Career Planning

After completing the career assessments, you should have some ideas for potential college majors and career options that align with who you are and what you hope to accomplish. Next, you need to learn more about these majors and careers. Good decisions require careful thought about the choices before you.

Below are several links to sources that provide information on UH West Oʻahu majors and general career options. These sites can help you learn about specific academic departments at UH West Oʻahu and their requirements, the nature of each college major, and career options. You will also find career information, such as job descriptions, salary ranges, and employment outlook for all kinds of employment.

Choosing a Major

  • Meet with a career development specialist to discuss majors that interest you and how you’ll develop skills that relate to the world of work.
  • Complete career self-assessments that can help you narrow down your job choices and choose a career path that is compatible with your values, interests, skills, and personality.
  • Check out “What Can I Do With This Major?”. This tool will help connect your major with possible careers. It lists areas you may wish to pursue along with employers and strategies to land a job in that field.
  • Engage in discussions with fellow students about what they like and dislike about their majors, as well as requirements and favorite courses.
  • Check out UH West Oʻahu Degrees, Certificates, and Pathways webpages. Review information on majoring in that discipline, courses offered, and faculty.
  • Talk to your academic advisor and faculty advisor, and check your STAR to make sure you are aware of the requirements for completing your chosen major. You can find more advising information and Program Sheets here.

Researching Careers

Learn about careers by engaging in discussions with family, friends, faculty, and fellow students and through the following resources:

  • Hawaiʻi Career Explorer is a University of Hawai’i Community Colleges online tool that provides occupational data across all sectors, creating a holistic snapshot of industry demands and the current spread of occupations. Answer questions regarding academics, programming, careers, job availability, and trends.
  • Bureau of Labor Statistics provides information from the principal fact-finding agency for the federal government in the broad field of labor economics and statistics.
  • CareerOneStop allows you to find information on careers, salaries, educational requirements, and labor market trends. Job search assistance is also available.
  • With the Occupational Outlook Handbook, you can gather career information such as job descriptions, educational requirements, salary ranges, and employment outlook.
  • Identify resources offered in specific industries, such as professional associations, or in the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). Determine whether a graduate degree is necessary to pursue the careers you are exploring.
  • Gather information at career development events including career and internship fairs, employer networking and information sessions, and alumni career and networking events.
  • If you are a current UH West Oʻahu student you can talk to a career development specialist about ways to research fields of interest.