Career exploration and choosing a major or program of study

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The Office of Career Development encourages undecided students to explore their options.  No matter where you are in your career development, in order to make informed decisions, you need information about yourself and about the world of work.  A variety of resources to assist you in your exploration process are provided.

Focus 2 Career Assessment​ 

FOCUS 2 is a self-paced, online career and education planning tool for college students. It will enable you to self-assess your career-relevant personal qualities and explore career fields and areas of study that are most compatible with your assessment results. FOCUS 2 also provides valuable occupation information.
FOCUS 2 Provides:

  • ​Career assessments
  • Occupational information
  • Videos about various career fields​
  • Career planning tools
  • Career options by education level
  • Side-by-side occupational comparisons

To optimize your use of FOCUS 2, be sure to:
​Complete the Self-Assessment section within the program.
Schedule an appointment with the Office of Career Development to review your results by calling 740.364.9578.

To Get Started with FOCUS 2
Returning users: Log in Now using the account you have already created.​
First-time users: Create a New Account Use the following ACCESS CODE when prompted – COTC
Choose a username and password for future use. Be sure to remember your personal username and password as the Office of Career Development will not have it on file.

For more information on what FOCUS 2 assessment can do for you, view ​this presentation​. FOCUS 2 Career

Remember, choosing a program of study and career path is your own responsibility and no assessment or career advisor can make these difficult decisions for you. However, FOCUS 2 is a great place to start and the Office of Career Development is here to help you weigh your options.

Questions – contact the Office of Career Development at goetz.152@mail.cotc.edu or 740.755.7804.

What Can I Do With This Major​

Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help. Learn typical career areas and types of employers that hire in these fields, as well as strategies to make you a more marketable candidate. Continue your research through the websites provided.

What Can I Do With This Major? is produced by the University of Tennessee’s Center for Career Development, and rights to use the product are sold through a subscription. If your institution is interested in purchasing a subscription, please visit our Webstore for ordering information. If you are a student, contact your school’s career center.

What Can I Do With This Major​

Experiential Learning – Students

Experiential learning involves the attainment of professional experience through a variety of means.  Formalized methods may include internships, fieldwork, practicum, clinical experiences, and service-learning.  Such experiences may be based within an academic program and credit-bearing, while others may be a result of a student’s interest in his or her professional development.  Experiential learning also includes informal approaches such as job shadowing, volunteerism, campus leadership, and other co-curricular opportunities.

The message is clear, the attainment of a degree is not enough.  Employers are looking for new employees that have knowledge, skills, and experience related to the field.  Students must be able to demonstrate the application of these abilities and posses the “soft skills” that all organizations are seeking.  Participating in one or multiple experiences while in college will help you reach your professional goals.

The Ohio State University at Newark and Central Ohio Technical College recognize the importance of experiential learning opportunities for both the educational advancement of students and the growth of host employers’ businesses and organizations. 

Experiential Learning Quick Links

Experiential Learning – Employers

How an Internship Will Benefit Your Organization
  • ​​An intern’s fresh perspective can shed light on opportunities that are currently not being utilized, as well as help solve old problems
  • ​Internships allow employers to cost-effectively “test drive” interns as potential employees
  • Hosting an intern will help determine if there is enough additional work to support hiring someone full time
  • With an intern working on temporary/seasonal projects, the professional staff can pursue bigger projects
What Is an Internship?

​Internship: A temporary, hands-on working and learning experience designed to prepare an individual for a particular career field.

General Internship Agreement (Non Credit-Bearing)

Every student participating in a non credit-bearing internship must provide documentation prior to the start of the experience. The Internship Agreement (for non credit-bearing internships) should be reviewed and signed by all involved parties:

  • Participating Student
  • Internship/Experience Site Supervisor 
  • Office of Career Development

The student should return the completed form with an Internship Position Description to the Office of Career Development located in Warner 226.​​

Create a Position Description

The purpose of the internship position description is to provide a framework to what the intern will be doing throughout the experience.  An internship position description should include:​​​​

  • ​Internship position title
  • C​ompany/Organization name and location
  • Intern supervisor name, title, and contact information
  • Preferred major or program of study
  • Primary duties/responsibilities of intern
  • Position requirements and/or Preferred skills and experience
  • Number of hours student is expected to serve in the internship—if not set by the academic program of study
  • Daily hours per week/days per week service is to take place
  • Internship start date/end date
  • Wages employer is to pay intern per hour/week/month—if applicable
  • How a student is to apply for the internship
  • Consider identifying special projects such as writing assignments, evaluating or processing data, creation of a project or special report for the internship site organization, etc.

​Post Your Internship Opportunity

Visit our electronic job board powered by College Central Network at www.collegecentral.com/cotc

Once registered, you can post your internship opportunities to Ohio State Newark and Central Ohio Technical College.  An employer help sheet for use of the site is located here​.

Unpaid Internship Postings

While unpaid internships are accepted, we strongly encourage employers to review the items below with their human resources department and legal counsel to determine whether or not their internship is in compliance with federal law. 

Employer Quick Links

Job and Internship Board

Central Ohio Technical College Uses College Central Network as its official Resume and Job posting service.

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Student and Alumni Registration Directions

Employer Registration Directions

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Visit OhioMeansJobs to explore additional job opportunities throughout the state.