Chart Your Course
Many college students feel confused and overwhelmed by all of the career decisions they must make. You have enough to worry about during your first year of school without trying to choose your life’s work. So, take one step at a time.
Below is a Career Planning Chart with some tips on how to move through the career planning process without overwhelming yourself.
CAREER PLANNING CHECKLIST*
Freshman Year: Know Thyself
- Get to know yourself. What does that mean? Basically, think about what you enjoy doing (your interests); what you’re good at doing (your skills); what’s important to you in a future career (your work values); and what makes you unique (your personality)
- There are lots of ways to go about this task: Take a few career interest Self-Assessment tests in the Career Services Office; talk with a Career Counselor; Ask other people in your life (e.g. family and friends) to help you identify your pertinent career related traits
Sophomore Year: Explore What’s Out There
- In sophomore year, start investigating major and career possibilities by reading the academic bulletin, talking to faculty, meeting with your Academic Advisor, and scheduling time to talk with a career counselor to learn about the types of careers various major might lead to
- Talk to people who are working in careers that intrigue you. Learn how they prepared, both academically and experientially, for their jobs. What advice do they have for you?
- Get a part-time job or pursue a volunteer experience that relates to a field that interests you
Junior Year: Get Experience
- This is the time to get experience in your major area of interest through an internship or part-time job.
- This is also the time to develop a resume and cover letter and learn how to tailor each document to the specific needs of specific employers
- Start researching companies or organizations you may like to work for someday.
- Attend college job fairs to get a sense of what the job market and process is like
- Try to develop alternative career options to give you some choices
- Attend Career Skill Building Workshops
Senior Year: Search and Transition
- Continue getting experience through an Internship, Volunteer Program, and/or part-time job
- Attend Career Skill Building Workshops
- Use the College’s Career Services Office, Web sites, newspapers, and your networks to find job openings
- Research companies and organizations you’ll be interviewing with and prepare thoroughly for those interviews
* Adapted from an article by Peter Vogt “MonsterTRAK Career Coach”
(http://content.ncaacareercoach.monster.com/career_development/goals)
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