Majors & Careers
Your life and career path may have many unexpected turns. For example, a campus job led Christina Kim '14 to choose a completely different major.
It’s OK if you don’t know what to do with your life yet. At UB, you have time to figure it out — and countless opportunities to try new things. Of course, you can always rely on our experts to answer questions and help you decide what to do next.
There is More Out There to Discover.
Start by exploring yourself-- like, don't like and what you're curious about.
Discover Your Strengths
Before you can explore options, you need to discover yourself. What interests you? What are your strengths and skills? No one knows you better than yourself.
Your expert career counselor may recommend one of our assessment tools to help with your major/career decision-making. If so, that assessment is free! If you're interested in taking additional assessments, small fees may apply. Talk with your career counselor to choose the assessment that is right for you.
Assessment Tools
Focus 2 Career
**Highly recommended.
Focus2 is a self-paced career & major exploration tool that helps you identify your interests. It then connects those interests with a major and/or career for you. This interactive online tool provides multiple self-assessments by asking simple questions about your hobbies, skills, values and work interests.
How to get started:
Get access once you create/register a new account using your UB email address and the access code: ubbulls. Choose from any of the self-assessments to get started.
Register a new account with your UB email address and the access code: ubbulls
What's Next?
After completing, you’ll be able to view and debrief your results, explore UB majors, search and compare different careers, and have the confidence in choosing/switching a major and a career.
Still need help figuring things out? Check out our Focus2 debrief that will help you break down your result with your next steps.
CliftonStrengths for Students
CliftonStrengths helps you learn about your strengths and how to develop and apply your strengths in school and your career.
Strong Interest Inventory
Strong Interest Inventory helps you define general career areas and finds a list of jobs that might be a good match for you.
Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
Personality assessment tool that helps describe your strengths, your preferred role in a job and specific career areas that you might be interested in.
Career Thoughts Inventory
A tool to help you identify, challenge and alter negative career thoughts that impact your decision making.
Research Majors and Careers
Focus2
Take a self-assessment and explore different majors and careers (occupations). You’ll also be able to compare different careers side by side before choosing.
U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH)
Research typical job tasks, working conditions, required training and education, earnings, and expected job outlook.
O*NET Online
Search by keywords, interests, skills, values and a variety of other methods.
UB Career Connector Network
Powered by Firsthand
Find and talk to UB alums about their major, where they are today and their journey of how they got there during a career conversation consultation.
Register and sign in with your UB email address.
Learn More About Graduate School
Exploring the idea of going to Graduate or Professional School? Learn about the types of degrees, how to choose a graduate school, how to plan and more.
Yes, I Need to Figure Out My Options!
Talk to a Career Counselor, schedule a new appointment in Bullseye powered by Handshake.
What's Next
Debriefing your Focus2 assessments
You've taken an assessment in Focus2, now what?
We'll break it down for you while reflecting on your result and connecting with people who'll help along your way.
You haven't taken Focus2 assessment yet?
If you haven't already and want to take your Focus2 assessments, please create/register for your free Focus2 account.
- Use your UB email address
- The access code is ubbulls
Let's start! 👇
My Career Planning Involvement
Step 1: View "Your Results"
Your "My Career Planning Involvement" results will include a bar graph stating your different levels of preparedness for life after college.
- The more active you're in your career planning process, the higher the score.
- Please note: this assessment results will show where you are now, not where you will be. So don't get bummed if you have a low score.
Step 2: Get prepared
Now that you've looked over your "My Career Planning Involvement" results, here are a few tips to help you start designing your life during and after college.
3 Tips for "Self Assessment"
- Continue with your self assessment and complete the Work, Leisure and Personality assessments.
- Share your results with people you admire.
- Join student clubs and go to campus events.
3 Tips for "Career Exploration"
- Join a Career Community (or three) that's interesting to you.
- Have informational interviews with people in interesting majors and careers.
- Try a job shadowing experience, like Real Experience and Leadership Mentoring Program (REALM).
3 Tips for "Career Planning Satisfaction"
- Participate in on-campus research, an internship, volunteering opportunities or find other ways to get involved in gaining experience related to your desired career field.
