What Is Career Planning? Guidance for Prospective University Students on Career Planning Consultation

Before becoming a university student, career planning is a crucial process for subject selection. Career planning not only maps out the path for future self-development but also presents an opportunity to formulate specific professional goals and educational paths based on personal interests, capabilities, values, and market demands. In today’s ever-changing job environment, effective career planning enables students to better handle future uncertainties, achieve their ideal professional vision, and build a career. Below, Cyclopes elaborates on what career planning is and how to proceed with career planning consultation for university students.

Source: Freepik

Career planning includes self-assessment, career exploration, goal setting, and the formulation of action plans. For students facing the DSE (Diploma of Secondary Education) examination, career planning is undoubtedly causing headaches in subject selection or decisions regarding further studies/employment. Through career planning consultation, students acquire necessary knowledge and skills, adjust their mindset, and make ideal choices for further studies effectively combining academic and professional goals based on interests, abilities, and aspirations.

Students should realize early on that the period of education is key to laying the foundation for career development. Most middle and primary school students have only a basic understanding of professions, and their potentials are mostly undiscovered. Therefore, students need to learn more about their personality traits and the world of work, explore their preliminary interests, cultivate the ability to reflect on their capabilities, thus preparing for future career choices and development comprehensively.

For university students, career planning is even more critical as they are at the starting point of their professional lives, faced with numerous possibilities and choices. University students should actively participate in career counseling and planning activities, utilizing resources provided by universities such as career development consultation services and internship opportunities to pave the way for career planning. Through these activities, university students can gain a better understanding of the actual operations of industries and add career-related experiences to their resumes.

Source: Freepik

Comprehensive career planning helps students understand their current situation, set goals, and explore ways to achieve these goals. Students can consider the following directions for guidance:

Reflect on your pursuits, including personality, values, and interests, by asking yourself:

- What are my personality traits?

- What lifestyle do I prefer?

- What am I passionate about, and what ignites my interest?

- What are my strengths and weaknesses?

- What do I value most in a job?

When exploring suitable careers, utilize various resources such as career planning consultation services for high school students, career planning and education exhibitions, industry fairs, university open days, etc., to understand the job content and entry requirements of different industries. During exploration, students can ponder the following questions:

- Which industries interest me particularly?

- Which positions suit my personality?

- What jobs do I enjoy or wish to pursue?

- Do these positions require specific degrees or qualifications?

Source: Freepik

Finally, clearly define goals for your ideal profession:

- (If you haven't taken the DSE) To enroll in a subject related to my desired profession, what grades should I aim for?

- To achieve the target grades, how should I plan to improve my performance?

- (If you have already taken the DSE) With my expected grades, can I enroll in my desired subject related to my profession? Are there other university options abroad?

Understanding what career planning is, for all current students preparing to enter university, undergoing career planning consultation not only helps you gain a clearer understanding of yourself and your future career path but also provides a starting point for your professional life. If you have questions about your career future, feel free to consult the Cyclopes professional consultant team for more information on career planning.