The FOCUS 2 is an intuitive tool to help students select a major and explore occupations. Students are able to complete five assessments including the Interests-Holland Code, Personality, Values, Skills, and Leisure Interests assessments. Assessment results are matched to University of Arkansas majors and career options with over 1200 occupations and up-to-date career information.
You will be required to enter an access code to create an account. The access code to use is "razorback".
First Time Users Returning UsersThe MyMajors! Assessment will give you a list of 10 UA majors that are most consistent with your interests, preferences, and achievements along with a general description of this major. After taking the assessment, use the What Can I Do with a Major In tab to gather more information about the major and related career options.
LoginWhat's in the cards for your career? The Challenge mindset is an approach to career exploration focused on finding challenges to tackle instead of ever-changing job titles. This interactive card sorting experience is designed to help you find a career path based on exciting, real-world challenges that go beyond majors and job titles. After completing the activity, you will receive a customized Challenge Profile with a career exploration action plan.
Step 1: Create an account using your UARK email address and the UA code UARK607.
Step 2: Begin your card sort to identify the top 3 challenges you'd like to help the world tackle.
Want to learn more? Watch this 3-minute tutorial on how to sign up and complete the interactive challenge cards activity.
The access code is UARK607
First Time Users Returning UsersTypeFocus™ Careers assesses your personality type and incorporates it into seven personalized reports to answer, “What career choices fit with my personality?” and “How can I improve my chances for getting a job?” The assessment is free.
When logging in or creating a new profile, you will be requested to use a site password; the University of Arkansas’s site password is uark89. Please enter your real name and gender when registering for an account; gender is needed to score the questionnaire correctly.
LoginBelow you will find several links for helping you explore typical paths associated with various degrees. It's not a comprehensive list, so you may want to explore information and websites from multiple degrees to help you learn about a wide range of career opportunities.
For each degree that interests you, click on the title to find an overview of the degree (major) and information about related careers and skills. You will also find links to job and internship search postings, career planning info, professional associations in that degree, and links to UofA departments with majors in that area.
Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences
- Agricultural Business (AGBS)
- Agricultural Education, Communication and Technology (AECT)
- Animal Science (ANSC)
- Apparel Merchandising and Product Development (AMPD)
- Birth through Kindergarten (BRKD)
- Crop Science (CPSC)
- Entomology (ENTO)
- Environmental, Soil and Water Science (ESWS)
- Food Science (FDSC)
- General Human Environmental Sciences (HESC)
- Horticulture, Landscape and Turf Sciences (HLTS)
- Human Development and Family Sciences (HDFS)
- Human Nutrition and Hospitality Innovation (HNHI)
- Plant Pathology (PLPA)
- Poultry Science (POSC)
Fay Jones School of Architecture + Design
- Architecture (ARCH)
- Architectural Studies (ARCH)
- Design Studies (DSGN)
- Landscape Architecture (LARC)
- Landscape Architecture Studies (LARC)
- Interior Design (IDES)
Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences
- Advertising and Public Relations (ADPR)
- African and African American Studies (AAST)
- Anthropology (ANTH)
- Arabic (ARAB)
- Art (ARTS)
- Asian Studies (AIST)
- Biology (BISC)
- Chemistry (CHBC)
- Classical Studies (CLST)
- Communication (COMM)
- Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies (CLCS)
- Creative Writing (CRWR)
- Criminology (CMJS)
- Earth Science (ERSC)
- Economics (ECON)
- English (ENGL)
- European Studies (EUST)
- French (FREN)
- Geography (GEOG)
- Geology (GEOL)
- Geosciences (GEOS)
- German (GERM)
- Graphic Design (GRAP)
- History (HIST)
- International & Global Studies (INST)
- Journalism (JOUR)
- Latin American and Latino Studies (LALS)
- Mathematics (MASC)
- Middle East Studies (MEST)
- Music (MUSC)
- Philosophy (PHIL)
- Physics (PHYS)
- Political Science (PLSC)
- Psychology (PSYC)
- Public Administration and Nonprofit Studies (PADM)
- Social Work (SCWK)
- Sociology (SOCI)
- Spanish (SPAN)
- Theatre (THTR)
Sam M. Walton College of Business
- Accounting (ACCT)
- Applied Business Analytics (APBA)
- Economic Analytics (ECAN)
- Economics (ECON)
- Finance (FINN)
- Information Systems (ISYS)
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SEVI)
- International Business (BSIB)
- Management (MGMT)
- Marketing (MKTG)
- Retail (RETL)
- Supply Chain Management (SCMT)
College of Education and Health Professions
- Adult & Lifelong Learning (ADLL)
- Athletic Training (ATTR)
- Career and Technical Education (CATE)
- Childhood Education (CHED)
- Communication Disorders (CDIS)
