In an increasingly competitive global workplace, it's imperative that college students to fully understand the connection between their major choices and potential careers. Advisors should be aware of the changing workplace environment, desired skills, and individual academic, career, and personal needs in order to help students establish academic and career goals. Students need information about themselves, their academic and career options, and strategies to make informed decisions about future opportunities. It is important for academic advisors to have an understanding of the characteristics of students exploring majors and careers so that effective advising can be delivered.
Virginia Gordon (2006) describes career advising as a process that “helps students understand how their personal interests, abilities, and values might predict success in the academic and career fields they are considering and how to form their academic and career goals accordingly”. The Advising Community on Career Advising will explore the connection between academic and career advising and will provide a forum for discussing career decision issues including but not limited to:
- Relating students’ interests and abilities to major and career plans
- Working with students pressured to make major/career choices due to the economy and other life events
- Assessment of student work values and transferable skills
- Integration of major and career-related experiential learning opportunities
- Encouragement of self-knowledge and development of life and career goals
- Best practices of programs and offices that integrate academic and career advising
- Resources on integrating career and academic advising