Racheal Alvstad / Scroll
A student takes a career exploration test in the Spencer W. Kimball Student and Administrative Building. The test identifies students’ strengths and weaknesses to assist them as they decide a career that suits their lives.

Career exploration class offers students direction

Amber Goodwin GOO03004@BYUI.EDU Scroll Staff

Undecided. This one word is known by many freshmen, sophomores and juniors alike. It is the total sum of their thoughts about the future and often the cause of much stress.

BYU-Idaho offers a class to help students understand what they want out of their future career.

“I really don’t know what I want to do. I just want to figure out what I want,” said Mike Jeppson, a sophomore from Burley, Idaho.

Most students at BYU-I have felt this way at some time or another.

The question is: why do so many students feel this?

“From my perspective, it is fear, apprehension, confusion and lack of knowledge about their own skills and interests and how these fit into the working world,” said Sid Ahrendsen, Career and Academic Advising faculty.

Ahrendsen admits he changed his major three times in college.

The one-credit Career Exploration class is offered every semester on the block.

“The class is set up to explore career opportunities for those who are unsure about what occupations match their abilities and interests. 

It also helps to confirm the career selections of students who have selected a specific major,” Ahrendsen said.

Many different activities are used to accomplish this task. Projects vary from personality tests to interviewing people with jobs of interest.

Students also have the opportunity to learn skills they can use right now.

They learn to create a resume, to interview, to write a cover letter and to effectively network.

“This class has helped me solidify my personality and [decide] what careers I want to have. I’ve narrowed them down,” said Jeppson, who is enrolled in the class this semester.

For more information about the Career Exploration class (GS 100) contact Ahrendsen at 496-1179 or by e-mail at ahrendsen@byui.edu.

Also, students who have not selected a major yet may benefit from a new program called “From Undecided to Decided: A better way to choose your major.”

This is an online program that walks students through a series of steps which help them make informed decisions about their major choice.

Contact Amy LaBaugh from the Career and Academic Advising Office at 496-3123 or by e-mail at labaugha@byui.edu for additional information.