You have a more complicated task in selecting an occupation because you want an occupation which bridges the areas of knowledge you have combined in your major. Although it may be more complicated to figure out, you may also have a great many career possibilities because you may have wide-ranging interests. If you have difficulty at any point in this process, please stop in and visit with the Director of Career Services for help with sorting out the various components of your decision.

From the Career Services Director, pick up occupationa l handouts for majors within those three divisions you have selected as a part of your Independent Studies major.
Mark those jobs that appear on more than one of the handouts with a “+” sign. Consider whether any of those jobs which combine at least two of the fields you have studied are of interest.
If none of those jobs are of interest to you, select occupations from any of the occupational handouts which interest you and mark them with a “+” sign. Mark jobs that have some interest, but you are not sure what they actually do with a “?” beside them.
Research the “?” jobs on the website listed in the next “To Locate Further Information” section.
Then, narrow the list of “+” and “?” jobs down to 4-5 and begin to consider how you can develop the skills to enter those occupations.

Things Students Can (and should) Do NOW to Get a Job Related to Their Integrated Studies Major:

work alone - with a group - or a combination; lead - or follow;
- plan activities for people - or be more spontaneous;
- help people solve problems by intervening in advance/educating - or help people solve problems by remediation with group or individual therapy or programming;
- research and analyze information and develop solution ideas - or apply solutions to concrete situations.
Think about which broad area related to the field you want to enter (communication, education, humanities, natural science, physical education, social science) and research the career path* for each occupation of interest.
Work as a paraprofessional in campus offices such as admissions, orientation, housing (resident assistant), career services, public relations, library, laboratories, etc.
Plan to do at least one internship as a way to get focused experience in your field. Two internships are preferable.
Volunteer your services to a non-profit organization in whose cause you believe. You will get experience, and networking contacts, and the pleasure of accomplishing something important.
Career path = what jobs are the entry-level point for the occupation – how do I get my foot in the door?, how do people commonly advance in that occupation?

To locate further information about any of the following occupations

Duties
Education and Training Needed
How Hard or Easy it Will Be To Find a Job
Compensation

go to the Occupational Outlook Handbook online: http://www.bls.gov/oco/

You may access the site anywhere you can access the web. There are 2 computers you can use in Career Services for any career-related task, including occupational research. Search by looking for the job title in the alphabetical index, or typing in the occupational name in the search box, or looking in the field/industry list on the right side of the screen.

Integrated Studies Jobs

Consult the lists of jobs on the occupation handouts you picked up in Career Services which are related to the three divisions in your Integrated Studies major.

Skills and Abilities of Integrated Studies Students

These will depend upon the academic areas you have combined in your major. Consult the Director of Career Services to begin to develop a list of your possible skills.

Integrated Studies Major Websites:

Check the websites listed in the divisions related to your majors. You will find them in the handouts you picked up in Career Services, or at http://www.dana.edu/careerservices/majors.html (click on a related major).

These are some general links related to all fields:

Careerlink http://www.careerlink.org Omaha area job listing site. Search by category, or employer.

Jobsearch http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov Search for jobs in the federal government

LOC www.loc.gov/crsinfo Congressional Research Service

Compiled by:
Ann L. Nelson, M.S.
Director of Career Services
anelson@dana.edu
For more information or personal help, visit the Career Services Office:
Monday-Friday:
8 a.m.-noon, 1-5 p.m.
Other hours available by appointment
E.C. Hunt Campus Center
(Located next to the Bookstore)
Phone: (402) 426-7258
Fax: (402) 426-7922
Campus Box 1225
Email: career@dana.edu
or telephone for an appointment