Million Dollar Question

 "So what are you looking to do after graduation?" Well if I knew, then I'd tell you.  Even after accepting a job offer, I'm still uneasy at the question.  Even if you've maintained a great GPA and are actively involved within the Smith School, there's a chance you just haven't found your true calling.  For instance, I'm a finance, accounting, and English major and a rhetoric minor.  Does it really seem like I really want to know what to do with my life?  I know that accounting students are required to complete 150 credit hours to sit for the CPA exam, but don't think that's why I decided to tackle a triple degree.  Rather, I realized that I was somewhat unhappy solely taking business classes.  Sure, I got a kick out of Intermediate Accounting, but sometimes there's more to life than depreciating intangible assets.   Now, I split my time between analyzing poetry and analyzing excel spreadsheets.  I finally found my happy medium, and hopefully you can too. 

1. Find your career personality – Supposedly we all have some sort of career personality.  I really don't know what that means for me.  Regardless, CNN wrote an article on personality types and associated careers.  For instance, conventional personality types lend themselves to certain work according to CNN: "Rules, procedures, schedules, and instructions are all things that appeal to them. They prefer working with details and data versus ideas; they are practical and like routine and order."  If you think this personality-career match up is really cool, check it out for yourself: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/worklife/03/11/cb.career.fit.personality/index.html
2. Take the time and uncover your interests – Once in a blue moon you register for a class that is absolutely terrible.  Whether it is the fault of a poor professor or uninteresting material, it really stinks to roll out of bed and go to that class.  Now imagine going to a job, equally terrible, for forty plus hours a week.  Therefore, take the time to examine your strengths, weaknesses, and interests in relationship to your career options before it's too late.  Sit down with a career counselor in the business school.  Also, consider this article on career planning, which incorporates personal information into the job search: http://careerplanning.about.com/cs/choosingacareer/a/cp_process.htm
3. If you still have some time until graduation, reconsider your major – You don't have to go to law school just because your father is a lawyer.  Not only will you be unhappy with the next few years of higher education, but you'll hate your job too.  Take the time to explore the plethora of classes offered at the University.  We have a number of great colleges that extend beyond the business school.  Maybe you'll find your true calling elsewhere.  If you need a little extra information, review the College Board's website on major and career profiles to put everything in perspective: http://www.collegeboard.com/csearch/majors_careers/profiles/index.html