Career Planning—8 Ways to Explore Your Options When in College

Posted April 24, 2023 by in Career

When you are in college, it can be difficult to know which career path is right for you. With so many options available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed or unsure of what direction to take. Even if you have an idea of the type of industry you would like to pursue, there are a range of positions that could fit within that field. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to help explore your options and make your decision easier. 

Here we will look at eight ways to explore your options when in college. 

1. Get Your CV Up To Date 

A great way to get an idea of how your resume should look for a certain role is to use CV templates for Word tailored for that industry. These templates provide information on what to include, as well as guidance on how best to format your resume and tailor it specifically for the job you’re applying for. 

2. Examine Various Career Options

It’s crucial to do more research on these potential fields once you’ve taken the test and determined which ones might match your interests.

Study up on various employment roles and the necessary qualifications to make sure it’s something you’d enjoy and be successful in. 

Sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor can offer helpful details about potential jobs as well as perspectives from people who are working in such fields right now.

3. Complete An Interest Inventory Test

Taking an interest inventory test is one of the greatest ways to start eliminating prospective jobs. Based on your interests, experiences, and skill set, these tests can help you determine what kind of work or subject is best suited for you. 

You can gain a better understanding of the kinds of employment that are available and match your interests and skills by doing this early in college.

4. Get Networking 

You can learn a lot about what it’s like to work in other areas by going to industry conferences and networking events. You will be able to talk to people who are already employed there, get their advice, and learn more about what it’s like to work in that capacity. 

Moreover, recruiters are frequently present at these events and can provide information about vacant positions and forthcoming possibilities.

5. Get An Internship

A great way to gain hands-on experience within a field is by taking on an internship. Internships can provide invaluable insight into the industry, helping you to decide if it is something that truly interests and excites you. 

Some internships may even lead to job offers or recommenders who can speak positively about your skills when applying for other positions. 

6. Use Online Tools

You can uncover job vacancies linked to your field of study or career path on a variety of websites. You can sign up for regular notifications on new roles that fit your requirements by registering with websites like Indeed, Monster, or LinkedIn.

7. Stay Current With Industry Developments

It’s critical to keep up with trends and advancements in your field of study or profession. This will guarantee that you possess all the most recent industry expertise and abilities necessary for success in this field. Reading trade journals, going to conferences, or following relevant social media accounts can help you do this.

8. Shadow Someone

Another way of gaining experience and insight into potential career paths is by shadowing someone who already works in the field. 

Ask around at your university, as there may be people or organizations willing to let you spend some time watching them work and learning more about what they do day-to-day.


It is crucial to take proactive measures in order to better grasp future career responsibilities and acquire a sense of what it’s like to work in other industries. While choosing a professional route, doing industry research, going to networking events, and talking to career counselors can all be beneficial experiences. Also, you can increase your competitiveness in the job market today by enrolling in programs that are pertinent to your field and keeping up with current developments in it.

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