Freshman | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | After Graduation
FRESHMAN Timeline - Look in: Find resources; become aware.
SOPHOMORE Timeline - Setp up: Assess and explore options. Keep up your academics:
JUNIOR Timeline -Leap out: Test your decisions. Maintain your academic progress:
SENIOR Timeline - Step off: Make connections and get going. Maintain academics:
AFTER GRADUATION Congratulations. You did it!
FRESHMAN Timeline - Look in: Find resources; become aware.
Plan for success - Maintain academic progress:
- Enroll in liberal arts courses and a single course in your major area of interest. Discuss options and opportunities with your advisor.
- Learn the academic system and do well in your classes. Strive to earn a 3.2/4.0 GPA or higher. Complete an academic timeline and keep track of credits earned.
- Take advantage of the Kissinger Learning Center for support services such as tutoring, advising, and study skills. Don't wait if you're struggling with a class.
- Keep in contact with your faculty advisor.
- Check into scholarships, grants, and loans for next year and for graduate school.
- Visit Career Development in D206, or enroll in LART1200, Career and Life Planning, a class that researches careers and identifies your interests, values, skills, talents, and personality type.to schedule a career counseling appointment if you don't know how to get started thinking about a career.
- Talk with your parents, your professors, and Career Development about careers.
- Research your industry of choice. Find out what the "hot jobs" are and what you salary expectations should be.
- Get involved in campus events that are career-related. (SIFE, Center for Public Service or other student organizations and social clubs)
- Get work experience in an on- or off-campus job.
- Volunteer for campus ministries programs like study buddies or prison ministries.
- Traven ald learn about other cultures with the Tri-S (Study, Serve, Share) program.
- Teachers, artists, marketing majors, and graphic Designers: Collect pictures and samples of work for your portfolio.
- Get a summer job, internship, or volunteer position in your area of interest.
- Build your computer skills and proficiency in word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and Internet applications.
- Ask your summer employer for a reference, typewritten on their letterhead. Keep this for the future.
SOPHOMORE Timeline - Setp up: Assess and explore options. Keep up your academics:
- Maintain or improve your GPA.
- Set an appointment to talk with your advisor and share your academic plan.
- Check out Career Development -- We have syllabi on file from EVERY CLASS.
- Take language classes with the desire to become bilingual.
- Write or polish up your résumé. Have it evaluated by a Career Development professional. Post it on College Central Network.
- Ask Career Development for help with your interviewing and job search skills.
- Explore graduate school options.
- Apply to the Center for Public Service, SIFE, Student Education Association or other student organizations.
- Plan an internship. Career Development or INvision can help.
- Look into Tri-S or study abroad options.
- Consider adding a summer class to your transcript.
- Planning for graduate school? Send for applications and research schools.
JUNIOR Timeline -Leap out: Test your decisions. Maintain your academic progress:
- Evaluate your current GPA. Double-check your credit hours to be sure you'll graduate in the time frame you want.
- Reevaluate your major. If you're having second thoughts, make an appointment with a counselor in Career Development.
- Speak with your faculty advisor to evaluate your progress. Could you add a minor or additional certification to make yourself more marketable?
- Take advantage of the opportunities to make oral presentations in class.
- Buy your interview suit NOW.
- Attend at least one job fair in the spring.
- Rewrite your résumé with the intent of gaining a spring or summer internship. Post it on College Central Network.
- Sign up for a mock interview with Career Development.
- Consider linking with professionals and alumni in careers of interest to you. Break the ice by asking to job shadow or conduct an informational interview. Talk to faculty.
- Check with the Career Development to identify internship opportunities. Use College Central Network!
- Build your résumé in HTML and post it to your personal web site.
- Build your reference list with three to five people who know your work ethic and your character. Ask at least two to be references for you and gather all important information about them, such as title, address, phone, and e-mail addresses.
- Do a second internship or volunteer in your area of interest.
- Consider taking a summer class.
- Send off for graduate school applications now. Begin writing essays and asking references to help you select graduate school. Study for the Graduate School Exam, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, or MCAT.
SENIOR Timeline - Step off: Make connections and get going. Maintain academics:
- Calculate your overall GPA and your GPA for your major. Most employers like to see a 3.2/4.0 or above on your résumé.
- Follow up on graduate schools to check your status.
- Contact your faculty advisor to ensure you're on track to graduate.
- Explore the Mentor Network on College Central Network to find a mentor in your desired field.
- Work for a "job offer by May". Update your résumé early in the fall and posit it to College Central Network. Make formal copies and keep them with you to distribute to those who ask.
- Decide geographically where you want to work and the salary you expect to make. Use the Internet and resources in Career Development to determine that your salary expectations are realistic.
- Pull in sources from your job and volunteer experiences. Let them know that you are job hunting and ask their advice. Be sure to send them a thank you letter.
- Consider an internship in your field of study to get a jump start into the work force.
- Get formal references from your advisor and employers.
- Get a current copy of your academic transcript or your file.
- Polish your web page so you are marketable. Consider changing your voice mail to be more professional.
- Finalize your portfolio, references, school and work projects that will help an employer visualize what you can do.
- Update your interview wardrobe.
- Spend time thinking about your strengths. Write out what you have to offer an employer.
- Participate in a mock interview. Identify typical questions employers might ask and practice answering them.
- Write a list of questions that you want answered. Get advice from Career Development about how to handle questions about salary, benefits, and more.
- Set your job search plan using a realistic time frame. Career Development can assist you with your job search.
- Use all opportunities to meet employers. Research using College Central Network. Connect by participating in job fairs, using classroom opportunities to link with employers, or finding a mentor on College Central Network.
- Attend at least one meeting of a professional organization in your industry.
AFTER GRADUATION Congratulations. You did it!
- Revise your résumé to include your current GPA (and/or major G.P.A.) Update your address, phone, and e-mail.
- Continue to collect references and recommendations.
- Request an official copy of your transcript to keep for your records. Make extra copies to give to an employer.
- Gather your certifications and licenses for your job portfolio. Make extra copies.
- Set a realistic time frame for continuing your job search.
If you do not have a job by graduation, meet with Career Development. Plan your job search and polish your interviewing skills. Keep in touch. Many job fairs happen over the summer - You can participate in these!
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