Starting the career exploration process can often be the most difficult and confusing step. To ease in, start by reviewing our Career Planning for Success Guide for information on the many resources available to help you plan for your future.
Online Resources
Click on each tab for more information.
Focus 2 Career Assessments
Focus 2 offers prolific information on various occupations and industries. In addition, though, they offer a number of personal assessments that can help you outline your academic and career interests, academic and professional strengths and weaknesses, your skills and values, and your personal development needs.
Interested in more Personality Assessments?
Use 16 Personalities to take a free personality test that can provide a detailed description of who you are and why you do the things you do!
If you are interested in getting a full review of your personality in relation to a career, we suggest visiting the Vick Center for Strategic Advising and Career Counseling.
What Can I Do With My Major?
"What Can I Do With My Major?" is a great place to start exploring the connections between your academic and professional interests. This resource provides information on the various areas in which you can find careers relating to your major.
Informational Interviewing
An informational interview is a chance to learn more about the responsibilities and growth opportunities in a role, gain insight into an industry, and build your network. It can help you determine if the career is a good fit for you and how to best prepare for it.
Remember: An informational interview is NOT a job interview or a way to ask for a job.
Whether the informational interview leads to a job or helps you realize that the career you had in mind isn’t a good fit for you after all, it can give you the tools to make informed decisions about your career path.
Step 1: Identify the job, company, and/or industry you are interested in by utilizing the exploration resources in this section of the website.
- What Can I Do With This Major?
Step 2: Research the job, company, and/or industry you identified and decide what you would like to learn more about by developing a list of questions.
- Company website
Step 3: Find people to interview using the following resources (aka networking):
- Ask friends and family
- Use the LinkedIn Alumni Finder to find UT alumni
- Go to your professor’s office hours
- Join student organizations related to industries you’re interested in
- Attend industry events
- Ask graduate students or teaching assistants
You can adapt the following script to cold email or message people you find:
“Hi, my name is ______. I am a (major) student at The University of Texas at Austin. I am researching potential career choices and am interested in learning more about _____. I found you through the LinkedIn UT Austin Alumni Finder and I would like to speak with you to learn more about your career. Would it be possible to schedule an appointment to meet with you (or chat on the phone) for about 20-30 minutes? I am generally free on (Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.) and will be flexible to arrange a time at your convenience.
Sincerely, (Your Name)”
Step 4: Conduct informational interviews in person or over the phone using your list of questions. If meeting in person, we recommend dressing business casual and remember to be punctual. Make sure you write down the information you learned during the interview!
Step 5: Send a thank-you email within 2-3 days of your interview and stay in touch. Check out more tips on networking!
Resources For Your Major
Check out our Resources For Your Major page to explore industry maps, career guides, and alumni job titles and employers for each CNS major.
You can also explore Buzzfile.edu to view which employers have hired students based on their major and within which state they work. It is a great way to understand what kinds of companies and organizations are hiring your major.
Vault Industry and Company Guides
Vault is an extensive database with a wealth of information on various industries, professions and companies. You can search through the system to get a better understanding of what you will need to do to achieve your career goals and what you can expect in those desired roles. You can also use vault to search for jobs and internships.
Interstride - For International Students Looking for US Jobs
Interstride provides a one-stop shop for international students, including visa and immigration information; companies that sponsor employment visas; guidance on intercultural networking; job listings, real-time hiring trends, and employer information; and tailored assessment tests. The tool can also be used by domestic students interested in careers abroad.
GoinGlobal International Career Guide
Interested in working abroad? GoinGlobal is the ultimate resource for students looking to intern and work abroad. With numerous country guides and their own international job board, it has everything you need to know about navigating foreign job markets.
How Can I Get Experience?
Many of our students feel overwhelmed when they first come to UT because they need to build up their resume with new college-level experiences. Here is a list of ideas to help you get experience, build your resume, and explore your career! Check out our Find Jobs & Internship page for more information and resources on that topic.
Research:
- TIDES Getting Started in Undergraduate Research Guide
- Summer Research Programs and Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs)
- National Science Foundation REU Database
Special Interest Internship Programs:
- Archer Fellowship Program – Government internships in DC in Fall and Spring (applications due mid-February)
- Bridging Disciplines Certificate Program – includes 1-2 internships in certificate (applications due every October and March)
Programs for Premeds and Health Professions:
- Summer & Abroad Programs from HPO
- Gap Year Planning from HPO
- Shadowing & Volunteering from HPO
Prep for Graduate School:
Need to Learn a Skills to Join Your Field of Interest?
- Interested in learning how to code? Check out Khan Academy, Free Code Camp, Coursera, and more. (No need to pay! There are lots of ways to learn to code for free.)
- Learn a new skill through LinkedIn Learning (free for all current UT students and staff)
Academic Competitions:
- Take part in an academic competition or Hack-a-thon to put your skills to the test. Use Google to find options in your field.
- Join in a Science Sprint or Inventors Sprint through the CNS TIDES Office at UT
Join a Student Organization:
- It really doesn't matter which org you join as long as you picked something you are interested in. Then, make sure you get as involved as you can and even get a leadership role if possible.
- Remember - being highly involved in 1 student org, making an impact, and getting leadership experience is going to look 10X more impressive to a future employer than just showing up to the meetings of 5 student organizations.
Volunteer with Your Community:
- Again, it really doesn't matter which organization, community, or non-profit you work with as long as you picked something you are interested in. Then, make sure you get as involved as you can and even get a leadership role if possible.
Get a Part-Time Job:
- Part time jobs are extremely valuable to employers when reviewing the applications of students or recent grads. A part time job shows professionalism and responsibility along with all the skills you actually learned in the job. Some students are unsure whether a part time job like working food service, as a nanny or working the front desk in an office is actually worth putting on their resume. It is definitely worth it!
