{"product_id":"you-majored-in-what-isbn-9780452296008","title":"You Majored in What?","description":"\u003cb\u003eFully revised and updated in 2017, the revolutionary career guide for a new generation of job-seekers, from one of the U.S.’s top career counselors \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e “So what are you going to do with your major?”\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e It’s an innocent question that can haunt students from high school to graduate school and beyond.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e Relax. Your major is just the starting point for designing a meaningful future. In this indispensable guide, Dr. Katharine Brooks shows you a creative, fun, and intelligent way to figure out what you want to do and how to get it—no matter what you studied in college. You will learn to map your experiences for insights into your strengths and passions, design possible lives, and create goals destined to take you wherever you want to go. Using techniques and ideas that have guided thousands of college students to successful careers, Dr. Brooks will teach you to outsmart and outperform your competition, with more Wisdom Builders and an easily applied career development process.\u003cbr\u003e  \u003cbr\u003e No matter what career you aspire to, \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What\u003c\/i\u003e? offers a practical, creative, and successful approach to finding your path to career fulfillment.\"Brooks… provides those tools in the form of a series of quizzes and exercises designed to crystallize students' talents and inclinations. She then explains how to use the results to choose a direction, stand out from the crowd and wow job interviews.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eTIME\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Combines... \u003ci\u003eWhat Color Is Your Parachute?\u003c\/i\u003e with genuinely practical advice.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"An appealing blend of poetry and pragmatism. [Brooks] talks about finding the narrative of your life and harnessing the value of happenstance, but she also coaches readers on the nuts-and-bolts of resume writing and interviewing. \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What?\u003c\/i\u003e would make a wonderful gift to both high school and college grads.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eAustin American-Statesman\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Supportive, ingenious, and fun, Brooks's innovative career coaching can turn beloved interests into satisfying vocations.\"—\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eBoston Globe\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Dr. Brooks, a longtime college career advisor, provides students with an optimistic, encouraging outlook, and shows them that their strengths and skills are more important than choice of major... a positive reinforcement to the students who pursue their interest in liberal arts, and parlay the same interests into successful careers.\"—\u003cb\u003eExaminer.com\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"In times like these it's crucial to look at entering the workplace from a whole new perspective and \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What?\u003c\/i\u003e accomplishes this! Who cares what your college major is? What is more important are your dreams, values, and strengths and this book helps any young person figure these things out and find a career that fits. Buy it now! It's great!\"—\u003cb\u003eJulie Jansen, author of \u003ci\u003eI Don't Know What I Want, but I Know It’s Not This!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Brooks addresses the key challenges faced by many college students as they attempt to bridge the chasm between sixteen years of education and the largely unknown world of work. \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What?\u003c\/i\u003e is truly a great guide for the soon-to-be-launched student. At a time when all job-hunters are going to need to raise their level of job-getting skills, Kate Brooks has provided the liberal arts grad with exactly what they need to compete and succeed.\"—\u003cb\u003eJaye R. Roseborough, former Executive Director, Career Services, Middlebury College \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\"A lifeline for parents and students who value a liberal arts education. Katharine Brooks offers smart and accessible insights that turn the apparent chaos of a liberal arts major into a ‘wandering map’ to illuminate many routes toward a fulfilling career and life.\"—\u003cb\u003eJames H. Madison, Professor Emeritus of History and former Director, Liberal Arts and Management Program, Indiana University\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Students of all ages will gain valuable insight into their own interests, goals, and career aspirations from this book, even if all they do is skim the first 2 chapters. \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What?\u003c\/i\u003e helps young people find the connections between their interests and the inexhaustible career options available to them. This book should be sent to every student with their letter of admission or given to every first-year student at the start of orientation. I hope to share it with my graduate students.\"—\u003cb\u003ePaul Binkley, Director, Student Career Development, Johns Hopkins University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"The wisdom contained in this book could not have become available at a better time for the millions of Gen Y college students and recent graduates who are simultaneously struggling with crushing levels of student debt and the desire to find a career where they can do meaningful work that is a benefit to society.\"\u003cb\u003e—Steven Rothberg, President and Founder, CollegeRecruiter.com \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"An amazing, refreshing new perspective on an ancient question that does not leave sage advice behind! This book takes tried-and-true concepts and adds meaning and organization. One can't help but think, engage and be encouraged by Kate's valuable wisdom! Useful as a course text, a journal, a job search manual, or what it reads like: a personal career companion, mentor or friend. Born of chaos theory, this book is ready to deliver into the hands of the yearning who are eager to absorb it. Loaded with images, constructive strategies, and meaningful advice, \u003ci\u003eYou Majored in What?\u003c\/i\u003e is intellectual, but practical, and readers will deepen their appreciation of their majors. With its many examples, exercises, reflections and real life stories, this book has something for every reader to grab a hold of to achieve not only career success, but life and work success.\"—\u003cb\u003eDenise Dwight Smith, Assistant Vice President, Alumni and Career Services, University of Richmond \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"A wonderful guide and workbook not only for the undergraduate student but also for the career practitioner! Whether a student, mentor, or coach, unquestionably you will be inspired and empowered by the possibilities that will result from the Wise Wandering and mapping activities.