The fantastic variety of jobs out there for the well-prepared candidate is almost unimaginable. But our lives have gotten busy-really complicated! We spend time with work, school work, meetings, friends, family, video games, listening to music, watching television, surfing the Internet, going to concerts, social engagements, and so on! It seems like our calendars are always full with activities, leaving less time available to figure out what we really want from a first "real" job and a career.

You might say or hear: "I haven't got time for that-I need a job now ... !" It's easy to overestimate how much you can get done at the last minute. There may also be lots of uncertainty as to what kind of job you really want. Thinking about likes and dislikes, talents and areas of deficit, goals, aspirations, wants, needs, understanding yourself and what makes you happy-all take time. It also takes time spent in the right ways.

A job that looks really great to you might require a series of classes that you haven't taken, an internship that you haven't done, software that you don't know, or a foreign language you don't speak. If you spend time thinking about what you want, searching for what's out there, and figuring out now what you'll need in order to be prepared when you graduate, you just might find yourself running and winning the Amazing Great Job Race.

Instructions
1. Reflect: What classes have you enjoyed the most? What did you like most about them? How was your thinking challenged in these courses? What work experiences have been most satisfying for you? Why?

2. Share: Listen without criticism to how others in the group answered these reflection questions. Share your answers and listen to the comments of others. Turn group discussion into a brainstorming session about the kinds of jobs each member might like to do and the careers they might pursue.

3. Debate: Push each other to identify baseline requirements for jobs that might be good fits for them. Ask: What classes would you need to take to be in a position to compete for these jobs? What kinds of internships would you need to participate in order to gain experience and access? What tests and certifications might be necessary? How much time would these preparations take so that you are ready to compete for your best job with other candidates who might want it also?