APIASF: Asian & Pacific Islander American Scholarship Fund. Today's Minds, Tomorrow's Future®

Student Resources: PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

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	HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT Maybe graduation is a few years away or maybe it is right around the corner, either way you might be wondering what to do next. Here are some resources to help you build your plan. Personality / Interest Assessment Career Exploration Personality/Interests Assessment [close] Take a Personality Assessment Many high school guidance counselors have access to personality or interest assessment tools that can help you identify what careers or areas of study you might be interested in pursuing. Make an appointment to speak with your guidance counselor to see what is available and what your plans are after graduation. Career Exploration [close] Have an Informational Interview Is there a career or job that you think you would like to have one day? Ask your teachers, parents or mentors if they know someone who has that particular job. See if that professional would be willing to do an informational interview with you. Set an appointment to speak with the professional and ask them about their job responsibilities, how they got the position, what advice they might have and what they like best about what they do. This can be a great way to decide if you are really interested in pursuing that job or career. Don't forget to write a thank you note after the interview! Research There are hundreds of career options out there, many of which you may have never heard of before. Spend some time looking at careers or different professions to see what is available. Try looking at job postings online to see what requirements are needed to obtain that position or think about what subjects or projects you have enjoyed at school and matching that with careers or areas of study. Spending time thinking about your future career while you are in high school will help you get a head start. College Board BigFuture https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers BigFuture.org is a new Web experience that leverages new technologies to engage students online in the way they want to be engaged. This new resource combines guidance, tools and information to make college planning easier to navigate and help students overcome barriers that make college seem out of reach. BigFuture features interactive tools and content, including real student video stories and personalized action plans.
	COLLEGE STUDENT Some of the most difficult questions students face are related to choosing a major and trying to select a future career path. There are many resources available to assist students throughout this process. Selecting a Major On-Campus Resources Internships Selecting a Major [close] (Please remember these tools are only aimed at providing recommendations. It is important for students to conduct individual research and decide which major is best.) MyMajors.com http://www.mymajors.com Our mission is to assist students in identifying majors that fit them best. We provide student-friendly assessment technology and access to information about a variety of majors at a broad range of institutions. College Board BigFuture https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/explore-careers BigFuture.org is a new Web experience that leverages new technologies to engage students online in the way they want to be engaged. This new resource combines guidance, tools and information to make college planning easier to navigate and help students overcome barriers that make college seem out of reach. BigFuture features interactive tools and content, including real student video stories and personalized action plans. On-Campus Resources [close] Talk with Professors and Advisors Professors, Advisors and Mentors can serve as helpful sounding board as you think about pursuing graduate school, choosing a major or identifying a career. They can also provide advice about options to consider, other resources on-campus and steps to help you accomplish your goal. Internships [close] Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) http://www.apaics.org/index.php/pages/programs/summer_internships/ "The APAICS Summer Internship Program provides select undergraduate students the opportunity to experience American politics and public policy. During the eight-week program, APAICS Summer Interns are placed in the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, or partner Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) non-profit organizations." OCA http://ocanational.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=157&Itemid= "The summer internship program is one of OCA's signature programs and introduces interns to public policy in Washington, DC. In addition to connecting interns with the APA community and developing their leadership skills, OCA also brings summer interns to the OCA National Convention, the largest APA conference in the country."
	COLLEGE GRADUATE Whether you are looking to start your career or looking to continue growing as a professional, here are some resources to help. Alumni and Campus Resources Professional Organizations Alumni and Campus Resources [close] Alumni Networks Building connections with other alumni from your college or university can be a great way to strengthen your professional network. Contact the alumni office on your campus for additional information about programs or groups in your area. The alumni office may also be able to tell you if there are any other alumni in your professional field or in the city that you are either hoping to move to or currently residing. Many alumni groups also have pages on Facebook which can be a great way to meet other alumni. Campus Career Centers Many campus career centers provide resources and information to not just currently enrolled students, but to alumni as well. Make an appointment to visit in-person or call to see what services are available to alumni. Professional Organizations [close] Asian American Government Executives Network http://www.aagen.org The mission of AAGEN is to promote, expand and support Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leadership in Government. Ascend http://www.ascendleadership.org "Ascend is the premier non-profit professional association that enables its members, corporate partners and the community to realize the leadership potential of Pan-Asians in global corporations." National Association of Asian MBAs (NAAMBA) http://www.asianmba.org "Taking Leadership to New Heights, the National Association of Asian MBAs (NAAMBA) is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, professional organization, established in 2010 with the mission to empower and advance Pan-Asian professionals globally!" National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) http://www.naaap.org "The National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that cultivates, supports, and promotes Asian American leaders. NAAAP offers professional development opportunities on the local and national level, engages its membership in community service, and organizes professional networking events." National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) http://www.napaba.org "The National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA) is the national association of Asian Pacific American (APA) attorneys, judges, law professors, and law students, providing a national network for its members and affiliates." South Asian MBA Association http://sambaa.org "SAMBAA membership is open to all South Asian MBA's and business professionals with interest in South Asia. SAMBAA offers its members an opportunity to network and learn from, one of the fastest growing talent pool in the business world."
	APIASF has no further information about the information on this page. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement. Please visit the websites and contact the organizations directly for more information.