A new service being offered by the Minnesota West Community and Technical College seeks to assist both students and the public in answering the age old questions: What do I want to do and where can I be useful?
Today’s slumping and information-based, green economy creates but additional pressure on such queries by suggesting that there are fewer jobs, and that the jobs that are, are new.
According to Minn. West Technical Advisor Laurel Smiglewski, this makes it a prudent time to attend college for the first time, or to re-enroll, so that one can be prepared for both existing or entirely new fields.
To help current students and interested public figure out where it is that they may want to apply their efforts, Minnesota West is offering a free computer aided career test called, CareerScope.
What makes CareerScope unique and particularly useful is that it is used “to see where career interest and aptitude line up,” said Smiglewski. And by matching ability with desire, one can be pointed toward a particular career and informed of what sort of educational background it will take to arrive there.
What it’s like
To get the gist of the program, this reporter was invited to take part in CareerScope.
After setting up an appointment with the accommodating Smiglewski, the Minnesota West Advisor provided a brief run-down of what was to be expected and emphasized that the computer would walk you through the process.
Walk, however, was an overstatement, as even the most computer illiterate individuals would have no problem going through the baby-step by baby-step process that some will find slow, but far from bothersome.
Separated into the two main – interest and aptitude – portions, with additional subdivisions from there, the whole process takes about an hour.
All of the questions are multiple choice, but some may require minor pencil and paper work during the math portions of the aptitude test.
It all goes by quick and is, really, pretty fun.
Once completed a computer printout tabulates the answers and, by coordinating interest with aptitude, generates a list of the most applicable employment possibilities that are in the highest demand today.
So that there is no confusion, Smiglewski assists in breaking down the information, answering any questions and leading one toward the best possible course of action whether it is through classes provided at the Granite Falls campus or some other college.
As for me, some of the results surprised, most I expected. And sure enough, the initial recommendation I received suggested a job in the field of literary arts including: book editor, critic, lyricist, screen writer, editorial writer, etc.
“It’s a starting point for people to go off,” said Smiglewski.
CareerScope is open to students and the public. Call Minnesota West Advisor Laurel Smiglewski for an appointment between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at 320-564-5052.
