice much more likely to be successful. Your counselor will help you identify the most appropriate assessment strategies for your individual situation.