Choosing a Major
Planning Your Future
Career Services
Montana State University Billings
www.msubillings.edu/careers
The Future Ain’t What it Used to Be!
Yogi Berra
The average American beginning
a career will work in 10 or more jobs
for 5 or more employers before retiring!
Workplace 2000: The Revolution Reshaping American Business
The real value of higher education
is to prepare students for career possibilities
they cannot yet imagine.
The Value of Not Planning
“The nicest thing about not planning is that
failure comes as a complete surprise
and is not preceded by a
period of worry and depression.”
John Preston
Boston College
Why Plan your Career?
 Your career affects 1/3 of
 Your career generates up to
your life = 10,000 days.
$3.3M in lifetime earnings
with BA/BS degree.
 Your career affects your
identity as a person.
 Your career affects your
physical & mental well-being.
How to Plan? Let Career Services help you!
Identify your
Interests & Strengths
CAREER
SERVICES
Implement your
Career Plan
Investigate
Occupations
Identify: Who are You
Career inventories like Montana Career Information System
and your past experiences identify:


Interests & Abilities
What am I good at? What do I like to do?
What skills do I have? What skills do I need?
How much education am I willing to complete?
Values & Needs
What would make a job satisfying to me?
Which work environment fits me best?
What is most important to me in a career?
Skills are Key to Careers!
Go to “advanced search” for skills assessment
http://online.onetcenter.org
Investigate Occupations:
 Conduct Informational Interviews. Talk to people who
do the jobs you’d like to do!
 Get hands-on experience through internships, part-
time jobs & volunteer work.
 Research job trends & projections: Which jobs are
growing/declining? What do they pay? Are there
vacancies where I want to live?
America’s Career InfoNet
www.acinet.org
Hot Jobs in the US & Montana
to 2018
America’s Career InfoNet: www.acinet.org/acinet
In US
Biomedical engineers
Network systems & data
communications analysts
Financial examiners
Medical scientists
Physician assistants
Skin care specialists
Biochemists/biophysicists
Athletic trainers
Dental hygienists/vet technicians
Computer software engineers
In Montana
Computer software engineers
Network systems analysts
Industrial engineers
Veterinary techs
Geoscientists
Chemical engineers
Environmental scientists & techs
Mining & geological engineers
Computer system analysts
Physical therapy assistants
Implement Your Plan:
 Compare each career with what
you know about yourself.
 Which major best prepares you?
 Would you enjoy doing this career
every day?
 Does this career match your
personality, needs, wants,
abilities?
 What are the risks? Your chances
for success?
 How to start your plan?
Use Career Services!
University Professionals can help you to:
 Make your decision.
 Set goals to get where you want to go.
 Implement your plan.
 Evaluate your plan.
 Re-focus, if needed.
 Do it over again throughout your life!
Choosing a Major
Plan Your Future!
“If you don’t know where you’re going,
you’ll probably end up somewhere else.”
David Campbell, PH.D
Career Services
Montana State University Billings
 University Campus:
 City College:
LIB 100
Jacket Student Central
www.msubillings.edu/careers
657-2168
247-3006