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Career Exploration and Planning

Career exploration is a critical step in building a meaningful and successful future. We provide students with the tools, guidance, and resources needed to explore career options, identify strengths and interests, and make informed decisions about majors and career paths. Through career assessments, research tools, and personalized support, students can connect their academic experiences to real-world opportunities and begin planning for internships, employment, and long-term career success.

Career Course

If you want structured support in exploring majors and careers, consider enrolling in EDL 100: Career Development for College Students. 

This two-credit course helps you: 

  • Identify interests, skills, and strengths that align with academic and career plans. 
  • Learn how to connect those interests to majors and career communities. 
  • Understand available career resources and opportunities for early career planning. 
  • Talk with your academic advisor to see if EDL 100 fits your academic plan. 

Job Shadowing

Job shadowing is an effective form of job training for certain jobs. It allows a student, employee, or intern to gain comprehensive knowledge about what an employee, who holds a particular job, does every day. Job shadowing is an unpaid experience, however, it can be invaluable in helping students make career decisions.

Career Assessments and Tools

Career assessments are designed to help you identify your strengths, interests, and preferences so you can narrow down potential majors and career paths.

Compass

Career Assessments

  • MyMajors – A quick quiz that suggests Miami University majors that fit your interests and strengths. 
  • Focus 2 – A self-assessment tool that helps you explore careers and majors based on your personality, skills, and preferences. To use Focus 2, register with the access code “redhawks” and create an account. 
Tools

Exploration Tools

Use these resources to research occupations, understand job requirements, and explore career possibilities in depth: 

  • Miami's Program Finder — When exploring career options, consider your interests, skills and work setting preferences. Once you select a career from the list to explore, we’ll help you map out how this career relates back to a program of study at Miami.
  • O*NET Online — A comprehensive career database with detailed job descriptions and filters to explore occupations by industry, skills, outlook, and more. 
  • Occupational Outlook Handbook — Provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, this tool shows projected job growth, average salaries, and other essential career data. 
  • Ohio’s Top Jobs — A report highlighting priority occupations and trends in Ohio’s workforce. 
  • What Can I Do With This Major? — A career exploration site that gives examples of career paths and employer types related to various fields of study (login required with Miami credentials). 

Career Planning for Students with Disabilities

Ohio College2Careers aims for students with disabilities to have the support they need to complete their degree and/or credential, earn higher wages, and meet the demands of tomorrow’s labor market.

Ohio College2Careers

Career Readiness Tips and Suggested Action Checklists

Use these suggestions for choosing and affirming a career path, and preparing for your job search.

Self-Knowledge

  • Start to think about what you are interested in learning, doing, and experiencing while at Miami University, to prepare you for your future career and other pursuits upon graduation.
  • Make a tentative selection of a major field of study.
  • Explore majors. Schedule an appointment with an advisor from Academic Advising, enroll in EDL 100 “Career Development for the College Student,” or meet with members of academic departments.
  • Take FOCUS 2 or other career assessments to identify occupations that match your interests, skills, values, personality and potential majors. Check out FOCUS 2 Career, an online free tool for career decision making. Note: redhawks is the access code.
  • Familiarize yourself with Career Services and Professional Development in 122 Rentschler Hall, Hamilton campus and 105 Johnston Hall, Middletown campus. 
  • Explore careers. Utilize career planning tools on this site.
  • Seek career advice from faculty, staff, advisors, and friends. Learn how to meet and get to know faculty and staff. It’s never to early to begin networking.

Action Checklist

  • I have considered what is important to me in my career and life.
  • I recognize I am my own best resource in my career & life planning process, but I have identified resources to aid in my development.
  • I have identified my strongest abilities and skills.
  • I have identified the personal values that are important as I make a major and career decisions.
  • I have identified my interests.
  • I can articulate experiences and achievements that clarify a pattern of interests and abilities that are relevant to my major and career.

Knowledge of Employers and Careers

  • Schedule an appointment with Career Services & Professional Development.
  • Connect with the Center for Career Exploration & Success (Oxford) through Handshake.
  • Explore the Regionals and Oxford career websites for additional career resources and job information.
  • Declare a major that is complimentary to your career field.
  • Begin to work on your initial resume and cover letter. For assistance, visit Career Services and Work-based Learning at Hamilton 120 REN and Middletown 105 JHN.
  • Join student organizations to help build communication, teamwork and critical thinking.
  • Begin thinking about gaining professional experience. Plan on doing a co-op or internship. Visit: (Hamilton) 120 REN and (Middletown) 105 JHN.
  • Attend the Fall Career Fair (September) and Spring Internship & Career Expo (Spring ICE - February) on the Oxford Campus; and Job Fair on the Hamilton Campus (spring).
  • Attend a workshop or information session about majors, careers, and service.
  • Learn more about various occupations, including future trends, by searching the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
  • Solicit ideas and feedback from advisors, counselors, mentors, faculty, administrators, parents, and former employers. These individuals can be good sources for identifying career options.
  • Consider how friendships with fellow students through studying, projects, and extra-curricular activities/organizations can be influential in helping you to better define your career preferences.

Action Checklist

  • I have decided on a career field and have declared a major that is complimentary.
  • I have written an effective resume for gaining an internship or co-op.
  • I have participated in internships, extracurricular, work, and volunteer activities that relate to my chosen career.
  • I have started to develop a broad list of industries, job titles, and employers to research.
  • I have begun to focus my career choice and I am researching this field using a variety of current career/employer information.
  • I have identified employers, faculty, alumni, or others to interview who are relevant to my career field.
  • I have conducted more than one informational interview in the career field I am considering.

Knowledge of Job Search Strategies

  • Acknowledge your well-defined career objective, which focuses your job search on particular organizations and employers.
  • Regularly explore the Regionals and Oxford career websites for additional career resources and job information.
  • Create/Edit a professional resume and cover letter. For assistance, visit Career Services and Professional Development at (Hamilton) 122 REN and (Middletown) 105 JHN, or schedule an appointment with us.
  • Develop good rapport with faculty, administrators, and supervisors for positive references.
  • Contact Career Services and Professional Development staff for interview help and to learn more about conducting a job search. Conduct a mock interview utilizing the Optimal Resume site.
  • Learn the importance of a thank you note, and how to write one effectively; as well as how to professionally follow-up after an interview.
  • Create a professional and effective Elevator Pitch, an extremely effective tool that can be utilized at a Career Fair, in your cover letter, and during an interview.
  • Continue to attend the Fall Career Fair (September) and Spring Internship & Career Expo (February) on the Oxford Campus; and Job Fair on the Hamilton Campus (spring).
  • Satisfy all graduation requirements.
  • NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!
  • Create or expand your network. To learn more about the type of position(s) you are seeking, to keep abreast of current job/internship openings, and to gain introductions to people with the authority to make hiring decisions or further referrals.
  • Create a LinkedIn professional profile. Social media is important in the networking process. Make sure your profile is professional.

Action Checklist

  • I have taken advantage of the Career Services and Professional Development and/or Career Services, Oxford resources.
  • I know where to search for jobs targeted to my specific field of interest.
  • I have written an effective resume and cover letter and asked an expert for feedback.
  • I have asked individuals to serve as professional references.
  • I have prepared for job interviews and completed a mock interview.
  • I have created a professional and effective Elevator Pitch.
  • I know how to write a thank you letter.
  • I know how to follow up after a job interview.
  • I know how to network effectively.
  • I have established a professional online presence through LinkedIn and other social media.

Career Services and Professional Development

Hamilton Campus Mosler Hall 105
Middletown Campus Johnston Hall 105
513-727-3390