- Compare your values with your career interests, identifying where they intersect.
- Have an informational interview with someone excited about their career. Learn about all the twists and turns they went through to get where they are today.
Not sure where to get started?
Try talking to UB alums in the UB Career Connector Network. They know what you're going through because they've been there. Most importantly, they want to share their tips with you that they've learned along the way.
Work Interest Assessment
Step 1: View "Your Results"
- The two interest areas on the left side of the graph should be higher than those on the right side.
- If they are not, consider retaking your assessment. Remember, only focus on what is truly interesting to you, regardless of what others may think.
Pro Tip:
To get the best results, use 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars when answering the assessment. Using these stars will help you make clearer choices, giving you more precise results.
Step 2: Reflect on your top 2 interest areas
Use these questions to reflect.
- What are my top two interest areas? Descriptions of each interest area are below the bar graph.
- How do my top two interest areas relate to what I've enjoyed in the past? Hint: Think about past jobs, volunteering, internships, sports, clubs, and class projects or assignments.
- How do my top two interest areas relate to the major I'm currently in or the majors I'm considering?
- How do my top two interest areas relate to the occupations/careers interesting to me?
Step 3: View more of "Your Results"
- To find the rest of your results, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the "Continue" button.
Step 4: Look at "Your Results" by "Job Family"
Sort "Your Results" by "Job Family":
- Look for the “Sort By” drop down menu, which is slightly below “Filter Results.”
- Select “Job Family."
- Click the “Update” button slightly below the "Sort By" button.
Ask yourself these questions:
Pick a "Job Family" and ask yourself the questions below. Tip: Start with the "Job Family" you see the most.
- On a scale of 1-10 (1 = no interest, 10 = most interested), what's my interest level in finding an occupation/career in this “Job Family”?
- What interests me about this “Job Family”?
- What past experiences have I done related to this “Job Family”?
- How does this “Job Family” link to my major or the majors I'm interested in?
- How does this “Job Family” link to the occupations I'm interested in?
- Who do I know that works in the “Job Family”?
- What are 3 opportunities I could pursue at UB to learn more about this “Job Family?” Tip: Look into the different offices, events, and clubs & activities available at UB.
What's Next?
Share your results with:
- A friend.
- A family member.
- A mentor.
- An academic advisor.
- A professional in your most popular "Job Family" to you by doing an informational interview.
- A career coach during an appointment.
Bonus round: Once you've done steps 1-4, you can learn more about majors and careers by doing steps 5 and 6! 👍
Step 5: Learn about an occupation interesting to you
- Click on any of the occupations that interest you.
- What do I find interesting about that particular occupation? Hint: Look at "Occupation Overview, Job Tasks, Skills, Values, Work Conditions and Outlook."
What's Next?
Share your answers during an informational interview with:
- Someone you know in the occupation interesting to you.
- If you do not know someone, go to the people you trust and ask them who they know.
- UB alumni in the UB Career Connector Network.
Step 6: Learn about a major interesting to you
Select the name of a major interesting to you
- What do I find interesting about the description of the major?
- When you're done, you can closeout of this window.
Select the paperclip icon next to the name of the major interesting to you
- Read the class descriptions of the 300- and 400-level classes under "Program Requirements."
- If you like a lot of the upper-level courses, that's great!
What's Next?
Be courageous and share your answers with:
- A junior or senior in the major interesting to you.
- A faculty member.
- If you do not know anyone, ask your friends if they can connect you with someone.
For more support, like finding someone to talk to, chat with a career expert during Drop-in Live Chat hours, or schedule an appointment with a career coach.
Leisure Interest Assessment
Step 1: View "Your Results"
- The two interest areas on the left side of the graph should be higher than those on the right side.
- If they are not, consider retaking your assessment. Remember, only focus on what is truly interesting to you, regardless of what others may think.
Pro Tip:
To get the best results, use 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars when answering the assessment. Using these stars will help you make clearer choices, giving you more precise results.
Step 2: Reflect on your top 2 interest areas
Use these questions to reflect.
