Your Career and Academic Journey

A&S 150

Making Career Decisions

A Model of Decision Making

Decision MakingIn General

Decisions You Make

• We are constantly faced with decisions.

• Plans for the weekend• What classes you will take next semester• Plans for the summer• Which college to go to• Which major to focus on• What occupation to begin in• To continue education or not

Your Decision Making Style

• We tend to consistently use the same style of decision making • Your decision making style is determined by your personality and

what is most comfortable• In the following slides you will review the 8 different decision

making styles• Which style or styles do you use most often?

Agonizing Style (1)

• Getting lost is all the information• Getting easily overwhelmed with analyzing alternatives• Going back and forth between options• Taking time, sometimes large amounts of time to make a decision

Compliant Style (2)

• Leaning heavily on other’s input in your decision• Letting someone else decide for you• Following someone else’s desires

Delaying Style (3) • Postponing thought or action regarding the decision until a

later date• Putting the decision off as long as possible• Avoiding the decision at times

Fatalistic Style (4)

• Letting the environment decide• Leaving the decision up to fate• Trusting that what is supposed to happen will happen without

investing a lot of time or energy into the decision

Impulsive Style (5)

• Giving little thought or examination to the decision at hand• Taking the first alternative• Acting quickly

Intuitive Style (6)

• Going with your gut feelings• Making a decision without gathering a lot of facts or details• Trusting your own instincts

Paralysis Style (7) • Accepting responsibility but feeling unable to approach the

problem • Feeling frozen or stuck• Moving slowly towards a decision due to inability to

determine best path

Planning Style (8) • Rational approach with a balance between the cognitive and

emotional elements• Going through a process• Examining alternatives and gathering information• Coming to a decision considering the options • High potential for feeling satisfied

Reflection

Answer the following Questions1.Discuss the decision making styles you typically utilize2.Discuss the advantages of your style3.Discuss the disadvantages of your style4.How would you ideally like to make decisions?

Making Career Decisions

Making a Career Decision• Utilizing the Planning approach is most successful• Requires…• Motivation• Time• Resources• Support

Self Assessment

• Exploring in an objective way who you are; the gifts, talents, and desires you possess• Utilize vocational assessments to measure…• Values• Interests• Personality• Skills• Life Experience

Occupational Exploration

• Once you know even more about yourself you now have criteria to utilize in your occupational search.• Explore the world of work• Utilizing data• Career Resource Library• Recommended web sites

• Utilizing people• Professors• Upperclassmen• Alumni• Employers/Contacts

Actual Decision Making

• Sifting through the information about yourself and the world of work• Start to focus on an occupation with which you

will begin your professional life• How can you gain a focus?• Weigh pros and cons of a few options you are considering• Gather any relevant detailed information• Conduct an internship within the field• Consult with trusted individuals• Make the decision

Questions ?• Please email charlotte.anderson@uky.edu with questions

about the course content, and assignments• Please email helpdesk@uky.edu or call (859) 218-4357 if you

have questions about technology issues