Major Choices

In this episode Rachel and Nathan talk all about working with a career coach, and how it can benefit you! C.J. Brooks from the IU Career Development Center also joins to share his perspective on how he works with students. Later in the episode, Nathan talks with Dr. Jesse Steinfeldt from the IU School of Education about the new bachelor's degree in counseling and student services. 

Nathan and Rachel swap two networking stories from their own career pathways. 

What does choosing your major, a global pandemic, and transitioning to college have in common?  Resiliency.  In this episode Nathan and Rachel explore what it takes to navigate through these major events of life, coming out stronger than before. Special guest Dana Olsen gives an inside look into Apparel Merchandising, a major that blends creativity with business, preparing students to hit the ground running, and how networking is queen when it comes to landing that first job. 

Looking for a major that makes a lot of money?  In this episode Nathan and Rachel explore career fields that traditionally bring in a hefty paycheck, but also offer some other non-traditional options of raising the bottom dollar and the importance of finding one’s own definition of success and a significant life.

Mr. Rogers once said, “Look for the helpers.” What do you do when you know you want to help, but aren’t exactly sure what that looks like career wise?  In today’s episode, Rachel and Nathan offer tactical strategies to help you navigate your way through the various helping professions and majors, and discuss how a 3 letter code might help unlock your path forward (Strong Interest Inventory).

Do you suffer from decision fatigue? Each day on average people make over 30,000 decisions - small ones from what to wear, eat for breakfast or when to cross the street. In today's episode, Rachel and Nathan look into the pathways of making a good decision, and caring for yourself through the process. Special interview with Mallori DeSalle from the School of Public Health at IU. 

Our personality is one of the biggest attributes that makes us uniquely who we are. How do we learn more about the intricacies of our personality to make informed career decisions? In this episode, Rachel and Nathan talk about the Myers-Briggs Type Indicators and how a person's personality traits may impact career development.

We often hear career advice that shouts, “Do what you love!”  But is this really the best wisdom?  What happens when our passions fall short? In this episode, Rachel and Nathan debunk this common myth and offer a new structure to consider--start with your strengths and identify these in combination with your top interests. Special guest:  Erin Predmore, President and CEO of the Bloomington Chamber of Commerce, shares how her passion to become an astronaut led her to a pursuit in advocating for a stronger local economy.

Industries today are changing at lightning speed--so maybe choosing to pursue that ‘hot career’ isn’t actually the most foolproof way to decide on a career path. What’s a better way forward?  In today’s episode, Nathan and Rachel discuss one of the best indicators for discovering a satisfying and fulfilling career for you--a job that aligns with your values.  Special interview guest:  Brandi Smith, Executive Director of Coaching at Ivy Tech Community College who shares how following her values took her from throwing pottery, and ended up with her being named one of the most influential women leaders in the state of Indiana.