- What are my top two interest areas? Descriptions of each interest area are below the bar graph.
- How do my top two interest areas relate to what I've enjoyed in the past? Hint: Think about past jobs, volunteering, internships, sports, clubs, and class projects or assignments.
- How do my top two interest areas relate to the major I'm currently in or the majors I'm considering?
- How do my top two interest areas relate to the occupations/careers interesting to me?
Step 3: View more of "Your Results"
- To find the rest of your results, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the "Continue" button.
Step 4: Look at "Your Results" by "Job Family"
Sort "Your Results" by "Job Family":
- Look for the “Sort By” drop down menu, which is slightly below “Filter Results.”
- Select “Job Family."
- Click the “Update” button slightly below the "Sort By" button.
Ask yourself these questions:
Pick a "Job Family" and ask yourself the questions below. Tip: Start with the "Job Family" you see the most.
- On a scale of 1-10 (1 = no interest, 10 = most interested), what's my interest level in finding an occupation/career in this “Job Family”?
- What interests me about this “Job Family”?
- What past experiences have I done related to this “Job Family”?
- How does this “Job Family” link to my major or the majors I'm interested in?
- How does this “Job Family” link to the occupations I'm interested in?
- Who do I know that works in the “Job Family”?
- What are 3 opportunities I could pursue at UB to learn more about this “Job Family?” Tip: Look into the different offices, events, and clubs & activities available at UB.
What's Next?
Share your results with:
- A friend.
- A family member.
- A mentor.
- An academic advisor.
- A professional in your most popular "Job Family" to you by doing an informational interview.
- A career coach during an appointment.
Bonus round: Once you've done steps 1-4, you can learn more about majors and careers by doing steps 5 and 6! 👍
Step 5: Learn about an occupation interesting to you
- Click on any of the occupations that interest you.
- What do I find interesting about that particular occupation? Hint: Look at "Occupation Overview, Job Tasks, Skills, Values, Work Conditions and Outlook."
What's Next?
Share your answers during an informational interview with:
- Someone you know in the occupation interesting to you.
- If you do not know someone, go to the people you trust and ask them who they know.
- UB alumni in the UB Career Connector Network.
Step 6: Learn about a major interesting to you
Select the name of a major interesting to you
- What do I find interesting about the description of the major?
- When you're done, you can closeout of this window.
Select the paperclip icon next to the name of the major interesting to you
- Read the class descriptions of the 300- and 400-level classes under "Program Requirements."
- If you like a lot of the upper-level courses, that's great!
What's Next?
Be courageous and share your answers with:
- A junior or senior in the major interesting to you.
- A faculty member.
- If you do not know anyone, ask your friends if they can connect you with someone.
For more support, like finding someone to talk to, chat with a career expert during Drop-in Live Chat hours, or schedule an appointment with a career coach.
Personality Assessment
Step 1: Ask Yourself These Questions on "Your Results"
- In the description of "Your Personality Type," what do I agree with?
- On a scale of 1-10 (1 = not at all, 10 = fully), how well does the description in "Your Personality Type" match me?
- How have I seen the description of "Your Personality Type" show up in your past? Hint: Think about past jobs, volunteering, internships, sports, clubs and class projects or assignments.
- What “Choosing Your Career” recommendations stand out to me?
Pro Tip:
To get the best results, use 2, 3, 4 and 5 stars when answering. Using these stars will help you make clearer choices, giving you more precise results.
Step 2: View more of "Your Results"
To find the rest of your results, scroll to the bottom of the screen and click the "Continue" button.
Step 3: Sort "Your Results" by "Job Family"
- Look for the “Sort By” drop down menu, which is slightly below “Filter Results.”
- Select “Job Family."
- Click the “Update” button slightly below the "Sort By" button.
Step 4: Exploring Your Options
Ask yourself the following questions for “Job Family” and Occupation.
Job Family
- What "Job Family" surprises me?
- What activities have I done that could lead me to having a career in this "Job Family"?
- Who do I know working in this field? Hint: Talk to this person, and ask them if they feel they could always be in this "Job Family."
Occupation
- What occupations had I not considered, but want to know more about?
