However, in order to make a good career decision, you must have information about yourself and the world of work & education.   Here's one way to think about how your career choice and development stacks up (start at the bottom left):


KNOW ABOUT MYSELF - Assess your interests & needs

  • My Values (example: Security)

  • My Interests (example: Work with people)

  • My Skills (example: Using a computer to plan a budget) 

What type of person are you?  Finding out the answer to this question is the cornerstone of a successful career search.  

You may want to complete an interest inventory to learn more about what career or occupation you would like.  The Rural Capital Area Workforce Centers have several assessment tools which include Self-Directed Search, Career Decision-Making and  O.S.C.A.R. (Occupational & Skill Computer-Assisted Researcher). We also have the S.A.G.E. (System for Assessment & Group Evaluation) assessment available, which is a more comprehensive measure of both your ability and interests.  You will need to set up an appointment to do this assessment and there is a fee.


KNOW MY OPTIONS - In the world of work

  • Understand Specific Occupations & College Majors
    "What are typical work tasks for a real estate appraiser?"
    "How much math is required for a major in Finance?"
    "What is the average starting salary for a retail salesperson?"
    "What type of training is required to be a physical therapist?"
    Etc...

  • Understand How Occupations Are Organized
    Realistic Occupations
    Investigative Occupations
    Artistic Occupations
    Social Occupations
    Enterprising Occupations
    Conventional Occupations
    Etc...

Target
Occupations

(Click here to see Target Occupations
for the Rural Capital Area)

Review the list of demand occupations to learn which jobs are in demand in this region.  Look at other Labor Market Information, either through books in each Workforce Center Career Resource Library or through TEXAS C.A.R.E.S. (Career Alternatives Resource Evaluation System) software on the personal computers at each Center.  

Also, you can visit your local Center to see what jobs are advertised there and on the Job Bank, learn more about companies in your area and/or look at college training and continuing education programs at such institutions as Austin Community College.

 


KNOW HOW I MAKE DECISIONS - Informed Choices

  • Ask yourself, "How do I usually make important decisions?"

Look at the pros and cons of each career or occupation you choose.  Consider what you want from the company.  Research and review job information and companies and, if you still help, feel free to talk with Career Center Staff in order to learn more information about what's out there.

 


THINKING ABOUT DECISION MAKING - Awareness & Control

  • Self-Talk:  "I'll never be able to make a good career choice."

  • Self-Awareness:  "I'm getting very scared about this."

  • Being Aware of and Controlling Self-Talk:  "I can't really predict the future and imagining failure is not going to help me find a good job."

Ever talk yourself "out" of something?  It can seem easier much of the time to give in to uncertainty & fear than to forge ahead along new and unknown paths.  If you learn to how to address negative self-talk, however, you will find that it is just that - talk

*   This model, Cognitive Information Processing, was developed by J.P. Sampson, Jr., G.W. Peterson, J. G. Lenz, & R. C. Reardon of Florida State University. Ref: A Cognitive Approach to Career Services: Translating Concepts into Practice. Career Development Quarterly, 41, 67-74.


More Links for Career Planning and Occupational Trends
 

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