By JOANNA MCINTYRE

Staff Writer

Students who need help in making career decisions are encouraged to visit Counseling Services.

The center will hold a free Career Decision Making workshop Tuesday and Wednesday for all enrolled Tech students.

The workshop will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. in Keeny Hall, Room 310.

"The purpose of the workshop is to help students increase self-knowledge and occupational knowledge," Ron Cathey, the career development coordinator, said. "The workshop is designed to help students in the process of choosing a major or occupational direction."

This workshop is often the first step before working with a career counselor at counseling services.

"Participants in the workshop will use self-evaluations of work related interest, skills, personality and personal values to match possible occupational or major options," Cathey said.

The Career Center and the career development component of the Counseling Services work in connection with each other. The staff is trained to make referrals so the students get the resources that are needed.

"At the workshop, participants are given the best exploration tools to explore their possible occupational options," Cathey said. "Students look at work tasks, work settings, educational requirements, earnings, job outlook, related occupations and links to professional Web sites."

Cathey also teaches an introductory career life class using the same information and topics as the workshop.

Licensed counselors lead all workshops, and all information remains confidential.

Pre-registration is recommended and can be done online at http://www.couselingservices.latech.edu.

The Counseling Services supplies all information regarding testing, personal counseling, workshops and all other events on their Web site.

"Ron Cathey offers excitement and compassion when he teaches," Calvin Williams, alcohol and drug education coordinator, said. "He helps students find personal insight in order to succeed in their career choices."

Williams and Cathey recommend students revisit the Counseling Center after the workshop to do evaluations and discuss their results and steps to take from that point forward.

"The evaluations over the past five years have indicated that the students typically 'strongly agree' that the workshop was beneficial in helping them with their decision making process," Cathey said.

"The Counseling Services staff is welcoming and helpful," Katie Lauve, a junior business administration major, said.

"They are willing to answer any questions about career and major choices."