Top 10 Career Myths

Planning your career is rarely an exact science, but it's important to avoid making decisions based on false-truths. For myths related to Computer Science careers, click here.

1. There is one perfect occupation waiting for me.
2. My major is the determining factor in my career plan.
3. I will have only one career in my lifetime.
4. An undergraduate degree won't get me a decent job.
5. Most students know their major and career goals when they enter university.
6. If I wait long enough, luck will deliver the right career.
7. I’m the only one who doesn’t know about careers.
8. Career assessments will tell me exactly what career is right for me.
9. I should choose an occupation based on my strongest skills.
10. I should choose an occupation that is in demand.

Myth 1: There is one perfect occupation waiting for me.

Fact: Many occupations have the potential to satisfy your career goals. Once you have clearly defined what you are looking for in a career, you’ll find that there are a number of occupations that match these criteria. Your goal at this point should be to take the "next best step." For example, you may narrow down your search to healthcare professions. Then you must choose among dozens of occupations in this career field (e.g., physician, nurse, physical therapist, respiratory therapist, medical lab technologist, veterinarian, or pharmacist). As you explore each option further, you can compare what they offer in terms of advantages and disadvantages.

Myth 2: My major is the determining factor in my career plan.

Fact: Most employers care more about your work-related experience (e.g., part-time jobs, internships, and co-ops) and the real world skills that you’ve gained than they do about your major. Unless you’re planning to enter an area that requires specific technical skills, such as mechanical engineering or nursing, you’re free to choose any major that interests you. One major can lead to many different careers, and one career can be reached through many different majors. In fact, most people find themselves working in fields that may seem only remotely related to their majors, and it is possible to work in almost any career with any major.

Myth 3: I will have only one career in my lifetime.

Fact: Career planning is an ongoing process. You will probably re-address your career plans several times during your life; this is normal. Most people entering the work force will have as many as five or six different occupations by the time they retire. Important as it is to find an occupation that will be rewarding, it is not likely to be a final decision. People continue to change throughout life and so does the job market. Many occupations that will be available within your lifetime may not even exist yet! While you can never know for sure that you are making the "right" choice at any given point, your goal should be to make the best choice for now, and continue to evaluate and re-evaluate that career once you're in it. Change is inevitable.

Myth 4: An undergraduate degree won't get me a decent job.

Fact: People with an undergraduate degree usually have valuable training in broad areas such as interpersonal communication, writing, research, and critical thinking. These are called transferable skills, i.e., skills that are learned in one area that can be applied in a wide range of other areas.The skills that you will learn in an undergraduate degree are sought after by many employers. You will find that your options for a career are greater with an undergraduate degree, and your earning potential and opportunities for advancement will be much improved. However, the job title that leads to these benefits may not be obviously related to the title of your degree or academic major.

Myth 5: Most students know their major and career goals when they enter university.

Fact: Some people may have a major or career in mind when they enter university, and a few may actually stick with these original goals. However, the majority of entering university students change their minds about majors and careers several times before graduation. In fact, the average student who enters university with a declared major changes it three to five times. On the other hand, the average student who enters university with an undeclared major changes only one to two times.

Myth 6: If I wait long enough, luck will deliver the right career.

Fact: Most people will benefit from a plan–a full investigation and thorough consideration of different occupations. It is unlikely that you will just "bump into" the occupation that will perfectly match your skills and interests or satisfy your most important values. The more information you gather about yourself and the occupations you are considering, the more likely it is you will make a wise career decision. It is true that some things beyond your control will influence your life, but you must take an active role to determine your own fate. Look around you–those people who are unhappy in their careers most likely just "fell into" something without careful planning.

Myth 7: I’m the only one who doesn’t know about careers.

Fact: People's knowledge of occupations is often incomplete. The media often provides a glamorized and unrealistic picture of occupations. Most of what passes as knowledge is really based upon stereotypes. Television shows may depict police work as an exciting occupation dedicated to putting the bad guys behind bars. They are less likely to show the hours spent doing paperwork, directing traffic, or responding to domestic disputes where there is no clearly defined "bad guy." As you narrow down your options, be sure you are getting a balanced and accurate picture of the occupations you are considering.

Myth 8: Career assessments will tell me exactly what career is right for me.

Fact: Assessment tests can provide you with additional information that may be helpful as one part of the career planning process. No test, however, can tell you what to do with your life or serve up the perfect career match. Assessments take a sample of certain kinds of knowledge or attitudes and draw conclusions based on the sample. Many things can confound test results: cultural differences, unrepresentative samples, and unintentionally biased items, to name a few. Use assessments with caution, and critically examine test results with a career counselor in terms of your own experience and knowledge. You know yourself the best.

Myth 9: I should choose an occupation based on my strongest skills.

Fact: It is risky to consider only your skills for a career decision because skills are only one of the components of a full self-evaluation; interests and values are equally important in the decision-making process. What you enjoy and what is important to you about life and work should also be taken into consideration. Just because you are good at something does not mean that you will enjoy doing it for a living. Also, relying on your current skills does not take into account the skills you may have in areas to which you have not yet been exposed.

Myth 10: I should choose an occupation that is in demand.

Fact: The job market fluctuates constantly. Take the dot.com boom in the late 90's that led to a bust just a few years later, leaving thousands of workers without a job. Employment opportunities can change dramatically as a function of economic conditions, advances in technology, and the labor supply. Although projections are available, this data should be used with caution. There is an inevitable lag time between the demand for certain kinds of occupations and the response to this demand. Nonetheless, job outlook trends can be useful if considered along with other factors in your career decision making.

Adapted from The University of California at Berkeley Career Center website