- Counselor Education and Supervision (CNED)
- Curriculum and Instruction (CIED)
- Education Policy (EDPO)
- Educational Leadership (EDLE)
- Educational Studies (EDST)
- Educational Technology (ETEC)
- Elementary Education (ELEL)
- Exercise Science (EXSC)
- Higher Education (HIED)
- Human Resource and Workforce Development Education (HRWD)
- Nursing (NURS)
- Occupational Therapy (OCTH)
- Physical Education (PHED)
- Public Health (PBHL)
- Recreation and Sport Management (RESM)
- Special Education (SPED)
- Teaching (Secondary Educ. & Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages)
College of Engineering
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering (BAEG)
- Biomedical Engineering (BMEG)
- Chemical Engineering (CHEG)
- Civil Engineering (CVEG)
- Computer Science and Computer Engineering (CSCE)
- Construction Management (CSMG)
- Data Science (DTSC)
- Electrical Engineering (ELEG)
- Engineering Management (EMGT)
- Environmental Engineering (ENEG)
- Industrial Engineering (INEG)
- Mechanical Engineering (MEEG)
- Operations Analytics (OPAN)
- Operations Management (OPMG)
Interdisciplinary Studies
The most advanced company information database
Create a profile on RazorLink with your U of A single sign on (SSO) to connect with alumni and professionals who are friends of the University. Analytics and filters allow you to learn about career paths that correlate to your interests and find alumni and community members who have signed up for RazorLink so they can help you on your career journey. This platform is student driven- so you take the first step to reach out to alumni. Use the Pathways to learn critical career management skills. Join your college and/or identity group to develop your community.
RazorLinkThese sites provide a description of a wide variety of occupations and detailed information on skills need, duties, work environment, salary, etc.
What is a Career Conversations?
Career Conversations also known as Informational interviews allow you an opportunity to talk with professionals in your field of interest about the industry, company culture, and career paths. You can gain knowledge of what the day-to-day tasks and roles are as well as information about larger organizational issues and long-term options.
How to Conduct Career Conversations
1. Use (or establish) your network. Identify a person currently working or who previously worked in the industry you
are considering. Talk with friends, relatives, faculty, staff, alumni, and current
or former coworkers for possible connections. You also might use social media (such
as LinkedIn or Facebook) or a company’s website to identify potential interviewees.
2. Contact the professional by telephone, email, or via social media; introduce yourself (practice ahead of time);
and ask to set up a 30-minute interview.
3. Prior to your meeting, identify 10-15 questions about the industry you would like to ask the professional.
Questions to Get You Started
1. How did you get started in this industry?
2. What do you like most and least about this industry/company/job?
3. What growth opportunities do you see in the field?
4. What are the ideal education, background, and skills for success in this industry?
5. What impresses you when interviewing candidates for entry-level positions?
6. What advice can you give me as I pursue jobs in this field?
After the Interview
1. Send a thank you note to the professional.
2. Evaluate what you learned and assess any gaps between your background and the job/career
requirements.
3. Look for ways you can make up those gaps - classes, trainings, workshops, etc.
4. Identify other professionals in the field you also could interview.
What is job shadowing? How does it differ from an internship?
Job shadowing involves observing a professional through a normal day’s activities
and may include informational interviews, tours, and participation in office projects.
It can be an excellent way to learn about day-to-day work life and offers the chance
to “test” a career without a long-term commitment. Shadowing also may help you get
your foot in the door for a competitive internship or job.
Job shadowing is short-term (one to two days), offers no pay or academic credit, and
is hosted by volunteers to help students gain an insider’s view of a career field.
Internships are longer (a semester or summer), may involve pay and/or academic credit,
and support an organization’s work function.
How do I get started?
Use your network to identify potential contacts working in fields of interest. If this doesn’t work, utilize social media, the company/organization website, professional associations, and career fairs. Call the individual and indicate you are seeking more information about the field and would like to spend a half or full day shadowing them. If the individual agrees, schedule a time and date for the shadowing experience to take place. After the information interview, don't forget to follow up within 48 hours with a handwritten thank you note.
Candid Career contains short informational videos about many specific jobs and industries, including interviews with people who work in those jobs.
Candid Career Videos
