CAREER PLAN

Career and Personal Development

Year by Year Career Plan

Freshman Year

1. Get Connected

   Do your best in your studies right from the start; your grade point average will be important to many employers and for admission to graduate programs.

   Get to know your faculty and advisors.

   Become involved in college activities, sports and clubs that will help develop team-building and leadership skills.

   Meet with a career counselor.

2. Identify Your Interests, Skills, and Abilities

   Begin exploring careers and majors that interest you. Check out our How to Choose a Major page.

3. Develop a Draft of Your Resume

   Review our resume preparation guidelines.

   Get your resume reviewed at an appointment with a counselor or during our Walk-in Hours.

4. Start Planning for Sophomore Year

   Find a summer job related to your interests.

Sophomore Year

1. Test Your Major and Career Choice(s)

   Complete a career assessment and meet with a counselor.

   Review career information and other resources on our website.

   Join campus organizations in your area of interest and consider leadership positions.

2. Sharpen Your Focus

   Attend career fairs and programs sponsored by the Career and Personal Development Office.

   Arrange informational interviews with people who work in careers that interest you.

   Meet with a career counselor to assess your options.

   Meet with academic advisors in your field of interest.

3. Prepare for Junior Year

   Meet registration deadlines for fall internships.

   Schedule and attend a Pre-Internship Appointment with a career counselor to discuss the process of obtaining an internship for credit and the requirements.

   Revise your resume and submit it for review.

   Attend an interviewing workshop.

   Turn in all internship forms to the Career and Personal Development Office.

Junior Year

1. Experience Your Career Field With an Internship

   Meet registration deadlines for internships.

   Schedule and attend a Pre-Internship Appointment with a career counselor to discuss the process of obtaining an internship for credit and the requirements.

   Submit your resume for review.

   Attend an interviewing workshop.

   Do a mock interview.

   Turn in all internship forms to the Career and Personal Development Office.

2. Network

   Attend networking events and career fairs sponsored by our office.

   Investigate specific professional associations.

   Meet with a career counselor to learn about LinkedIn and other means of networking.

3. Develop Your Job Search or Grad School Plans

   Attend our programs related to graduate school and begin to explore your options.

   Discuss your plans with a career counselor.

   Find a summer job/internship related to your major.

Senior Year

1. Experience Your Career Field With an Internship

   Meet registration deadlines for internships.

   Schedule and attend a Pre-Internship Appointment with a career counselor to discuss the process of obtaining an internship for credit and the requirements.

   Submit your resume for review.

   Attend an interviewing workshop.

   Turn in all internship forms to the Career and Personal Development Office.

2. Define Your “Exit Strategy” – Employment or Graduate School

   Visit your career counselor at the beginning of the fall and spring semesters to discuss your individualized career plan.

   Attend career fairs and programs sponsored by the Career and Personal Development Office.

   Attend graduate school information workshops presented by Career and Personal Development.

3. Perfect Your Marketing Materials

   Review and revise your cover letter and resume.

   Collect recommendations from work supervisors and faculty.

4. Hone Your Interviewing and Job Search Skills

   Participate in interviewing and job search workshops.

   Sign up for a mock interview.