\"\u003cb\u003e—Meg Flournoy, Sector Director, Duke MBA Career Management Center\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Filled with interactive exercises and is written in an engaging and practical way. This book will be a helpful resource for students as they consider their post-college plans.\"—\u003cb\u003eDeanne H. Maxwell, Associate Director, Student and Career Development, Cornell University\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Will speak to the person in career transition or the college student simply overwhelmed by the options. The tone is light and the exercises are manageable, designed to release your hidden dreams and strengths. This is a fresh and much needed addition to the field of career development.\"—\u003cb\u003eBeverly T. Lorig, Assistant Director, Career Services, University of Virginia\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Offers plenty of answers to take willing readers on a journey of self-discovery from chaos to satisfying career choices.\"—\u003cb\u003eSkip Sturman, Emeritus Director, Career Services, Dartmouth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDR. KATHARINE BROOKS\u003c\/b\u003e is the Evans Family Executive Director of the Career Center at Vanderbilt University. A nationally recognized career coach, trainer, professor, and counselor for more than thirty years, she is the creator of the National Association of Colleges and Employers Career Coaching Intensives. She has a doctorate in educational psychology.\u003c\/p\u003eChapter 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Moving from College to Career\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Making Sense of the Chaos\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e -Friedrich Nietzsche, Thus Spake Zarathustra\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Has it happened yet? Have you been asked THE QUESTION?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e You know the one: it's the question that cuts to the core of your      existence, the question that haunts you pretty much from the time      you decide to be a college student to months, even years, after      you graduate. It starts so innocently. Someone asks you what your      major is, so you tell them.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There's a slight pause. Then comes THE QUESTION:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"What are you going to do with that?\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e OK, think fast.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I'm going to law school,\" you say, because it sounds good, even      though you aren't really sure you want to. Or \"I'm thinking about      med school,\" even though you have no interest in science classes.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The questioner's face relaxes; maybe he even smiles. He pats you      on the shoulder. \"Wow, that's great!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e And that's how the lie begins . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Do you feel sometimes there's a cosmic joke at work? That you      chose this really interesting major but now you're wondering, was      it worth it? Or perhaps you're just starting college and the      pressure of THE QUESTION is already making you nervous. Do I have      to choose a career when I choose my major? And will I make a      terrible mistake if I choose the wrong major?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Pressure of the        Linear Path\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The problem behind THE QUESTION is that it assumes a linear path      between your major and your career. Your major must somehow equal      your career. The lure of the linear path is powerful. It's      embedded in our thinking. From the time you played with fire      trucks and people asked you if you wanted to be a firefighter,      linear paths to careers have been assumed to be the natural state      of things. So it seems only logical that you would pursue a major      that would become your ultimate career. Business majors go into      business. Engineering majors become engineers. Philosophy majors      become . . . ? Hmm . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Your parents would probably be thrilled if you had a glitch-free      linear path from school to work all worked out. You know, \"I'm      studying accounting so I can be an accountant,\" or \"I'm going to      be an English major so I can teach English.\" You might be secretly      relieved as well.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e But that's early twentieth-century thinking-1909 to be exact, when      the trait-and-factor approach was designed to determine the best      career choices for people. As America shifted from an agricultural      to an industrial society, vocational researchers sought ways to      determine the best fit between individuals and their jobs. Career      tests were designed to match people's interests and skills with      potential vocations. Society placed additional restraints on      employment, with women and minorities relegated to narrow fields.      Most people pursued education to learn a specific trade, and a      college education was reserved for the elite few who would likely      go on to teaching, medicine, law, or the ministry.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In the twenty-first century, a college education is wide open to      many more individuals regardless of gender, race, or career goal.      Many students now choose a college education because of the      interesting subjects they can study, not necessarily because of a      specific career plan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Whatever your reason for pursuing your major, you, like many      others, are probably struggling with THE QUESTION: What do I do      with this degree? Where is my linear path?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e To help you envision such a path, here's a list of the careers of      some recent graduates, drawn from alumni surveys from three      institutions. Note the relatively direct relationship between      their majors and their careers.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Major    Job\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Art    Cartoonist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Asian American Studies    Teaching English as a second language in                 Korea   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chemistry    Veterinarian\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Classics\/Archaeology    Latin teacher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dramatic Arts    MTV program developer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Economics    Bond trader on Wall Street\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e English    Editor, major publishing house\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e French and Spanish    Foreign Service officer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Geography    High school geography teacher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Government    Special prosecutor, district attorney's office\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Government    Republican National Committee PR staff\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Psychology    Psychotherapist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Religion    Minister, single adults program\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Can you see the linear relationship that exists between a major      and a career? The symmetry between the job titles and the use of      the graduates' skills? The English major is using her writing      skills. The psychology major is helping people. The economics      major is working on Wall Street. Helpful and reassuring, isn't it?      