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Career Planning Guide

Welcome to the planning of your future career! We’ve outlined some important steps you should take to get started.

First-Year

  • Enroll in core courses with the help of your First-Year Advisor.
  • Study university catalogs to learn rules and regulations for on-time graduation.
  • Get involved on campus. Look into clubs, teams, or committees.
  • Start thinking about your major. Explore career options, take aptitude surveys, and work with FOCUS, Career and Educational Planning Solutions.
  • Review curriculum charts for the major(s) you are interested in. Speak with professors in that department.
  • Undeclared? Utilize office resources right away to start exploring majors.
  • Utilize spring and summer breaks to obtain a job. Begin developing an employment history.
  • Attend workshops such as Choosing a Major and Obtaining a Summer Job.

 

Sophomore Year

  • Find out who your department advisor is early in the year. Seek his/her advice in choosing courses and careers.
  • Continue exploring your major by taking introductory courses and speaking with department members.
  • Begin to prepare for in-depth study of your major.
  • Speak with professors of your major regarding internships for next year. Increasing numbers of students are obtaining positions after graduation through internships.
  • Speak with the cooperative education department about obtaining paid work experience in your field.
  • Still undeclared? You’ll need to declare by the end of sophomore year. Intensify your exploration early to avoid taking courses that may not fit with your major.
  • Continue building employment skills through summer jobs, extra-curricular activities, and volunteer experiences.

 

Junior Year

  • Focus on your major with upper-level coursework.
  • Gain experience through co-op, internships, study abroad, volunteer and community service, or experiential coursework.
  • Are you starting to feel career-ready? Are you making life decisions? Do you have alternate career plans? Do you know your strengths and weaknesses?
  • Get to know faculty members in your major well. They bring career-related experiences to campus.
  • Consider a minor in an area of interest.
  • Take electives to enhance your marketability.
  • Take Career Search (LC300), a one-credit course that will guide you in preparing resumes, researching companies, interviewing, etc.
  • Continue to find summer employment, but try to obtain a position related to your chosen field.
  • Considering graduate school? Visit the CSS or your Faculty Advisor for help in getting organized for school selection and applying.

 

Senior Year

  • Complete course requirements in your major/minor.
  • Apply for graduation early to be sure all requirements have been met.
  • Organize your job search early! See the Career Development Office for help in getting started.
  • Take Career Search (see Junior Year).
  • Seek advice from the Career Development Office and your Faculty Advisor in preparing your resume, targeting potential employers, etc.
  • Attend the fall and spring job fairs sponsored by the Career Development Office.
  • Choose faculty and administrators to serve as references.