Career Planning in Zoology

Career Exploration
Self Exploration
Take Action
Job/School Search

Career Exploration: What's out there?

Think you might be interested in work related to biological science?  Start exploring and get some ideas of what you might want to pursue further...
What can I do with a major in zoology?

Self Assessment:  Who am I?  What do I like?  What am I good at?

What are your values, skills, interests related to the world of work?  How do those match up with the career areas you’ve been exploring?   Remember - there are likely many possibilities for a good fit! 

Two online tools for Self Assessment:

• http://uwhelp.wisconsin.edu/majorcareers/career/begin.asp
  Learn more about yourself, in the context of careers
• University of Waterloo Career Development eManual, beginning with Assessment

On campus resource for Self Assessment:

• The Exploration Center, Rm 6 Ingraham

Take Action:  Ways to test your interests/build resume

If you’re not sure about your career plans – pick something to try out for now.  It's ok to pick something else tomorrow, next week, or next semester - sometimes you just need a place to start so you can build some context for these decisions.  If you have a good idea where you're headed – make sure you get relevant experience.  Either way, you’ll learn a lot, develop your resume, and get closer to your goals by actively engaging in biological activities (in addition to classes) throughout college.

See some suggestions on how to: Get involved! Beyond the lecture hall…

The job search/school search:

Most people haven’t answered the question of “What do I want to do/be for the rest of my life?” as they approach senior year and graduation – or even retirement!  Don’t let that worry you.  Life is a journey, not a destination, right?  There are way too many variables to approach that question seriously – you may decide to pursue a job in 3 yrs that doesn’t even exist today.  The more pressing (and answerable) question is “What do I want to do NEXT?”  Life is going to be filled with career decisions after college – one after the other.  (Not just one big one as you graduate.)   Finding that first job/grad program/professional school is just the next step.   

The job search:

Basic starting point

The grad school search:

Graduate school – Is it right for me? – Indiana University
The Grad School Handbook – Gradschool.com
Prospective student guide – UW Zoology

The professional school search:

Pre Law | Pre Med/Pre-Health | Pre Grad School - L&S Advising Center
Pre Business -  mba.com

Other programs:

• GreenCorps - one-year, full time, paid program gives you training to launch an environmental/social organizing and advocacy career
• PeaceCorps - Peace Corps Volunteers work with governments, schools, non-profits, NGOs, entrepreneurs, in the areas of education, health, HIV/AIDS, business, information technology, agriculture, and the environment, in 70 countries around the world.
• AmeriCorps - AmeriCorps is often referred to as "the domestic Peace Corps." Both agencies are committed to service, and both offer challenging and rewarding full-time opportunities. AmeriCorps members serve only in the US. A stint in AmeriCorps usually lasts 10 months to one year. (Some AmeriCorps projects also offer part-time opportunities, and some AmeriCorps members serve more than one term of service.)  Benefits include living allowance and education award.
  
• Teach for America - TFA is a national teacher corps of recent college graduates who commit two years to teach and to effect change in under-resourced urban and rural public schools and become leaders in the effort to expand educational opportunity.
  
• NIH IRTA: Nat’l Institutes of Health Intramural Research Training Award - The Postbaccalaureate IRTA program and the National Cancer Institute's CRTA program provide opportunities for recent college graduates to spend a year engaged in biomedical research at the NIH.