- Click on any of the occupations that interest me.
- What do I find interesting about that particular occupation?Hint: Look at "Occupation Overview, Job Tasks, Skills, Values, Work Conditions, and Outlook."
- Who among the people I trust may know someone in that field?
We're here to help!
Can't find someone to talk to in a "Job Family" or "Occupation" you're interested in? Don't worry! Try:
- Using the UB Career Connector Network and talk with a UB alum.
- Asking a trusted person if they can connect you with someone for an informational interview.
- Chatting with a career expert during Drop-in Live Chat hours, or schedule an appointment with a career coach.
Am I Career Ready?
Step 1: View "Your Results"
Your results will include a bar graph stating your development level for each of the NACE Career Competencies.
- The results of this assessment show where you are, not where you will be - the more you develop the skills, the higher the score.
- To view various recommendations on how you might develop each competency.
- Scroll down and click the "Continue" button.
Step 2: Strengthening Your Skills
Each skill will have a variety of recommendations to develop that skill more.
- You cannot work on all eight skills at once. Only choose 1 or 2 skills to strengthen at a time.
- For the 1 or 2 skills, select the recommendation you can most easily pursue.
Pro Tip:
Not sure what skill to focus on? Choose the skill that is most related to your major and career interest.
For more support getting started, chat with a career expert during Drop-in Live Chat hours, or schedule an appointment with a career coach.
Step 3: Journal Your Progress
You can "Describe how you are developing your" various skills at the bottom of each skill in "Your Results." What you write will be saved, even as you retake this assessment.
What can I do with a major in ... Offered at University at Buffalo?
Step 1: Find "What can I do with a major in ... Offered at University at Buffalo?"
This section gives you an idea of how UB majors connect to occupations/careers after college.
- Scroll down towards the bottom of your screen until you come across "Explore the Possibilities."
- Click the button, "What can I do with a major in ... Offered at University at Buffalo?"
Step 2: Sort by "Suggested"
See all of the majors recommended by any of the assessments you have taken.
- Look for "Sort By" located slightly below "Filter Results."
- Select "Suggested" from the drop down menu.
Step 3: Look at a List of Occupations by Major
- Click a major that's interesting to you, even if it's not one suggested by your assessment results.
- What are your impressions of the occupations/careers connected to these majors?
- Which occupations/careers fit within your interests?
- Which occupations/careers surprised you?
Your major does not include any occupations?
Don't worry! Try O*Net and search the major under the "Keyword or O*NET-SOC Code" search bar.
Explore Any Occupation
Step 1: Find "Explore Any Occupation"
This part of Focus2 introduces you to the bigger picture of an occupation.
- Scroll down towards the bottom of your screen until you come across "Explore the Possibilities."
- Click the button, "Explore any Occupation."
Step 2: Find an Occupation Interesting to You
The different ways to look up an occupation include:
- Scroll through the entire list.
- Select the letter matching the first letter of the occupation, e.g., 'A' for Athletic Coach.
- Type the occupation name in the 'Search' bar.
Pro Tip
Reminder: Occupations go by many names. If you don't find the occupation, try typing in the other names it may go by, e.g., 'diving coach' is also known as 'athletic coach.'
To learn more names for the same occupation, type the occupation name you know into the "Keyword or O*NET-SOC Code" search bar of O*Net.
Step 3: Ask Yourself These Questions
- What do I find interesting about that particular occupation? Hint: look at Occupation Overview, Job Tasks, Skills, Values, Work Conditions, and Outlook.
- How does this occupation relate to what I've enjoyed in the past? Think about past jobs, volunteering, internships, sports, clubs, and class projects or assignments.
- Who do I know in this professional? Tip: If you do not know anyone, consider asking people you trust who they might know.
- What place at UB can I visit (like an office, event, club) to gain some relatable experience? Hint: Visit this place and share your interests.
What's Next?
Be courageous and share your answers with:
- Someone you admire, like a family member or a mentor.
- A professional you know in this occupation through an informational interview.
For more support, like finding someone to talk to, chat with a career expert during Drop-in Live Chat hours, or schedule an appointment with a career coach.