Career Planning

    Career Development Timetable: Guide by Year

Get Prepared


FRESHMAN YEAR (INQUIRY AND AWARENESS)

  • Make an initial selection of major or meet with your advisor. Begin to consider career fields
  • Explore interests, abilities through academics; utilize interests and career inventory tools, Strong Interest Inventory and TypeFocus.
  • Participate in campus activities and consider volunteering to begin/build your resume
  • Talk to individuals already employed about careers related to your interests
  • Obtain part-time and summer jobs to develop interpersonal skills and work-related values
  • Get to know faculty, counselors. and administrators
  • Begin to attend CDS workshops and career forums
  • Join a student professional organization/association
  • Familiarize yourself with the career services homepage and other related resources on the Internet
  • Use your UCID credentials to review and update your profile in , the Career Services job listings system

SOPHOMORE YEAR (ASSESSMENT AND EXPLORATION)

  • Review your self-assessment of interests, skills, abilities, and values
  • Explore preliminary careers
  • Get information about participating in a cooperative education work experience (co-op)
  • Research specific occupations, including educational requirements (, )
  • Attend job search workshops to develop your resume and learn interviewing tips
  • Have resume critiqued in the Career Services office
  • Apply to 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ’s Cooperative Education Program
  • Explore job postings on
  • Attend Career Fairs to find part-time, co-op, or summer job
  • Put together an interview outfit
  • Use social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook to begin networking and marketing your skills and experience

JUNIOR YEAR (TESTING CAREER DECISION)

  • Attend CDS workshops and career forums
  • Attend Career Fairs to find part-time, co-op or summer job
  • Use and Career Shift to identify internship and co-op jobs
  • Participate in an internship, a co-op, or summer job or volunteer experience
  • Continue to develop pertinent knowledge and job-related competencies-i.e. communication, leadership, organizational, problem solving, social media, team playing, and computer skills.
  • Register with CDS for on-campus interviewing opportunities (On-Campus Interviewing Program)

 

SENIOR YEAR (JOB SEARCH)

  • Attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing and other job search strategies
  • Register with and participate in CDS’ On-Campus Interviewing Program ( OCI )
  • Upload a revised, professional-looking resume to for resume referral
  • Develop a list of contacts and participate in networking opportunities; include social media
  • Attend 51ÖØ¿ÚÁÔÆæ and other Career Fairs to meet and network with employers
  • Identify skills developed from short term or part-time employment
  • Learn techniques for articulating your strengths to employers
  • Schedule practice interviews for a critique of interviewing skills