Narrowing Down Your Interests: How to use FOCUS 2

As graduating college students enter the work force, directive programs provide a better understanding of what lies ahead. FOCUS-2 is a unique website that CU Career Services and Academic Advising provides its students to help in the job-search process. While the benefits of FOCUS-2 are ample, the intuitiveness of the program contributes to its success on college campuses.

FOCUS-2 is a new online, self-guided, interactive program designed to help you select the right college major and plan your career based on your personal interests, values, skills, personality, and aspirations. The website allows students to begin as an underclassman; however, the tools are beneficial to all levels of students. Through setting academic and professional goals early, students can enjoy a structured 4-year plan supported by FOCUS-2.

FOCUS-2 measures career readiness by enticing students to get concrete about their goals and career plans.

First time users: https://www.focuscareer2.com/portal/login.cfm?SID=716

Accessing FOCUS-2 as a first-time user couldn’t be easier. CU Boulder students can log into the program using a generic access code: buffalo. Once students access the web-site, they are prompted to create their own unique log-in information. From here, students have unlimited access to the invaluable career-planning utility—FOCUS-2.

Once logged into FOCUS-2, students will find an abundance of helpful resources.

There are several surveys set forth by FOCUS-2. Each self-assessment survey is specific to one area expertise. While each of the four evaluations take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete, they provide ample information regarding the skills, values, work interest, personality, and leisure interest of the participant. Although many students have an idea of what type of career they are looking for, taking self-assessment protocols such as FOCUS-2 can bring clarity to their career path.

After completing the self-guided surveys and preparing goals for career planning, students can explore additional resources found on the FOCUS-2 website. This portal provides both career comparison tools as well as a job description search feature. The purpose of this program is not to provide students with a job; but rather, to provide a foundation from which to explore any and all types of potential careers.

If students have completed the self-assessment surveys, set forth their career-related goals, and explored the possibilities awaiting them in the career world, their next step to use the resources of FOCUS-2 to move forward with the job-search process.