Explore
Deciding on a career that’s perfect for you is not always easy. We’re here to help you discover possible pathways that connect you to a future you'll love. The first step to a happy, successful, and prosperous livelihood is learning about yourself. The Career Center has several resources to guide you through this process. Our career advisors are available to discuss your career and major exploration options.
To schedule an appointment with a career advisor, call (707) 664-2198 or email careerservices@sonoma.edu. Drop-in hours are also available every Tuesday and Wednesday from 10:00am to 4:00pm, or every Thursday from 12:00pm to 4:00pm.
Majors & Careers
Choosing a major can be a big decision - and if you aren’t quite sure what you are ready to study, there are lots ways to explore what majors might be a good fit. When thinking about your major, consider what kinds of careers it could lead you to. However, there is not always a direct connection between major and career. To help you decide what major or career path is best for you, SSU has partnered with Focus2Career to help you navigate your first professional steps.
Focus2Career is an online, self-guided system that will help you to identify a major at SSU and connect you with several career options based on your major, interests, personality, and values. Focus2Career will help develop a customized career and education plan for you. The Focus2Career tools include:
- Career Planning Readiness
- Self Assessments
- Career Exploration
- Take Action Plan
- Career Portfolio
To access, click Focus2Career (or go to https://www.focus2career.com/Portal/Login.cfm?SID=1601) and use your SSU email address to register. Our access code is “seawolf.” After completing the Focus2Career assessments, we encourage you to meet Career Advisor to discuss your results and next steps.
Skills & Values
Reflecting on your skills and values is a critical piece of the career exploration process. Your skills and values direct your resume, cover letter, and job search, along with your major. During your career exploration process, ask youself: What you are good at? What do you care about? What kind of work environment do you enjoy?
Values - Do you know what your top values are? This is an important step in identifying what kind of work aligns with you, what kind of organizational culture you would thrive in, and what is important to you. Take the values assessment in Focus2Career.
Skills - Students often underestimate the value of their skills and experiences. A commonly asked question in our office is “what do I put on my resume if I don’t have any work experience?” The reality is, you likely have tons of experience! You can list academic coursework, projects, volunteer work, community service, leadership experience, athletics, leadership experience, and more.
Diversity and Inclusion
At the Career Center, we know that the diversity of our community strengthens and enriches our campus. SSU is committed to serving students of all backgrounds, identities, and experiences (including and not limited to gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, religion, immigration status, nationality, socioeconomic status, and disability).
We recognize that issues of identity and career intersect, and we aim to facilitate identity-centered career education, advising and collaborations. We support our students in identifying workplace environments that align with their values and that allow them to bring their full selves to work. We also support our students as they navigate unique challenges in this realm.
