Read Chapter Two; do NOT do the transferable skills exercise in the book.

The goals for this class are:

•  To identify your decision-making style and to understand why we use the systematic approach to decisions in this class
•  To identify your career-related interests and values
• To understand the concept of transferable skills and identify your transferable skills in the job market

The textbook describes one method for decision – making, the systematic approach, which stresses careful step-by-step planning based on the idea that setting thoughtful goals, conducting careful research and utilizing multiple resources will help you make the most satisfying career choice.

While that may be true, many seniors choose not to be so systematic or are driven by panic, unemployment, or lack of time, among many reasons, to use other decision-making strategies. Other college students take the first job they are offered, grateful for the search process to be over, follow the advice of family or friends, or accept employment with an organization that does not meet their interests, values, or goals.

Different personalities also make decisions in different ways. For example, even after careful research, some people make intuitive decisions based on clear feelings for what is right for them. Others agonize, worried they might make the "wrong" choice and suffer consequences.

To explore your decision-making style, choose a recent decision or a past important decision you have made and think about the steps you took to make that choice. Are you satisfied with the result? Could you learn anything about your style from examining that decision? Would you make your next big decision in the same way? Are there any advantages to making decisions in a systematic way? Write a few paragraphs describing the decision you made and answering these questions, and place it in your portfolio.

Many college students limit their job search by asking themselves and others this question "What can I DO with my major?" While many liberal arts graduates find great satisfaction studying in their major field and wish to develop careers focusing on the content of their major – chemistry, French, political science, or music, for example – others are uneasy about the career options associated with their major and feel trapped or uncomfortable with the careers typically associated. Sometimes, parents and friends add to your stress by asking "What can you do with that, teach?" as if teaching was the only or least interesting option open to liberal arts students.

Many experts have written about the relationship between majors and careers and the importance of knowing that there are at least three ways to plan a career during your liberal arts education.

• You can build a career based on the content of your major. For example, a biologist can conduct research at a cancer institute or a political scientist can work as an aide to a legislator.
• You can also develop a career based on your interests and your transferable skills, skills developed by all liberally educated persons. For example, a Sociology major might work on a Computer Help Desk or an English major might raise funds for a university.
• Or you may choose to focus your skills in a particular career field by adding graduate or professional education to your liberal arts background.

2-5 To explore the careers associated with your major, visit the Career Center website, Career Planning,  and choose Explore Liberal Arts Majors.  List your ideas in your Portfolio.

For more ideas, check Cool Career of the Month, Jobs that don't Suck (really!), or Monster Campus.

If you learn only one concept in this job search class, it should be to identify and discuss your transferable skills. This critical idea explains why a philosophy major can lead an investment bank, a music major might do computer consulting, or a communications student might be a sales rep for a publishing firm.

To understand why transferable skills are so important and how they relate to your job search, go to the Career Center website. Under Career Planning, "Know Yourself", read the section on Transferable Skills.

2-6 Complete this transferable skills exercise taking care to prioritize the most important skills you use most frequently or enjoy using. No more than four to six skills can be used effectively on your resume. List your five most marketable and favorite skills in your Portfolio.

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Class Session Three