Undecided, Under No Pressure

Written on 9:57 AM by Xavier Career Development

It’s a big world out there with lots of career options to pursue. Since about age 4 or 5 we are asked what we want to be when we grow up. If you were as bright and intelligent as I was at age 4, my answer would be to be a pizza, and if that didn’t work out, then I would be a dog. Clearly I knew what direction my life was heading since my early childhood. If you ask me that question today, I would give a more realistic answer which is working within advertising, marketing, and communications. (But by the amount of pizza I consume I think I am very close to actually becoming one after all.)

When we enter college, the big question that everyone asks you is “What is your major?” Followed by “What do you want to do with that after graduation?” You may be feeling overwhelmed, seeing as how you are adjusting to your college lifestyle and wondering what is out there that can be studied and explored. Some people have no idea what they want to declare their major as, and that’s ok! You are not alone in your search to find the right fitting major for you. The Career Development Office is here to help you!


There are three steps to successfully finding a major that fits you.

Step 1:  Self-Assessment

This calls for some reflection on your part:
·         What are your interests: your likes and dislikes?
·         What do you like to study?
·         Skills and abilities: being able to decipher your strengths and weaknesses.
·         Values: Do you value working independently or with a team?
·         Finally, personality: Do you appreciate structure in your studies or do you enjoy spontaneity?

Step 2:  Major Exploration
This is where you get your hands dirty and conduct research on the areas of study you are interested in. This calls for meeting with professors, meeting with a career coach, or joining a club that supports various career fields. Another option is coming to the Career Development Office to take a few assessment tests such as FOCUS 2, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, and the Strong Interest Inventory to view how your personal interests and work styles mesh together with many work environments and values.

Step 3:  Making a Decision
The third and final step is making your decision. Ultimately, you are the one taking the courses and doing the work, so you should not be weighed down by the fear that one path will determine the rest of your life. There are plenty of people here at Xavier who are happy to help you realize what your dream career could be!

From undeclared freshman to Communication Studies senior,
Jenny Mendoza