Why Career Exploration is Important

Career exploration is a crucial step you should take while earning your degree for several reasons:

1. Informed Decision-Making: Understanding various career options will help you make informed decisions about your future. It allows you to choose a path that aligns with your interests, values, and skills, leading to greater job satisfaction and success.

2. Skill Alignment: Career exploration helps you identify the skills and qualifications required for different careers. This enables you to focus your education and extracurricular activities on developing those specific skills, making you more competitive in the job and internship market.

3. Realistic Expectations: By researching and exploring different careers you gain a realistic understanding of job roles, responsibilities, and industry demands. This helps in setting achievable career goals and preparing for the realities of entering the workforce.

4. Networking Opportunities: Engaging in career exploration often involves talking to professionals, attending industry events, and participating in internships or job shadowing. These activities help you build a network of contacts that can be valuable for future job searches and career advancement.

5. Personal Growth: Exploring different career options encourages self-reflection and personal growth. You will learn more about your strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, which contributes to your overall development and confidence.

6. Early Start: Starting career exploration early in college allows you to gain relevant experience and build a strong resume before graduation. This proactive approach increases your chances of securing a desirable job soon after completing their education.

Career exploration empowers you to make strategic decisions about your future and increases your chances of finding a fulfilling and successful career.

Take the Next Step

• Professional Development Recommendations: Students are encouraged to create a professional development plan and intentionally incorporate career exploration and development into their time at UC San Diego.  The Professional Development Recommendations page offers concrete actions to takebased on academic year.
• Explore what you can do with a degree in Real Estate and Development  including career paths, resources, job titles, post-bachelor's education, and potential employers.
• Explore what you can do with a degree in Urban Studies and Planning including career paths, resources, job titles, post-bachelor's education, and potential employers.
• Get involved with a Professional Association. Many professional associations offer free or discount memberships to students and provide opportunities for learning, networking, and mentorship.