Not only can you get a job, your job can be directly related to      your major.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e There's only one problem with the list: it's all wrong. These are      the actual careers of the alumni with those majors:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e MAJOR    JOB\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Art    Special prosecutor, district attorney's office\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Asian American Studies    Bond trader on Wall Street\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chemistry    Teaching English as a second language in            Korea   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Classics\/Archaeology    Foreign Service officer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Dramatic Arts    Republican National Committee PR staff\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Economics    Veterinarian\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e English    Psychotherapist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e French and Spanish    Latin teacher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Geography    Editor, major publishing house\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Government    Minister, single adults program\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Government    High school geography teacher\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Psychology    Cartoonist\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Religion    MTV program developer\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Oops.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Is something wrong here? No, something's actually right. Clearly,      reality doesn't always match up to that traditional linear career      path. These graduates, whether by design or by accident, have      channeled the real, deep value of their academic and life      experiences, and taken them beyond traditional thinking.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The linear career path hasn't disappeared. Some psychology majors      do become psychologists and some English majors become English      professors. But linear thinking can keep you from thinking broadly      about your options and being open-minded to new opportunities, and      ready to respond to the constantly shifting nature of the job      market. So let's start thinking about YOUR career path.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Wandering Off\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e My Degree Equals My Earning Power\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Want to know the number one most requested piece of information      from college career centers? The employment figures from first      destination and alumni surveys. Everyone, from students to parents      to government agencies, wants to know what percentage of students      found jobs by graduation. And how much they were earning. And      their major. There seems to be a theory that if sociology majors      found jobs in X field, making X dollars, then I, a sociology      major, can find a job in X field making X dollars. While there's      some truth to that theory, there's less truth than you might      imagine.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Study after study shows poor correlations between students'      undergraduate majors and their income. Get that? Weak correlation.      You're working off a common myth that your degree equals your      earning power.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Your earning power is much more affected by where you live, your      field of work, and your job title. An accounting major working for      a small nonprofit organization in the Midwest will likely earn      less than an English major working as an investment banker in New      York City. Get the point?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Is it true that engineers generally make higher salaries than      liberal arts majors? Yes. But-hello-they're engineers. Do you want      to be an engineer? Then go to engineering school and be one.      Problem solved. Just remember, engineering is a great career      field, but it isn't right for everyone.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e So take a minute to think about what you've said and heard about      career planning. You can catch yourself (or your parents) thinking      linearly about careers if you're harboring any of these thoughts:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"My major equals my career.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I can't do much with a liberal arts degree.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I guess I should go to grad school or law school.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Career tests will tell me what to do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"Career counselors can tell me what to do.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I should know what I want to do before starting my job search.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \"I should wait until I graduate to start my job search.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e So if this linear approach doesn't really work all that well in      the twenty-first century, what model do you turn to?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e How College Students        Really Find Jobs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e It's ridiculous to ask liberal arts students what they plan to do      in five years. They don't even know what they plan to have for      dinner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e -Anonymous college career counselor\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e As we've noted, if you listen to most people and read most career      books or websites, you might assume that the job search is a      linear logical process: you set a specific career goal, follow      clearly outlined steps, and arrive at the perfect job. But try      asking graduates how they actually arrived at their current jobs.      You'll get replies like this one from Christine, a psychology      major:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e I don't know exactly. I majored in psychology and thought I'd      pursue a PhD and maybe become a professor. But I also liked my      anthropology classes, and a professor told me about a summer      internship in a museum. I helped create an exhibit on Native      American art and I really enjoyed the work. Then an alumna spoke      at a career program on her work at the Smithsonian Institution. It      sounded interesting so I went up and introduced myself to her. We      kept in touch and she called me during my senior year to see if I      would be interested in a fund-raising position for the      Smithsonian's new Native American exhibit. So here I am using my      psychology skills to ask important business and community leaders      to fund our research and exhibits. And I love it. And now that I      know how museums work and how to raise money, my goal is to open      an art gallery\/museum on a Native American reservation.