Career Exploration and Planning

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.

There are three different ways to explore for yourself. Which one will you choose first?

One-on-One Career Counseling

Meet one-on-one with a career development specialist who will collaborate with you 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.

Career Assessments

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.

How do I do this?

On Campus

Visit the Student Success Center in Building B, Room B120.

Off-Campus

Call ECC Student Accounts at 847-214-7380 to tell them you want 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.

Career Exploration Class

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.

Search Sections for GSD 120

Tools to explore yourself, your majors, and the world of work.

FOCUS 2 Online Career Planning Tool

FOCUS 2 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.

New users: Use access code "Spartan"

Use FOCUS 2

Learn More

Career Coach Website

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!

Visit Career Coach

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What Can I Do with this Major?

Whether you know your major or are still exploring, the What Can I Do with this Major (WCIDWTH) website 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.

Visit WCIDWTM

Learn More

Career Cruising Research Tool

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 username: ecc
Enter password: careers (case sensitive)

Other Online Resources

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:

Other professional development resources