College of Business

Awareness to Action

MAJOR & ACADEMIC OPTIONS, PART I

This assignment is intended to help better prepare you for career, major and academic
exploration.

PART 1: SELF-EXPLORATION
It’s often said that college is a great time to discover yourself. This discovery doesn’t happen
without intentional introspection and reflection. Before you choose a major or a career path it’s
extremely helpful to know who you are: your interests, personality, values, skills and lifestyle
preferences.

Step 1: Skills and Interests

Your natural interests and skill sets can play a part in the decisions you make regarding your
career. Answer the questions below as honestly as you can. Then reflect on how these insights
can help you in your career development.

What is a task or hobby that when you do it, three hours fly by without you even noticing?
What is it about this activity that draws you in? I like training a lot. Specifically Jiu Jitsu and
MMA. I spend most of my free time in the gym.

What is one skill or ability you are particularly proud of or something someone told you
you’re good at? I am good at learning languages. I am almost fluent in 3 languages. I just
need a little bit more practice in Portuguese.

In thinking about your personal interests above, what broader career interests might these
connect to? (For example, do all or most of your interests involve collaborating with other
people or do you prefer to work independently? If you enjoy drawing, this might indicate a
career interest in being creative, while doing Wordle or solving puzzles could indicate a career
interest in problem solving, etc.) From my answers above I think I should look at something
related to traveling a lot. I would love to work for a mult-national company and have the
option to travel. It suits my interests very well. I like exploring new cultures and living in a
new world.
Step 2: Work and Success
Success is relative. It’s not just hard work that leads to success, but arguably doing work we
find fulfilling and meaningful that determines our success. And what you major in may provide
you with the skills and knowledge needed to better prepare you for work that meets your
needs; whatever those may be. Think about what matters most to you as you consider what
work and success means to you.

What does being successful in your career mean to you? Is your vision for success feeling
murky or crystal clear? Explain your response. I am unsure what I would view as successful. A
balance between my hobbies and my career would be optimal for me at this point in my life.

Why do you want to work? Money, influence or power, making the world a better place,
helping people, meaning and fulfillment? What role do work and career have in your life?
What defines “good” or “worthwhile” work to you? I think I just want to make my parents
proud. If they approve, I will be happy. Money would be amazing as well. I would allocate a
portion of my day to my career. I would always focus a lot on other things in my life like
training.

What types of fields or roles do you see yourself in? What do you value in a work
environment? Describe your ideal work environment and/or occupation. I would love to
work in a field like marketing or accounting. Business suits me well. I value great co-workers
and superiors in a work environment. I have had very bad experiences with bad bosses in the
past. They can ruin my job.

Is there a major or area of study that might indirectly or directly relate to this? There is an
accounting major. But I am still thinking about switching majors.

Step 3: ONET
Different positions require different skills and knowledge. So let’s further explore one
occupation that may be of interest to you. Visit ONETonline.org . What is the one career or job
title you are further exploring through this assignment? Enter the [career or job title] you are
interested from the previous question in the ONET search bar (top right corner).

What is the one career or job title you are further exploring through this assignment? Why
are you interested in this career or occupation? Accountant. I liked my accounting courses in
high school. They involved completing various financial statements for “made-up”
companies.

What is the 2022 Median Wage for this occupation? $78000 annualy or $37.50 per hour

In ONET, review “Work Activities,” “Skills” and “Knowledge”

List the 5 “work activities,” “Skills” and/or “Knowledge” that this occupation requires. Do you
have the skills and knowledge needed to do this work? If not, are you interested in
developing the necessary skills and knowledge?
1. Getting information
2. Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates
3. Working with computers
4. Evaluating information to determine compliance with standards
5. Documenting information
I don’t have all the required skills to be an accountant yet but I am confident that I
will be ready once I completed my degree with OSU.

What have you learned about your interests and/or abilities to do this type of work? What
are you most and/or least interested about this work? I am very excited to use complex
financial analysis software like Delphi technology. Computers are a big interest for me. I am
least excited about working with new people. I prefer to be alone.

PART 2: RESEARCH ONE MAJOR

Choose and select one of the 12 COB majors listed below that are available at the OSU Corvallis
campus and that you are interested in further exploring. Each of the majors below are linked to
a page on the COB website that includes 4-5 tabs (e.g. Learning Goals, Four-Year Plan, Career
Options) specific to each major. Review each of these links and respond to the following
questions.

Ecampus Students
 Business Administration (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Business Analytics (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Business Information Systems (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Finance (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Hospitality Management (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Management (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Marketing (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)
 Supply Chain and Logistics Management (Ecampus Info & College of Business Info)

Corvallis-based students
 Accounting
 Apparel Design
 Business Administration
 Business Analytics
 Business Information Systems
 Design & Innovation Management
 Finance
 Innovation Management
 Interior Design
 Management
 Marketing
 Merchandising Management
 Supply Chain and Logistics Management

What major did you select to research? Why? Is this a major you have already decided
upon or is this a new major you’re looking into for the first time? Business Administration. I
am already taking these courses. I might look at accounting after but for now I am happy. I
am most excited about the BA classes.

Review this major’s required and elective courses:

What classes might you be excited to take? What classes might you be nervous about? I am
very nervous about the math classes. In high school they were never my strong suit. I am very
interested in the

What are two occupations someone with this major could pursue? What skills are needed
for the occupations you’ve identified and/or within this major? Business manager, Business
consultant.

Does working in this field interest you? Why or why not? Yes business makes me very
excited. I find big CEO’s like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos very interesting. Companies like SpaceX
are very entertaining to keep track of.

In reading information on the department’s website, what excites or interests you about this
major? What would be your primary motivation for choosing this as a major? I can work in
big cities like New York or Washington if I am good at my job. I would love working at big
financial centers. I think I would love a corporate job.

What doesn’t excite you about this major? If my hours are going to be more that 50 for one
week I might be a bit disappointed. I really like my socail life.

What questions do you have about this major? List 2-3 questions. I wonder if I would be able
to switch to accounting later.
I want to know how much experience I need before I am able to take an MBA course.

PART 3: PROFESSIONAL AND MAJOR/ACADEMIC OPTION ALIGNMENT

In completing the two steps above, what did you learn about the majors and/or yourself?
What more do you want to know? Did this help you narrow down your interests? Why or
why not? The occupation website helped a lot. It cleared up my vision for the future. I know a
little bit better what to expect now. I would like to know if I could change my major.

Refer back to your personal interests and skills from Step 1 and the skills that are needed for
the occupations you identified for this major in Step 2. Compare your personal interests and
skills with the skills required of careers connected to this major.
List 2-3 skills you already have.
1. Computer skills
2. Interpersonal skills

Now, based on the skills you currently possess, and the skills required with the careers
connected to these majors: what are 1-2 gaps in your skills that you need to focus on while at
OSU?
1. Documenting information
2. Getting information

Does this major support your personality preferences, career interests, skills and values?
Explain your response. Yes I have always dreamed of starting my own business. This would be
a great opportunity for me.

Is this major a good fit for you? Why or why not? Yes. This major would set me up with the
corporate job that I need to reach my long term goals.