How can I best prepare for the career I'm considering?

There is almost always more than one plausible path to your career destination. If you asked five people in your targeted career field how they got there, chances are you would hear five different stories. Nevertheless, if you have a specific career goal it is a good idea to plan the steps you could take to get there.

Before you can come up with a solid plan, you need to know some things about your intended occupation, such as

• Required and recommended education, certification or licensure
• Required and recommended experience or training
• Skills needed for success in the occupation

• Planning Resources
• Take Action

Planning Resources

More	You may want to take one or more of the Career Center's self-assessments to see if the career you are considering is a good match for you based on your self-identified interests, skills, values and personality style.
More	Use the Career Center's resources to find out what kind of training, education, skills and experience you may need to enter your occupation of choice. The Career Center has many useful print resources in the Information Lab as well as online resources to help you obtain this information.
More	One of the best ways to learn about how to break into a specific career field is to get advice from people who already work in the field. Check our calendar to find out about career events and panels, employer information sessions and career fairs, so you can find professionals to speak with. Also utilize the @cal Career Network to locate Cal alums you can speak to in informational interviews.
More	Obtaining hands-on experience is usually one of the most important things you can do to strengthen your job-related skills. It may also be important to get experience to establish a pattern of interest in your chosen career field which will improve your marketability. This experience can also help you determine if the career field is really a good fit for you.
More	If you are not sure about your best course of action or how to move forward with your research, utilize the career counseling resources available to you at the Career Center. Make a 15-minute Mini-Appointment or call (510) 642-1716 to schedule a 45-minute appointment with a specific counselor.
More	Once you have collected information about recommended education, training, skills and experience, your next step may be clear, or you may need more help making decisions. Use the Career Center decision-making resource to learn about your decision-making style or to get advice about decision-making techniques.
More	The specific steps you take to find out how to prepare for your preferred career may depend on your year in school. Find out what action you can take given your student status.

Take Action

Once you have identified one or more careers you would consider pursuing, ask yourself the following questions:

• Have I clearly identified the occupation I am targeting?
• Have I used objective print and online resources to learn about required and recommended education, training, experience, licenses, skills, and other related factors?
• Have I spoken with people in the occupation to get direct advice about entering this career field?
• Do I need a specific major, degree or courses to be qualified for this career?
• Do I need to obtain more experience while in school or after graduation?

If it is evident that you need more information, use the Career Center's Planning Resources, or See A Counselor for personal assistance.

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