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Notice how this story starts out in a linear way: The student was      studying psychology so she could become a psychology professor.      But then a totally unpredictable event occurred: Her internship at      a museum caused her to start thinking about other choices. And      then a chance meeting with an alumna resulted in a job      opportunity. If you had asked her at age eighteen, \"What are you      going to do with that psychology major?\" do you think she would      have said, \"I'm going to open an art gallery\/museum in New      Mexico\"?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Unplanned events and emerging conditions changed this individual's      circumstances. We need a theory that fits this more typical      situation, and a system that recognizes that just like the life of      the psychology major above, yours isn't unfolding in a straight      line either, and the job search seems chaotic and messy at best.      Enter chaos theory and the Wise Wanderings system-a nonlinear and      much more relevant approach to finding your career. Once you learn      the key elements of chaos theory and the Wise Wanderings system in      this book, you'll find you can relax and go with the flow of your      job search instead of wanting to force and control everything.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In fact, Christine's story illustrates a key element of chaos      theory: the butterfly effect. The butterfly effect states that a      small incident at the beginning of a process (such as a butterfly      flapping its wings or an alumnus speaking at a career event) can      produce a large variation in the long-term outcome (ultimately      causing a tornado or a new career). A chaos-based career system      allows for change and the unexpected. It takes into account your      diverse interests and broad scope of knowledge, and takes      advantage of how the job search really works today. In their book,      Luck Is No Accident, Dr. Krumboltz and Dr. Levin reported that      almost 70 percent of university graduates said their careers were      significantly influenced by unplanned events-in other words, the      butterfly effect. Giving yourself permission to explore and let      events unfold is a wise and practical approach indeed. After all,      employers are more interested in your competencies-what you do      well-than in your major.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Wisdom Builder 1\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Literature@Work:        Charles Dickens Explains        the Butterfly Effect\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In Charles Dickens's book Great Expectations, the lead character      Pip makes the following observation:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e That was a memorable day to me, for it made great changes in me.      But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck      out of it, and think how different its course would have been.      Pause you who read this, and think for a moment of the long chain      of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound      you, but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Sounds a lot like the butterfly effect, doesn't it? With a twist,      though: instead of thinking about an event that happened, Dickens      is asking you to think about something that didn't happen. How      would your life be different if a particular event had not      occurred?\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e What if you could actually harness the power of the butterfly? You      can. Let's start by learning more about chaos theory.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chaos Theory\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e The Wise Wanderings system you're going to use to create your      career plan is based on an understanding of chaos theory. People      usually smile when you tell them that careers follow chaos theory      rather than linear theory. Chaos theory conjures up thoughts of      disruption and being out of control: the notion that there is no      rhyme or reason to one's career path. But despite its name, chaos      theory is anything but chaotic. It's just complex-like you and      your career can be. The order is there, but it's not clearly      visible on the surface. Chaos theory has the power to transform      how you conduct your job search.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chaos theory is based on mathematical formulas originally designed      to develop a better weather-prediction model. Think about it: how      successful are we at predicting the weather? Sometimes we're      pretty good. When the conditions are foreseen, when nothing      changes, and when we know certain physical laws are being      followed, we can predict the weather. If we see a front moving      across the map, we know a storm is coming. But what happens when      something interrupts the pattern? What if the front coming from      the west suddenly encounters another storm coming up the East      Coast? When and where will they meet? How well can we predict a      tornado's path? Not too well generally. We know it's coming      (sometimes) but we can't tell where it's going. Chaos theory helps      us understand that too many variables in a complex system make it      hard to predict the outcome.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e We also know from chaos theory that the greater the distance      between now and the future, the weaker our prediction will be. For      instance, we're pretty good at predicting the weather today. Maybe      even tomorrow or within the next week. But after that, our      predictions get shaky. We may notice trends, or make logical      inferences such as if it's August, it will be hot (at least in      most of the United States), but chaos theory helps us understand      we can't predict the future in greater detail.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Chaos Theory and Your Career\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Just as complex factors influence the weather, the path to a      career can be complex with all sorts of intervening variables,      including family origin, level of education, individual skills and      talents, the job market, and so on. And just like weather      forecasting, career planning is a form of prediction, right?      Aren't you trying to guess the career path you'll pursue in the      future based on the degree you're pursuing, the experiences you've      had, or what you like or dislike? And isn't it easier to predict      what you'll do this evening (or even this semester) than what      you'll be doing in two years?","brand":"Plume","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46304276807909,"sku":"NP9780452296008","price":19.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780452296008.jpg?v=1767744760","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/es\/products\/you-majored-in-what-isbn-9780452296008","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}