Career Services

What to do each year

Following is a good framework for your career plan while you're a student. While this guide neatly organizes a four-year plan of career-related activities, it is not meant to be a "blueprint" for the undergraduate years. It is normal for students to change majors or career plans during college, and this would certainly impact the manner in which career plans are implemented.

Freshman Year - Awareness / Major Selection

• Visit the Career Services Office.
• Establish a profile on eRecruiting.
• Create a resume, have it reviewed by the Career Services Office, and upload it to eRecruiting.
• Make a tentative selection of a major field of study. Seek assistance from an academic adviser and enroll in core courses that lead to your degree.
• Attend at least the fall Career Fair and all three fairs if possible.
• Join student clubs and organizations to facilitate personal and social development.
• Seek assistance from faculty, administrators, counselors and friends. Learn how to meet and get to know faculty and administrators.
• Learn which electives will enhance your personal development.
• Find a good summer job which will enable you to:
  • Develop confidence and skills that may be transferable;
  • Gain maturity in a work environment;
  • Develop strong business and work ethics;
  • Learn how to get along with people;
  • Earn money for tuition, college expenses, etc.

Sophomore Year - Career Exploration / Major Commitment

• Update your information on your eRecruiting profile.
• Have your resume reviewed and upload it to eRecruiting.
• Familiarize yourself more with eRecruiting and the application process.
• Attend employer-sponsored events to network with company representatives.
• If you are unsure about your major or career direction, schedule an appointment with your academic adviser.
• Visit the Career Services office to meet with your Peer Adviser.
• Attend all three career fairs.
• Become familiar with information provided on our website.
• Get involved! Join a club, professional organization or some kind of extracurricular activity.
• Start searching for an internship related to your major. Or search for a summer job that is as close as possible to being technical in nature. For example, a civil engineering student would be better off working a construction job for the summer than waiting tables.
• At the very least try to work in a professional office environment to build quality work references and gain exposure to that type of work environment.

Junior Year - The Year of the Internship

• Update your information on your eRecruiting profile.
• Have your resume reviewed and upload it to eRecruiting.
• Familiarize yourself more with eRecruiting and the application process.
• Meet with a Career Services staff member to help you create a plan for your internship search.
• Attend employer-sponsored events to network with company representatives.
• Attend all three Career Fairs.
• Attend any Career Fair workshops sponsored by Career Services.
• Obtain an internship in your preferred career field to gain a firsthand impression of the work environment.
• Create and/or expand your network. A network is a group of people who know the type of position(s) you are seeking, are willing to help keep you abreast of current job/internship openings, and happy to introduce you to people with the authority to make hiring decisions or further referrals.
• If you are considering graduate and/or professional school, talk with your faculty adviser about this option and begin exploring possible programs of study.
• Attend the Graduate School Fair if you are considering this path.
• Don't wait until a crisis before you connect with faculty and staff who may be of help to you.
• Stay involved in school organizations to help sharpen public speaking skills, leadership skills and organizational skills. If you are not involved in any activities, now is the time to start!

Senior Year - The Job Search and Graduate School Search

• Update profile and resume on eRecruiting.
• Develop Job Search Plan.
• Draft resume; have it critiqued by Career Services staff.
• Make a list of useful contacts.
• Make a list of companies/contacts for targeted phone/mail campaign.
• Meet with Career Services staff member.
• Practice interviews and consider scheduling a mock interview with a Career Services Peer Advisor.
• Interview with companies through Career Services Office.
• Prepare and send letters/make phone calls to companies/contacts on "target" list. Follow up with employers.
• Use quarter break to contact prospective employers.
• Take the GRE.
• Attend a Graduate School seminar.
• Apply to Graduate School.
• Attend all three Career Fairs if you haven't secured a job.
• Write or call alumni and other contacts; ask for referrals.
• Begin contacting referrals.
• Prepare for and schedule second interviews if invited by employers.
• Use Winter break to follow up with previous contacts and continue contacting prospective employers.
• Discuss progress with Career Services staff member.
• Use other job search techniques (Internet, professional journals, classified ads, employment professionals, etc.).
• Continue campus interviewing.
• Continue making contacts, follow up, networking.
• Report offers to Career Services.
• Arrange meetings with prospective employers.
• Call helpful contacts.
• Continue follow-up with previous contacts.
• Use spring breaks to meet with networking contacts.
• Take FE exam.
• Discuss progress with Career Services staff member.
• Continue to contact prospective employers.
• Continue to network with contacts.
• Discuss job offers with Career Services staff.
• Accept offer.
• Report acceptance to Career Services Office.