Career Pathways

Shocker Career Accelerator First Destination Survey

Congratulations on graduating, class of 2023! We want to hear about your next steps: fill out the First Destination Survey here!

Interest Assessment Profiler

Use a targeted approach in your career pathway; check out the O*Net Interest Profiler! It is a free self-assessment career exploration tool that can help you discover the type of work activities, occupations, and interest areas relevant to you. Based on your results, you will fall into one or more of six categories (RIASEC/Holland code).

Find out your code! Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, Conventional

Click on your RIASEC/Holland code blocks below to find WSU majors that align with your code! You will uncover examples of WSU majors that fit each theme by clicking on each block! You may fall into more than one category, so don’t limit yourself to just one area. The combinations can indicate your unique combination of interests.

Realistic (Doers)

Investigative (Thinkers)

Artistic (Creators)

Social (Helpers)

Enterprising (Persuaders)

Conventional (Organizers)

What Can I Do With This Major?

Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help. Learn typical career areas, types of employers that hire in these fields, and strategies to make you a more marketable candidate.

Explore

My Next Move

This interactive tool allows you to learn more about your career options. Use the link below to find out what tasks, education, and skills are needed for over 900 careers! Start your search with keywords or browse careers by industry, then use the profile summary for a personalized Career Report that you can print out or share with your career counselor.

Schedule an Appointment

If you’ve never taken any assessments or if you’d like additional, more in-depth information, please call 316-978-3688 to talk with a career counselor. We are open from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. M-F and available after hours by appointment.

Four-Year Career Action Plan

Having the most up-to-date career information, support, and guidance from an experienced professional can turn a stressful time into a positive experience.

Follow this four-year action plan to help guide you towards career readiness and professional success.

First-Year

Meet with your academic advisor and explore different majors. Explore your interests, skills, values, and goals and focus on academics
Attend the Shocker Career Accelerator’s On-Campus Job Fair at the end of July for a part-time position
Discuss with your career counselor taking a self-assessment (Strong Interest Inventory) or take our online ONet interest assessment to refine your areas of interest
Attend our career workshops and events to find out what skills employers are looking for
Log on to Handshake and set up your profile
Find out how to write a resume, attend a Resume workshop – short on time? Check out our virtual workshops
Participate in student campus organizations and campus community activities to enhance your leadership skills and further define your interests
Plan to attend a Career Fair to establish communication with employers you may be interested in working for

Second-Year

Declare your major with a realistic understanding of how it relates to career opportunities
Contact a career counselor for informational interviews or job shadowing
Update your resume with a career counselor or peer advisor in the Shocker Career Accelerator
Set up a LinkedIn profile and follow Shocker Career Accelerator on LinkedIn
Schedule a professional photo appointment for your LinkedIn profile or attend one of our Head Shocks events
Search and apply for part-time jobs, co-ops, and internships listed on Handshake and secure your first internship
Research and apply for applied learning opportunities in Handshake, and report any internship to the Shocker Career Accelerator

Third-Year

Meet with your academic advisor to make sure you are still on track for graduation
Establish a LinkedIn profile and start to selectively add connections; clean up social media sites from your earlier college days if you have not yet done so
Meet with your career counselor to update your resume, create an effective cover letter, and practice for interviews
Join professional organizations to meet other professionals within your field of study
Update your profile and search & apply for internships in Handshake
Begin asking faculty for permission to use them as professional references
Attend career fairs and events to see what organizations are growing and actively recruiting college graduates
Research graduate schools early and watch our Thinking About Grad School Workshop if you are considering pursuing an advanced degree after graduation

Fourth-Year

Meet with your academic advisor and confirm graduation status
Schedule an appointment early in the year with your career counselor to develop a job-search action plan and timetable
Refine your resume and have it reviewed by career counselors; you will need to update it regularly
Continue to build your network through LinkedIn
Attend a Career Closet event to enhance your professional dress wardrobe
Request a mock interview appointment with a career counselor to practice answering behavior-based interview questions
Search for opportunities through Handshake and other online resources
Apply to graduate school if that is your path; pay close attention to all deadlines
Complete the Shocker Career Accelerator graduate exit survey in Handshake; it will be emailed to your University email address during your last semester of classes
After graduation, consider mentoring other Wichita State Students and get involved with the Alumni Association

Still unsure of your career path?

Career Coaching

The WSU Shocker Career Accelerator is an excellent resource for those exploring different career paths. Give us a call and set up an appointment today at (316) 978-3688.

Our career coaches can help you explore your career-related interests, skills, and values and discuss your academic and career options. Your coach listens, asks questions to understand your situation, and provides information and resources to help you meet your goals.

Some of our career coaching appointment topics include:

Choosing a major
Identifying interests, skills, values, character traits
Generating career options based on interests or degrees
Finding resources for interest areas, including talking to people in the field
Job search guidance

Program Search

This interactive, online tool from the Kansas Board of Regents reviews cost and earnings data from actual graduates for each undergraduate degree program offered at a public university or college in Kansas. With hundreds of degree programs available, there are many factors to consider when selecting the institution and the degree program that are the best match for you.

Find out here