Understanding Your Career Possibilities
What are my options?
Students may explore several paths at the same time or move between them as their goals change.
Paid short-term projects
Time-limited projects can help you earn income, practice professional skills, and learn about an industry. A micro-internship is one example. Before applying, review eligibility, payment, location, documentation, and project requirements directly with the program.
Independent contracting or freelancing
An independent contractor provides a defined service to a client as a self-employed person rather than as the client’s employee. You may set or negotiate your rates and terms, find clients, use written agreements, track expenses, and handle your own taxes and business operations.
Starting a business
A business is an organized venture that sells products or services. It may involve a brand, business plan, permits or registrations, marketing, systems, and—over time—other people. You can begin with one small service or product and grow gradually.
Global opportunities
Exploring jobs, internships, employers, and professional networks outside the United States may broaden your options. Interstride provides international-friendly and global career resources through CSULB. Immigration and work-authorization rules vary by country and circumstance, so verify requirements with qualified sources.
Remember: The label used by a platform or client does not by itself determine whether a worker is legally an independent contractor. Rules vary by situation. Use the support links below if you have questions.
How do I discover what I want to do?
- Use career assessments as reflection tools. Compare the results with what you enjoy, what matters to you, and the environments where you do your best work.
The Career Development Center offers the following assessments:
- Strong Interest Inventory
Helps identify your interests and match those interests to various careers and work environments.
Also use: O*NET OnLine - Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
Explores your personality by looking at how you prefer to perceive the world and make decisions. - CliftonStrengths
Measures your natural patterns of thinking, feeling and behaving.
- Review What Can I Do With This Major? and CSULB career-industry pages for examples—not limits—of what graduates may pursue.
You can specifically look at industry for entrepreneurship here: Business & Entrepreneurship – California State University Long Beach.
Or by Identity here: Undocumented Students – California State University Long Beach - Complete one small experiment: watch a career video, interview a professional, attend an event, or try a short project.
- You can learn more about professionals who are freelancing / independent contractors / have their own business by going to Beach Nexus
- Directions to Beach Nexus: Go to My Apps >> Beach Nexus >> Search by Key Term >> enter independent contractor / business owner / owner / freelance.
- Attend Career Events to network with industry professionals during our career fairs, industry spotlights, and information sessions. Learning about trends and what they are looking to hire for, will still be good information as you start your independent contracting work: Events – California State University Long Beach
- Try Projects in Forage to help you build your independent contractor skills while exploring multiple areas/interests.
- Meet with a career counselor when you want help comparing options, interpreting what you learned, or deciding on a next step.
If you are not able to find an available slot, please note that counseling appointments refresh daily so you may check back each day for new availability.
To make an appointment with a career counselor:
- Sign in to Beach Connect through Single Sign-On (SSO)
- From your Beach Connect homepage, click on [Get Assistance]
- From the drop-down menu, choose [Career Counseling] for type of appointment
- Choose the reason for your appointment and view available times
- Scroll down to the bottom and select online or in person appointment
AI prompts for career research
AI can support brainstorming, but it should not make the decision for you. Verify job requirements, salaries, immigration information, and program eligibility with current, reliable sources.
- I am studying [major/minor] and enjoy [activities]. What skills am I developing, and what industries use those skills? If I were to use those skills, how would it be described for an independent contractor who provides that service? What projects / evidence can I show potential clients?
- Give me ten project or service ideas that combine [skill 1], [skill 2], and my interest in [industry]. For each idea, name a possible client or audience.
- Compare these paths—[path A], [path B], and [path C]—by daily tasks, skills, training, work environment, and questions I should research.
- Help me create five informational-interview questions for someone working in [field].
