College Experiences That Helped a Career Counselor at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Succeed
Travis, a career counselor, shared that a key to their success was proactively identifying what they *didn't* want to do, using experiences like shadowing and applying for various positions to eliminate career paths. This process, while not yielding an immediate dream job upon graduation, provided valuable momentum and self-awareness, leading to more informed and fulfilling career choices by avoiding "miserable" situations.
Career Exploration, Job Search Strategies, Self-Assessment, Career Decision-Making, Networking
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Travis Raynaud
Career Counselor
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Masters in Counseling and Guidance for Higher Education
Psychology
Coaching, Speaking & Writing, Education
Education
Pell Grant Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, Transfer Student, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Experiment with different career paths to discover what you enjoy and what you don't enjoy. This process of elimination can help you find the right fit for you.
2. Don't be afraid to try different things and explore various options, even if you don't know exactly what you want to do. It is better to eliminate unsuitable options than to waste time in a career you hate.
3. Take your time to figure out your career path; it's okay not to know exactly what you want to do right after graduation. The process of elimination can be just as helpful as finding the perfect job right away.
Transcript
Q12: College ideas for success
What did you do in your undergrad to set you up for success in your career?
If I had the magic answer, I'd be a billionaire. But I do think what I did in undergrad that set me up for success was realizing what I didn't want to do. I started to intentionally figure that out.
I would apply to positions, go through the interview process, learn about it, and realize it wasn't the right fit. I looked at things like the Peace Corps, or I thought I wanted to be an elementary school teacher and shadowed someone who did that.
When I graduated, I still didn't know what I wanted to do, but I knew a lot of things I didn't want to do. This was helpful enough to give me momentum. I knew I wouldn't be miserable in the next step because I wouldn't just sign up for something like a volunteer coordinator position, which sounded overwhelming.
So, I think that set me up well for this job: giving myself time to figure out what I wanted to do. Knowing what you don't want to do is half the battle.