STEP ONE: Self Assessment

  • Talk with a career counselor about the self-assessment process

  • Work with Career Explorer to determine possible career paths

  • Take the Myers Briggs Type Indicator to identify personality characteristics

  • Meet with a career counselor to discuss the results of these inventories

  • Identify possible occupations to explore

  • Determine your top 3 occupations or career fields


STEP TWO: Career Research

  • Discuss top 3 occupations or career fields with your academic advisor

  • Talk with a career counselor about the best approach to researching these choices

  • Read books and materials on these choices including organizations, qualifications, job outlook, salary ranges, etc.

  • Attend career events to talk with career professionals

  • Define your first choice and alternative career areas


STEP THREE: Gaining Experience

  • Talk with a career counselor about gaining experience in your choice areas

  • Join a club or organization related to your first choice and alternatives

  • Find a related internship, part-time job or volunteer experience in your decided field

  • Consider an independent study on an issue of relevance to your field

  • Continue career research

  • Begin researching employers in your field and/or appropriate graduate programs

  • Learn how hiring is done in your field


STEP FOUR: Marketing Yourself 

For employment:

  • Register with the Recruiting Coordinator

  • Prepare a professional resume

  • Learn to interview effectively

  • Gather employment and academic references

  • Research companies in your field

  • Prepare a target list of employers

  • Attend on and off campus career events in order to network

  • Participate in on and off campus interviewing

For graduate school:

  • Talk with a career counselor about a back-up job search plan, just in case

  • Obtain catalogs from schools of interest

  • Register for the appropriate entrance exams

  • Prepare your professional resume to include with your application

  • Gather academic references and establish a Credentials File

  • Obtain and fill out graduate school, assistantship/fellowship and financial aid applications

  • Visit campuses and talk with faculty and students

  • Make a decision, send admission deposit

  • Consider taking courses on a non-matriculated basis if not accepted and then re-apply

 
   
  Last Updated: July 15, 2003