Career Planning Strategies
The Career Center is committed to assisting students with the following:
- Learning more about one's self
- Developing life-long career planning skills
- Selecting an appropriate career path based on interests, values, skills, needs and aspirations
- Obtaining career-related experience while in school
- Selecting a graduate program and/or finding a job after graduation
Where are you in your studies?
First Year
What:
- Begin self-assessment: what are your values, interests, skills, needs, etc.
- Attend the Choosing a Major/Choosing a Career Workshop available in the Career Center to define your career interests.
- Use Choices, a computer program in the Career Center to help you select possible career fields.
- Obtain academic advising for help in selecting courses, explanation of academic regulations and perspective on academic programming.
- Select General Education courses that will provide you with the opportunity to explore career fields of interest.
- Become involved in student life on campus as part of your personal development.
- Get to know faculty and other students.
Why:
- To get a good foundation for your education and your career.
Sophomore Year
What:
- Explore internship possibilities for the junior year by contacting the internship office in your college or department, through , or the SLICE Office.
- Participate in workshops and career related activities planned specifically for sophomores.
- Make tentative career choices.
- Interview someone in your chosen career field to learn about real life on the job.
- Look for leadership and/or team work opportunities in clubs and organizations.
Why:
- To commit to a major and minor and begin making plans for a career.
Junior Year
What:
- Take courses in your major and minor as well as elective courses.
- Work with a career counselor to define your career plans.
- Obtain an internship or part-time job in your chosen career field. Volunteer positions are also good experience.
- Participate in a Graduate School Workshop and attend the in the Fall if applicable.
- Explore possibilities to study abroad or on another campus for a year or a semester.
- Don't be afraid to change your major.
- Bring your current resume or develop a new one and have it critiqued at the Career Center, or attend an employer-staffed Resume Clinic.
Why:
- To refine your career plans and make progress in establishing goals.
Senior Year
What:
- Develop long-term career goals.
- Attend the or a and use the On-campus Interview Program.
- Attend workshops on job search strategies, resume preparation, interview skills and business etiquette.
- Learn how to use the Internet to look for job listings such as ToroJobs and other resources.
- Develop a network of people to support your career plans.
- Interview with potential employers.
- For graduate school applicants, select the appropriate graduate program and complete the application process. Ask faculty members for letters of reference.
Why:
- To construct a successful job search and obtain employment in your chosen field or finalize plans for graduate school.