Career Timeline for Undergraduate Students
Freshman Year
- See a Career Counselor of participate in a Career Planning Group to understand yourself and your:
- Skills- what you're good at
- Interests- what you enjoy doing
- Personality- what matches you and brings out your best
- Values- what's important to you
- Goals - what your plans are for the future
- Come up with a list of occupations that match you
- Begin researching occupations of interest
- Read about occupations that seem of interest to you
- Get to know your professors
- Your professors are tremendous resources
- Assess your study skills and get help if you need it
- If you are having any problems in a class, ask for help from your professor. If you need more assistance, go to the Tutorial Center and ask for a tutor.
- Aim for a 3.0 or higher GPA
- Get involved in campus activities. Meet new people and develop your skills
- Join an organization, take a job on campus, volunteer for a community service project, or get involved in activities in your residence hall
- Look for a summer job or volunteer in a career area that interests you
Sophomore Year
- Continue with self-exploration and self-knowledge through career counseling
- Individually or in a group, this helps to narrow your options
- Continue researching careers
- Continue to read about occupations that interest you
- Use computer guidance systems and the Richard L. Bailey Career Resource Center in Career Services and on this website to research and match yourself to occupations
- Field Survey: Conduct informational interviews with at least three people in each of the occupations you are interested in. This should help to reinforce your ideal career choice
- Research and apply early for summer jobs or volunteer opportunities to find something in one of your areas of interest
- Start researching internships at Career Services and within your major and minor departments
- Get to know your professors
- Assess your study skills and get help if you need it
- If you are having any problems in a class, ask for help from your professor. Your professors are great resources for you. If you need more assistance, go to the Tutorial Center and ask for a tutor.
- Aim for a 3.0 or higher GPA. Higher if planning to attend graduate school
- Continue being involved in student organizations and seek to increase your responsibilities within these organizations
- Participate in leadership training, such as the Evolving Leaders Seminar
Junior Year
- Complete career research and narrow your options to your 3 ideal career areas.
- Research graduate schools and their requirements for admission if graduate school is your next step
- Find out about required entrance exams and take them at the appropriate time
- Begin to research employers related to your ideal career areas
- Contact staff in Career Services to assist with this process
- Aim for 3.0 or higher GPA, especially if going to graduate school
- Increase responsibilities in your co-curricular involvements and become an officer of a campus organization
- Sign up for a career class in your college:
- Career Information in Arts & Communications and Letters & Science
- Career Information for Business & Economics
- Employment Strategies (Education)
- Where you will learn:
- Resume writing and important application correspondence
- Creative job-hunting skills
- Gain self-confidence to win that interview
- Work to develop a professional relationship with your professors in your major field of study
Senior Year
- Continue to research employers to find the best matches
- Apply to graduate schools before deadlines
- Seek and take on high-level responsibilities in activities and organizations
- Maintain a strong GPA
- Discuss your career plans with your professors and ask them to serve as references, before your begin your job hunt or apply to graduate school
- Sign up for a career class in your college:
- Career Information in Arts & Communications and Letters & Science
- Career Information for Business & Economics
- Employment Strategies (Education)
- Where you will learn:
- Resume writing and important application correspondence
