Career Exploration and Development

Exploring Opportunities

People tend to gravitate towards what they know, which makes sense - but it may limit your choices. Before choosing a career, you need to know what kinds of opportunities are out there!

Here are some ways to cut through the noise and find opportunities that suit you:

  • Check out our Online Resources page to find resources on all things career-related, including career field descriptions, employer reviews, salary data, and global job search strategies.
  • Sign up for OberLink (bonus points if you connect it with your LinkedIn profile) to connect with alumni via chat or phone call. The more perspectives you hear, the clearer your picture of the field will be. 
  • Watch the Career Exploration and Development (CED) weekly email, the Campus Digest, and Handshake for on-campus and virtual events featuring alumni. 

Here are some questions to guide your search:

  • What will I actually be doing on the job?
  • Will doing this work make the impact or contribution I want to make?
  • How competitive is the field?
  • Where are the most job opportunities in this field? Am I willing to relocate, if necessary?
  • Will I need specific coursework and/or a graduate degree to enter this field?
  • What internships and other undergraduate experiences will help me break into this field?
  • What kind of salary can I expect to make at entry-level, 5-10 years out, and beyond?

You don't have to know all the answers right now (or ten years from now!), and your chosen path doesn't have to "check all the boxes." Choose what matters most to you, and you can't go wrong.