Myths & Facts
Below are some common myths we hear from students at the UCI Career Center. Help dispel these myths by educating your son or daughter on today’s world-of-work!
- Myth: I must select a major my freshman year and stay with it until I graduate!
Fact: The majority of students change their majors
at least once before graduation. During the first two years, many students
are still learning about their interests and often need to take more
classes and obtain more experience before deciding.
UCI Career Center Resource: “Major
Confusion” Workshop
- Myth: My current major dictates my future career.
Fact: It is very common for students to
major in one field and work in an entirely different field after graduation.
Every major provides skills that are transferable to a variety of career
options. Encourage your student to gain experience and begin exploring
their career options.
UCI Career Center Resource: “Major
Solved: Future Unknown” Workshop, Career Assessments, Internship
Desk
- Myth: I should focus only on my academic studies during college.
Fact: Grades are only part of a student’s
self-marketing package. Employers also value experiences outside of the
classroom! By pursuing part-time jobs, internships, volunteer experiences,
and extracurricular activities, students will learn more about their interests,
while building their resume!
UCI Career Center Resource: Internship
Desk, ZotLink,
UCI
Clubs & Organizations
- Myth: Once I select a career, I must stay with it until retirement.
Fact: The average person in today’s
world-of-work changes jobs 5-8 times! As people develop new interests
and skills on the job, they make lateral moves into different career fields.
UCI Career Center Resource: If your student is having
trouble deciding which career option to pursue first, refer them to an
Individual
Career Counseling Appointment.
- Myth: If I’m not sure which career path to pursue, I should just go to graduate school.
Fact: Students should have a clear career
objective and know how graduate education will benefit them before applying.
Reasons to pursue graduate study:
- It is necessary to advance in field, e.g., law, medicine, research
May increase career options, e.g. psychology, human service field - Increases specialization, e.g., MBA
Reasons not to pursue graduate study:
- To avoid the job market.
- Not knowing what you want to do. Postponing the career decision-making process.
UCI Career Center Resource: “Selecting & Applying to Graduate School and the Statement of Purpose” Workshop
- Myth: I must know which career path to pursue before I graduate.
Fact: While some students may have a clear
sense of direction, others may need more experience before they discover
what they truly enjoy.
UCI Career Center Resource: Getting
part-time jobs or internships during college can help students begin
to better focus their career goals.
- Myth: Job market demand should be my primary criteria for selecting a career path.
Fact: Students often want a list of the
“hottest jobs.” Although it is important to be aware of economic
trends, basing a career decision solely on a “list” neglects
to take into account job compatibility. And with a changing economy, the
“hottest jobs” are bound to change!
UCI Career Center Resource: Refer your student to a Career
Counselor to help identify his/her interests, values, and skills.
He or she can then explore possible career options at the Career
Library and our on-line
resources
- Myth: A Career Assessment will tell me exactly what occupation I should pursue.
Fact: A Career Assessment is a tool, not
an answer. Career Counselors use assessments to help students identify
interest and skill patterns and to generate occupational choices.
UCI Career Center Resource: Refer your student to our
Drop-In
Hours so that a Career Counselor can help determine which resource
would best fit his/her career needs.