No, I don't want to do what Mom and Dad did for a living
By Lynn Vincent • Bankrate.com

But what will I do?

If you're like 62 percent of the college grads polled recently by USA Today, you probably don't want to do what your parents did for a living. But if you aren't going to follow in Mom or Dad's footsteps, narrowing down career options can be a challenge -- especially with more than 12,000 different occupations crowding the vocational landscape.

There's good news, though: Whether you're fresh from college or you've been around the block a time or two, a world of vocational exploration resources awaits. From college and online career services to traditional career counselors, today there are more ways than ever to choose a career path that's right for you.

College career services

Search the Web for keyword "career center" and your "hit" parade will be heavily populated by college and university career centers. According to Judy Gumbiner, Director of Career Services at San Diego State University, these one-stop career shops feature a healthy menu of employment assessment and exploration services.

Most students know their career centers offer services such as one-to-one counseling, assessment tests and career fairs, says Gumbiner, who is president emeritus and a current board member for the National Association of Colleges and Employers.

But, she says, many students -- and grads -- aren't aware of other, not-so-obvious perks that can be had for the asking.

For example, San Diego State's career offices offer selected services for alumni and graduates of other universities. In addition, they host more than a hundred "information sessions" each semester. At these small, intimate meetings, a single employer will make a presentation on career opportunities with his or her firm, then answer questions from attendees, and even provide one-to-one feedback.

"Every student should visit their campus career office at least once a year, whether they think they need it or not," Gumbiner says. "A well-planned, proactive approach to vocational exploration will ultimately increase career marketability."

Online career help

Since the mid-'90s, when the Internet first peeked over the horizon of American commerce, career-related Web sites have been springing up like mushrooms on a damp morning lawn. These sites can provide career seekers with easy access to a variety of help. They include Bureau of Labor Statistics and professional online counseling. But, like mushrooms, some career sites are useful and others should be studiously avoided.

"A lot of career information is published on the Web," says James Gonyea, founder and director of America Online's Gonyea Online Career Center, the No. 1 online career service in the country. "The question is, is the information any good?"

Gonyea, a Florida-based career counselor who has penned five job search books including "The Online Job Search Companion," is now completing research for a new book that will categorize and review hundreds of career-related Web sites. From his research, he shares three criteria that can help you decide whether one good mouse-click deserves another.

"First, ask yourself 'Who is producing this information?'" Gonyea advises. "If I don't see a solid bio on the author of a particular site, I get really leery." Second, Gonyea surveys the visual quality of site. "If it's really basic or kind of Mickey-Mouse, you may want to question the credibility of the people behind it."

A third warning sign, according to Gonyea, is a lack of contact information. If you don't see a name and phone number, or at least an e-mail address, he says, be suspicious.

Most career Web sites are related to job search and placement, with far fewer offering credible career exploration services. At minimum, a true career center should offer assessment tools, counseling, career marketing, occupational data and self-help resources.

Career counseling services

Whether you're selecting an online service or a more traditional career counselor, consider this: The person you choose will be helping you to create your future.

That's why it's critical to pick a counselor who takes a holistic approach to career issues, says Howard Sambol, a career coach and director of ENCOMPASS, a full-service career firm in San Rafael, Calif.

"Look for someone who deals with the 'whole you,' you as a human being," Sambol says. "Steer clear of any counselor who tries to categorize you or put you in a box."

Sambol, creator of Career Crafting, a program designed to assist clients in integrating career choices with individual interests, skills and values, says a worthy career counselor will be creative, intuitive, strong on assessment and skilled in career marketing. Look also for benchmark services such as formal career assessment tools; goal-setting; career planning and marketing; and the establishment of a support system to assist you during your job search.

"Most importantly, make sure any counselor or service you choose is going to stick with you," Sambol advises. "The career decisions you make now could affect the rest of your life. Be sure to find someone who won't leave you in the lurch."

Online counseling runs around $45 for a 30-minute session. Some counseling firms charge a roll-up price for "bundled" services and often arrange payment plans to help spread out the cost.

Is it worth the extra dough?  Jim Gonyea says his company has had only one request for a refund for services since they introduced their online counseling in 1995.

-- Posted: April 21, 1998