Career decision-making is a challenging and rewarding process of exploring and determining your career direction based upon your interests, work style, personality, values, skills, and aptitudes. The effort you put into career planning can lead you to great rewards!

At Adult Education Services (AES), our advisors can guide you through an assessment of your abilities and interests using a variety of assessment tools. AES advisors can help you focus on your career options and provide you with information to specific occupations and majors.

Steps to Make a Career Decision

•  Commitment is Crucial

Career decision-making is limited by what a person is willing to do. Often, people don't want to take the time, make the effort, or do the research to move toward a career decision. To be successful, you need drive, initiative, flexibility, persistence, motivation, and commitment.

•  Understand Yourself (self assessment)

The more you understand yourself, the more effective you will be in making decisions and in implementing those decisions. Self-assessment means nothing more than focusing on you: your work values, personal values, interest, personality traits, skills, aptitudes, limitations, and lifestyle preferences.

•  Be Clear About Your Personal Situation

Unfortunately, there are many factors over which you have no control that affect your career decisions. Look at your personal circumstances,as well as occupational trends and job market demand. Be aware of the barriers that might stop you from reaching your goals and think of ways to overcome them!

•  Explore Career Options

Career information can be obtained through reading, observation, informational interviewing and experience. Contact AES at (702) 774-4124 for the resources about careers! Common sources of occupational information include:

•  Identify Possible Majors and Colleges

As you explore careers and learn about their education requirements, you will be able to find related majors and colleges that offer those programs. Contact your AES advisor for help in getting information about colleges and their programs.

•  Set Up an Action Plan

The next step is to develop a realistic plan of action and follow through with it. Career planning is a lifetime process. As your personal circumstances change, or as you learn more about yourself and the world of work, you will be free to explore new directions and make new choices.