CATS (Career Awareness Through Self-Assessment)
CATS is a process to aid students with their career planning while they are at Ohio University. Because commencement will be here sooner than you think, it’s not too early to start thinking about, and planning for, your future career. In fact, it’s best to start early in your college experience so that you can use your time as a student to make wise decisions. The Career Services staff is here to help you with all aspects of your career planning. Students are encouraged to attend the Career Planning seminar for more detailed information.
What is Career Planning Anyway?
Career planning is the ongoing process of choosing a career that fits with your own unique set of interests, abilities, and values. In other words, it means selecting a career that matches who you are and taking the steps necessary to prepare for that career. Career planning is a four-step process which takes place during your entire college experience.
It is important to remember that there is usually no “moment of revelation” regarding the perfect major or the perfect career for you. In fact, there is no single major or career which is the best for you—each of us has abilities which can be applied to a wide variety of career fields. Most of us will work for approximately 10 different employers during our lifetime, have at least three to four different careers, and spend an average of 3.5 years in each position. The challenge is to find majors and careers which combine as many of your interests as possible. The key in a rapidly changing workforce is to have transferable skills that you can apply to a range of careers.
Step One—Self-Assessment
• Learning about your skills and interests
• Utilize CareerBeam 
, an online tool with varios self-assessment inventories, which will help match personal attributes with career options.
• After taking FOCUS, schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor to go over your results
• Complete the “Career Choice Checklist” 
then schedule an appointment with a Career Services advisor
• Enroll in EDCE 201, Career and Life Planning
Step Two—Exploring Options
• Researching majors and careers based on your self-assessment findings
• Visit the Career Services Resource Center and look through the "Great Jobs for _____ Majors" series and the "Opportunities in _____" series
• “What Can I Do with a Degree in _____” handouts available online (Click here) or hard copy in the Career Resource Center
• Utilize CareerBeam and/or Vault to research industries or career fields of interest.
• Continue to meet with a Career Services advisor
• Take classes in academic areas of interest
• Participate in informational interviews and career shadowing where you meet with professionals to gain more information and insight
• Talk with professors and/or advisors
• Maintain your GPA as this will allow you to remain competitive with career and graduate school options
• Join student organizations which relate to various majors
• Attend campus events like employer information sessions, career fairs, etc. to gain more information about majors and career paths
Step Three—Narrowing Options
• Identifying majors and careers which captured your interest during the Exploring Options step
• Evaluate these careers based on criteria that are of importance to you
• Plan several career options—don’t get locked into one “career” idea
• Continue to participate in informational interviews and career shadowing
• Participate in co-ops or internships
• Consider a PACE (Program to Aid Career Exploration) position which provides experience relevant to your major—contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information
• Continue to meet with a Career Services advisor
• Continue to attend career-related campus events
Step Four—Job Search Process
• Planning for, and conducting, the job search
• Develop your résumé, cover letter, and reference sheet
• Register with Career Services for the Bobcat Online Job Search Program
• Learn about the job search process
• Develop your job search strategy
• Attend Career Services’ seminars on various career-related topics
• Continue to meet with a Career Services advisor
• Identify and research potential employers
• Prepare for interviews
• Participate in a Mock Interview through Career Services
• Plan and apply for graduate school if that is the next step
• NETWORK!
• Do not wait until late into your final year to begin the job search process—early fall quarter is the best time to begin even if you’re not graduating until June
Click below to view a check list of what you can do each year at Ohio University to keep your career planning process on track!
