GETTING STARTED

But I'm just a Freshman!

Food for thought:
Begin thinking about college as the beginning of your career, because your attitude about school will set the pattern for the rest of your career development.

• Your advisor should become your strongest ally. Get to know him/her well.
• Stick with the core courses that will be required regardless of the major chosen.
• Don't be afraid to choose a tentative major. Most people change majors at least once.
• Obtain your own copy of the academic catalog. The university will produce a catalog every year, but the one you start with is the one you'll graduate under.
• Read your handbook cover to cover and keep it handy.
• Begin to think about possible career choices.
• Don't be a stranger to faculty, staff and administrators. They too can be strong allies.
• If you find yourself feeling lost and confused, ask for help. We've all been there.

Summer Ideas:

Not many careers offer a 3-month vacation, so find a job, work hard and start developing career skills.



But I've got plenty of time, don't I? I'm only a Sophomore.

Food for thought:
You have exactly the same amount of time as the person who succeeds and the person who fails.

• Assess your progress. You should have between 24 & 36 hours of your core requirements behind you at the beginning of your sophomore year.
• Within the year, you should complete most of your introductory courses in your major field.
• Look in depth at your interests, values, strengths, and abilities by taking a Career Inventory.
• Check out DISCOVER in the Career Resource Room. This is a great resource for planning your career.
• Begin to explore occupations you find interesting. How much education do they require? Is there a need? What are the demands? What are some related occupations?
• It's still not too late to change your mind or your major.
• Keep in touch with those allies. You're going to need them.

Summer Ideas:

Try to find a job closely related to your tentative career choice. When your searching for summer work, think about how it will look on your résumé in about 2 years.



Please tell me that this is the year I can take a break! I'm a Junior already!

Food for thought:
You're on the career launch pad now, your fuel tanks are half full. Keep pumpin' or you may run out of fuel before you reach your first career destination.

• Make an appointment with the Registrar's office and file your degree plan. (This is not an option.)
• Start making connections with powerful people in your chosen field by participating in career related internships.
• Continue to explore alternative careers.
• Familiarize yourself with Career Services now, as opposed to 2 days before you graduate.
• Let the staff in Career Services know what career you are interested in and who you would like to see visit campus next year for a career fair or interviews.
• Don't forget about your allies.

Summer Ideas:

Try to gain employment in your potential field.
Remember: These are the summers good résumés are made of.



Man, that was fast! I can't believe I'm a Senior

Food for thought:
Potential employers don't interview graduates in the hopes of tearing them apart. They want to hire you. If you're knowledgeable and meet their qualifications, the only thing left to do is make an impression.

• Make an appointment with the Office of the Registrar to make sure you haven't overlooked anything pertaining to your degree plan. Contrary to popular belief, this is your responsibility, not the registrar's.
• At this point all of your course work should be in your major and minor, with the exception of one or two electives.
• Plan your job or graduate school strategies.
• Open a Placement file in Career Services.
• Take advantage of Senior Seminar, workshops, career fairs, and on-campus interviews.
• Stay in close contact with Career Services.
• Begin compiling a list of references consisting of faculty, and administrators with whom you have developed a good relationship.
• Already be thinking about the direction in which you want your first job to take you.
• Don't make the mistake of taking the first job offer you get just because you're afraid it will be the last.