Career Exploration and Planning
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Explore yourself and the world of work to choose your future
Identify your passion and prepare for a bright future.
The more you know about yourself, the better choices you’ll make for your career. That’s why Career Development Services at ECC offers resources that help you define your interests, strengths, personality type, and values to help you choose a career and major right for you.
How do people pick a major and career?
When you can match who you are to what’s out there in the world of work, you can choose a career that fits you.
Think of the career development process as five steps, represented by this wheel.
How an ECC Career Development Specialist can help you
No matter where you are in your career development, a one-on-one career counseling session can help you:
- Discover your personality, strengths, and values.
- Learn about the world of work.
- Overcome obstacles to help you move forward.
- Decide your major and career.
How do I do this?
Schedule an appointment with a Career Development Specialist.
Online: Make an appointment now
Call: 847-214-7390
Email: careerservices@elgin.edu
Stop by: Building B, Room B120
Three different ways to explore for yourself. Which one will you choose first?
Meet one-on-one with a career development specialist who will collaborate as you discover what careers best match your strengths, interests, and values. Experience a supportive environment with individualized guidance to help you decide what's best.
How do I do this?
Schedule an appointment for a career counseling appointment.
Complete the Career Assessment Package (CAP) to gain insight into your unique personality, interests, and values. Meet with a Career Development Specialist to review your results and learn the types of careers people with your personality and interests might enjoy.
Click here for more details about the CAP
How do I do this?
On-Campus:
Visit the Student Success Center, B120
Off-Campus:
- Call ECC Student Accounts at 847-214-7380 to tell them you would like to pay for the CAP.
- They will ask you for your student ID number and credit card information for your $20 payment.
- After payment is processed (please allow 1-2 business days), you will receive an email with links to take the assessments and more specific instructions on what to do next.
If you have any questions, please contact Career Development Services at 847-214-7390.
Enroll in GSD 120: Exploring Careers and College Majors. This eight-week, one-credit course will enhance your self-awareness and knowledge of the world of work to guide you in making an informed career decision. This course includes the same personality and interest assessments as the CAP.
How do I do this?
View the current class schedule and sign in to accessECC to register.
AVAILABLE SECTIONS FOR GSD 120
Tools to explore yourself, majors, and the world of work
FOCUS2 is an online, interactive, self-guided career and educational planning system. Take assessments, connect majors to careers, and learn about careers that specifically fit you.
How Can Career Development Services Help?
Make an appointment with a Career Development Specialist and bring copies of your assessments to gain deeper insights.
- New users: Use “Access Code” Spartan
Career Coach is an online tool to help you make the right career decisions based on relevant information. It provides local data on employment opportunities, salaries, education, and training for various careers. Take a free, personalized 30-question assessment to get started!
How Can Career Development Services Help?
Meet with a Career Development Specialist to help you as you evaluate your findings and learn how the job market might influence your career decisions. Make an appointment today.
Whether you know your major or are still exploring, this site will help you connect majors to careers. Pick a major and learn about various career areas, types of employers, and strategies that can help you prepare.
How Can Career Development Services Help?
Meet one-on-one with a Career Development Specialist who will help you learn what else you need to know about careers that fit your majors of interest and help you build strategies for success.
Career Cruising gives you visibility into the world of work by showing what careers look like, including the day-to-day duties, earnings, education needed, and career paths. It includes interviews with people working in the career fields and behind-the-scenes videos.
To use:
- Go to CareerCruising.com
- Enter user name: ecc
- Enter password: careers (case sensitive)
How Can Career Development Services Help?
As you learn about careers, you can talk to a Career Development Specialist who will help you match careers to your personality, interests, strengths, and values. We can help you confirm that your career is right for you. Schedule today to meet with a Specialist.
Having the right tools to help you learn about careers will help you open up to the possibilities available to you in the world of work. In addition to the websites above, Career Development Services has collected the best career research sites to help you.
Here are just a few built from research data from the Department of Labor:
Click here for more valuable websites
How Can Career Development Services Help?
With all the information available to you, it can be overwhelming. Your Career Development Specialist is here to help you break it down step by step to ensure you move forward. Schedule an appointment for one-on-one guidance.
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Contact
Career Development Services
Building B, Room B120
847-214-7390
Fax: 847-622-3055
careerservices@elgin.edu
Evening hours available upon request.