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.
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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.