The world at your doorstep
The beauty of a liberal arts degree is that it allows you to develop a broad range of skills that can be applied to almost any career. Employers in all fields value the abilities to communicate clearly, to work collaboratively with others, and to research and evaluate solutions to problems.
Three key takeaways
1. Major does not equal career
Your major complements your skills and experiences.
2. Align your interests with your major
You have a greater chance to excel when you choose a major you are passionate about.
3. Research your options
Be open-minded and consider all your options. Do some research and talk to others before making a decision.
Choosing a major is an important step, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. The Career Connections Center supports students at every stage of exploration by helping them connect their interests, values, and strengths to academic pathways and future career possibilities. Whether you’re considering your primary major, a double major, or a minor, set up an advising appointment with the Career Connections Center, and we can help you explore your options, clarify your goals, and make informed decisions about your academic and career path.
We encourage students to check out Clark’s experiential majors maps as they explore majors of interest. The major maps are designed to help students visualize and design their journey at Clark and beyond. Major maps highlight learning opportunities in and out of the classroom and offer an opening to reflect on the experiences that support career development.
Wondering which career is right for you?
Follow these steps, and check out our extensive resources to explore careers, connect with employers and alumni, and identify what you might do after graduation.
Learn about your interests, skills, and work values
- The STRONG Interest Inventory is a career assessment tool that helps you identify patterns in your interests and connects them to potential majors, career fields, and work environments. Whether you’re deciding on a major, considering a career change, or simply exploring your options, the STRONG can help you make more informed and meaningful decisions about your future.
- To take the STRONG Interest Inventory email the Career Connections Center at cservices@clarku.edu or schedule an appointment via Handshake
- After completing the assessment, you’ll meet with a career advisor to review your results, reflect on what resonates, and explore next steps.
Explore career options and connect with alumni
- What Can I Do With This Major?: Whether you are exploring multiple majors or searching for information about your chosen field, “What Can I Do With This Major?” will help you connect major disciplines to possible careers, as well as suggest strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.
- O*Net Online: Published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the O*Net Online database will help you get a detailed sense of what it’s like to work in more than 900 jobs.
- Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH): Published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the OOH database offers salary data, demand outlook, and other statistics on hundreds of occupations.
- LinkedIn: Find more Clark alumni on LinkedIn, and see what paths and first jobs they have had. Reach out for informational interviews (see below).
- Career advisers: Set up a customized plan to try out your options. Make an appointment with a career advisor on Handshake.
- Explore more resources: Download our “Exploration Resources” PDF.
Dive deeper
- Informational interviews: Talk to alumni and others; learn from people in an industry that interests you. Find them on LinkedIn; read our Informational Interviewing Guide for tips and useful questions.
- Internships, volunteering, and job shadowing: Explore what’s available on Handshake to see what a career or organization is really like.
- Career advisers: Set up a customized plan to try out your options. Make an appointment now.
Other opportunities
Internships and other experiential learning
Gain real-world experience and earn academic credit through internships with nonprofits, government agencies, or businesses. Available to rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
