LCCC's career counseling services are available at no charge to:
Whether you are deciding on a college major or considering a career change, we can help you to make these important decisions.
Online Career Coach
The Online Career Coach is a career-development specialist who will answer your questions about career decisions. If you use the resources listed on this website and still feel confused, or if you get stuck anywhere in the process, just click on the Career Coach to e-mail your questions. Your questions will be answered by the next day (Sunday through Thursday).
What is Career Counseling?
Career counseling is a process that will increase your chances of career satisfaction and success. It will help you learn about yourself: your temperament, interests, values, skills and goals. You will also learn how to find out about the occupations that best suit you. It can happen through a conversation with a counselor, a “Career Boot Camp,” career assessments, and/ or web and print career materials.
How Do I Know if I Need Career Counseling?
Career counseling could be very helpful if you are:
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Wondering which career you should choose
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Uncertain about how to get it started
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Need to change your career direction
LCCC offers a number of services to help you. The time you invest in a good career decision is the best investment you can make.
Career development services offered by LCCC
LCCC provides personalized services in addition to online career-exploration tools, which can help you every step of the way in your career-decision process. If you use the on-line services and have questions anywhere along the way, a career counselor is available to offer personal assistance.
Career Consultation
Career Development Specialists and Counselors can direct you to the information you need, and help you to put the information to use.
Free Career Exploration Workshop – the “Career Boot Camp”
The Career Boot Camp is a great way to begin your career or major search. This is popular, one-session workshop that will help you develop a kind of “tool kit” for making sound career decisions. These workshops help you examine your desires, abilities, temperament and assets in order to make the best educational and career decisions. You will become familiar with resources about employment trends and the requirements of various occupations. The workshops are offered on a regularly scheduled basis.
Designing Midlife Seminar: Career and Life Planning for Your “Second Act:” Beyond Job Change, Career Change, Life Change or Retirement
This seminar is offered through the Center for Lifelong Learning. Experts say Americans can now expect to add 20 years to midlife. This session will help you begin to plan a rewarding and fulfilling “Second Act” to your life. If you are voluntarily or un-voluntarily retired, downsized, dislocated or just thinking of a new career or life direction, this class is for you. Gain insight into your strengths, interests, temperament and goals. Through some informative and fun activities, you will actually begin to design a career/life plan that can be personally and even financially rewarding. You will leave the class with a plan of action for a more meaningful and balanced life and/or career. To register, contact the Center for Lifelong Learning at 366-4148, or toll-free 1-800-995-5222, ext. 4148.
LCCC Career Lab
The LCCC Career Lab, located in College Center Room 241, is for everyone from serious job-hunters to people who would just like to investigate new career options. The Career Lab includes a Career Resource Library, with information about employers, job forecasts, industry trends and wage information. You have access to the best career and job-search books, videotapes that can improve your job-seeking skills and CD-ROM software that can help you to develop a professional resume.
Virtual Career Center
The Career Lab also provides high-speed online access to valuable job search, career assessment and research tools. Plus, once you register with LCCC Career Services, you will be able to access these tools from any computer with an Internet connection.
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Online Job-Search System enables you to search for employment opportunities online. Plus, you can post your résumé(s) to make it easy for employers to find you.
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FOCUS provides students, adults in creer transition and those planning for a retirement vocation with personalized creer and educational planning. Self-assessment tools guide you through the career-planning process that first helps you broaden your horizons, and then, narrow down your occupational and educational choices.
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OCIS (Ohio Career Information System) provides information on occupations and how best to prepare for them, including information on educational programs at both Ohio and national schools. To enter the system, you will need a user name and password. Call 440-366-4076 for more information.
Links to Helpful Career Websites
LCCC provides helpful links to other career websites, and do not require registration or login. Whether you want to investigate career opportunities or post your resume online, be sure to check out these useful links:
Resume Assistance
Your resume is your personal sales tool to market your qualifications to prospective employers. We can help you to develop resumes and cover letters that will help you stand out from other applicants. Personal resume consultations are also available by appointment. E-mail careers@lorainccc.edu for details.
Individualized career assessments and one-on-one career consultations are available on a fee basis: Myers-Briggs Type Indicator [MBTI], Strong Interest Indicator, and the Holland Self-Directed Search are some of the assessment instruments used. For more information, call Career Services at 440-366-4076.
How to make a good career decision
Here is a checklist of things you need to know that will help you make a sound decision. Although you might not work through the list in this exact order, you should consider each area. Take time to explore the helpful web-links. If you get stuck along the way or need special help, the Career Coach is just an e-mail away. Sunday through Thursday, the Coach will respond to you within 24 hours.
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You need to know about yourself and how your interests, skills, abilities, values and personality relate to occupational fields. Start with a visit to SIGI PLUS or OCIS. These interactive programs are a good place to learn more about your preferences and the careers that most closely match them.
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Exploring Occupations. It is important to know what the short- and long-term employment outlook is for the careers you are considering. You also need to know what the educational requirements are. These websites or the LCCC Career Lab, College Center 241, are great places to start.
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How to Make Good Decisions. These links can be very helpful in assessing the information you have gathered. After working through this process, if you still have some confusion, a Career Counselor is available to assist you.
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Preparation and Skill Acquisition. When you have made a career choice check in with an LCCC Academic Advisor or Counselor to design your plan of study. If possible, plan to get a Work-Based Learning experience in your major field before you graduate. It helps confirm your career decision, and gives you a head-start in your career.
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The Final Step. When you have made a decision and gained the necessary skills and education for your new career, Employment and Career Services offers a number of Job Search services to help you get the job you want.
To get started on your new career, e-mail LCCC Employment and Career Services at careers@lorainccc.edu or call 440-366-4076.