Seven Steps to Seven Steps to Successful Decision-MakingSuccessful Decision-Making

Created By:Created By:

Frederick Community CollegeFrederick Community College

Career CenterCareer Center

The process of making a decision The process of making a decision requires several different stages requires several different stages or steps. This tutorial will assist or steps. This tutorial will assist

you in making an informed you in making an informed decision regarding your career. decision regarding your career.

How Do I Begin?How Do I Begin?

Step #1 :Step #1 : Define your Define your

career career issue issue or or concernconcern

Define your specific issue and what Define your specific issue and what decision you want to makedecision you want to make Write out decisions on paper to keep a focusWrite out decisions on paper to keep a focus

Set yourself some appropriate goals Set yourself some appropriate goals for making the decisionfor making the decision How long do I have to make a decision?How long do I have to make a decision? What do I need to accomplish in that time What do I need to accomplish in that time

period?period?

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?

Step # 2:Step # 2: Explore and Explore and

identify potential identify potential career interestscareer interests

Ask yourself :Ask yourself :

What motivates me?What motivates me?• Do I get my motivation working with others or independently?Do I get my motivation working with others or independently?

What do I enjoy doing?What do I enjoy doing?• Do I enjoy talking to others? Music? Drawing? Writing? Math? Do I enjoy talking to others? Music? Drawing? Writing? Math?

What are my skills and values?What are my skills and values?• Do I value weekends off?Do I value weekends off?• Do I value the time I spend with my family?Do I value the time I spend with my family?• Will I or Do I want to utilize the skills I have learned in my Will I or Do I want to utilize the skills I have learned in my

education and/or previous employment?education and/or previous employment?

Where do I envision myself working?Where do I envision myself working?• Government, EducationGovernment, Education,, Private, Location and Size Private, Location and Size

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?

Step # 3:Step # 3: Research Research

Potential Potential Careers of Careers of InterestInterest

Begin Researching…Begin Researching… Read books, journal articles, and magazines to Read books, journal articles, and magazines to

learn more about the careerlearn more about the career Search the Internet for additional information on Search the Internet for additional information on

career interests career interests Career ExplorationCareer Exploration

Explore issues such as work environment, job Explore issues such as work environment, job outlook, and educational requirements of career outlook, and educational requirements of career interestsinterests

Seek additional assistance from a career Seek additional assistance from a career counselor or through the resources in the career counselor or through the resources in the career centercenter

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?

Step # 4:Step # 4: Experience Experience

the Careersthe Careers

Gain Experience…Gain Experience… Talk to individuals in the field of interestTalk to individuals in the field of interest Shadow professionals in the field of interestShadow professionals in the field of interest Network through family and friendsNetwork through family and friends Obtain internship or cooperative positionsObtain internship or cooperative positions Explore volunteer opportunities as a way of Explore volunteer opportunities as a way of

contributing to your community while gaining contributing to your community while gaining valuable work experience—and finding out more valuable work experience—and finding out more about you!about you!

Find a mentor to help answer questions and Find a mentor to help answer questions and concerns, as well as to serve as a supportconcerns, as well as to serve as a support

Visit the Career Center for additional resources Visit the Career Center for additional resources and to inquire about internship opportunities and to inquire about internship opportunities

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?

Step # 5:Step # 5: Evaluate Evaluate

Options that Options that will Solve the will Solve the ProblemProblem

Experienced the Careers?Experienced the Careers?

Determine the pros and cons of each Determine the pros and cons of each careercareer

Identify the values and needs of each Identify the values and needs of each career and determine if they match yourscareer and determine if they match yours

Project potential future consequences of Project potential future consequences of each of your experienceseach of your experiences What is the job outlook for each of the What is the job outlook for each of the

careers?careers? What is the highest educational level?What is the highest educational level? Are there opportunities for advancement?Are there opportunities for advancement?

What is the Next Step?What is the Next Step?

Step # 6:Step # 6: Select One of Select One of

the Options/ the Options/ Careers you Careers you ExperiencedExperienced

Based on the Information Based on the Information Gathered…Gathered…

You should have enough information to choose You should have enough information to choose one option over the othersone option over the others

Identify the Pros/Cons of the careerIdentify the Pros/Cons of the career Understand what it takes to pursue that Understand what it takes to pursue that

particular careerparticular career Educational levelEducational level College major/courses of studyCollege major/courses of study Job outlook Job outlook

Having difficulty?Having difficulty? You might need to do You might need to do additional researchadditional research in those area of interests in those area of interests

What is the FINAL STEP?What is the FINAL STEP?

Step # 7:Step # 7: Design a Design a

Course of ActionCourse of Action to Implement the to Implement the DecisionDecision

Develop and Implement anDevelop and Implement an Action Plan… Action Plan…

Identify when to begin and end each stepIdentify when to begin and end each step Be realistic Be realistic Consider life circumstances (family, work, etc.) Consider life circumstances (family, work, etc.)

What potential obstacles will I face and how can I What potential obstacles will I face and how can I handle them?handle them?

What resources and information are needed to What resources and information are needed to complete each step?complete each step? Applying to colleges/major of study?Applying to colleges/major of study? Frederick Community College Career Center?Frederick Community College Career Center? Additional job shadowing/internships?Additional job shadowing/internships?

Additional Resource Links…Additional Resource Links…

Career Decision Making Worksheet #1 Career Decision Making Worksheet #1 (Muhlenberg College)(Muhlenberg College)

Career Decision Making Worksheet #2 Career Decision Making Worksheet #2 (North Carolina S.O.I.C.C.) (North Carolina S.O.I.C.C.)

Career Decision Making Worksheet #3 Career Decision Making Worksheet #3 (University of CA, Berkeley)(University of CA, Berkeley)

Good Luck on your Good Luck on your Decision-Making!Decision-Making!

Questions?Questions?

Write to our “Ask Write to our “Ask a Counselor” link a Counselor” link on our websiteon our website

Contact the FCC Contact the FCC Career & Transfer Career & Transfer Center at Center at

(301) 846-2594(301) 846-2594