Career Discernment Conversations

Often major and career discernment comes up naturally in the conversations you have with students.  The topic may arise as a subtle comment, or the student may come to you with much concern or excitement about their future.  While the Career Development team welcomes and encourages you to refer students to schedule an appointment with a Career Coach, we’d also like to equip you to pose some questions to the student which could encourage reflection helpful to their decision-making process.

• What brings you joy?
• What are you good at?
• What does the world need you to be?

Please see the Major & Career Discernment Toolkit on our website, which expands upon the above questions, provides student resources for additional reflection, and helpful next steps.

RESOURCES

• Major & Career Discernment Reflection Worksheet
• Self-Guided Exploratory Canvas Course
• Vocational Discernment Canvas Course: Contact Nathan Wendt, SJ for access
  • The Vocational Discernment Canvas Module provides a continuum of resources and activities to guide students through a critical process of self-reflection and discernment regarding their current and future endeavors.  The module consists of five pages that introduce concepts about vocational discernment, activities to engage faculty and students, and resources for the classroom.  The components of the module may be integrated into any academic course with creativity.  An in-depth experience will help students explore their desires in the context of their major and Xavier experience towards the good, opens them up to choosing what brings deeper satisfaction, which will help them discern their response to what the world asks of them - their vocations.