If a career is a journey, career exploration helps you learn where you’re going, make plans and set goals for the future. Career exploration includes the process of articulating your career strengths and goals and finding—or creating—opportunities that match what you want. As an alum of UWM, career exploration might be a good fit for you if any of the following apply:
- I’m not sure what career would be right for me.
- I don’t know how to translate my major into a career.
- I’m not fulfilled in my current job, but I don’t know what else I could do.
- I’m looking for a new job, but I don’t want to go back to what I was doing.
- I don’t think my current career is a good match for my strengths.
- I don’t know what my strengths are.
While career exploration is not necessary for a job search, knowing the job market and what you bring to it allows you to make your job search more proactive and generally increases your chances of finding a job that’s a good fit for you. UWM alumni may take advantage of the following career exploration-related resources:
Career counseling: UWM alumni can consult with an alumni career counselor in order to work through the career exploration/assessment process and develop or discuss career goals.
Online Assessments: The Career Development Center posts a series of informal online career assessments that alumni can use in generating job titles for further career research. One of these tools, the Strong Interest Inventory, is offered formally through the Career Development Center. Cost is $10. Alumni interested in the Strong must schedule a career counseling appointment first to obtain a referral. Check out a sample set of results.
Self-Assessment Exercises: The Career Development Center offers a variety of self-directed exercises for alumni that provide structure for assessing skills, work and life values, interests, and other elements that can make a difference in choosing or changing a career. These exercises can be taken independently and/or discussed with a career counselor.
Career-specific Research Tools: The Career Development Center offers tools and strategies for conducting research into careers you may be considering. These include online and print resources, tools for conducting informational interviews, and suggestions on how to gain career experience through hands-on activities. More information.
PantherNet: A database of UWM alumni and other professionals willing to provide to UWM alumni assistance including career advice, employer information, regional information, resume reviews and mock interviews. Learn more about PantherNet.
Other Media: The Career Development Center has a library of books, magazines and DVDs that provide information on a variety of careers and other career-related topics.