Sunday, July 6, 2008
Four Year Career Plan
Freshman Year
Exploring- Collect, analyze, and evaluate information about yourself to aid you in obtaining a career position consistent with your personality, abilities, aptitudes, values, interests, academic training, past work, and life experiences.
- Visit the Career Exploration Center and the Natural Sciences Career Services Offices to familiarize yourself with the services available.
- Talk to your faculty, advisors, counselors, and friends about possible majors and careers. Solidify your major and choose a minor or concentration.
- Start a career information file to keep track of contacts and activities over the next four years.
- Take interest and career inventory tests at the Career Exploration Center, Jester A115. (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Strong Interest Inventory(Skills Edition),Self Directed Search, College Majors Finder, The Birkman Method
- Identify at least four skills that employers want and plan how you will acquire these skills before graduation.
- Familiarize yourself with the Natural Sciences Career Services on the Internet. (http://careers.ns.utexas.edu)
- Use your degree plan electives to take courses in areas of interest to you.
- Take a resume writing workshop and write your first resume.
- Join university organizations that will offer you leadership roles in the future.
- Collect information on internships, cooperative (co-op) education opportunities, summer jobs and volunteer positions.
- Think about your answers to the following four key questions:
- What do I want to do?
- What can I do?
- What do I need to do to develop myself further?
- How can I get the job I want after graduation?
Sophomore Year
Research- Update your resume and have it critiqued by a Career Services counselor.
- Visit with the Natural Sciences Career Services Office and your advisor about internship opportunities.
- Explore opportunities to participate in an internship, co-op or summer job related to your interests.
- Register with eRecruitings on the Natural Sciences Career Services home page (http://careers.ns.utexas.edu). Check regularly for internship/co-op listings and companies interviewing on campus for internships/co-ops.
- Explore at least three career options available to you through your major.
- Attend career fairs, job fairs and employer information sessions that relate to your interests.
- Write a cover-letter and have it critiqued by a Career Services counselor.
- Get a part-time job or volunteer in a business that is related to your career plans or major.
- Review your progress in learning four (or more) skills employers look for in new hires.
- Join at least one professional or honorary organization related to your major. This will help you learn more about the profession and make contacts with people in the profession.
- Work toward one leadership position in a university club or activity and continue your involvement in other extracurricular activities.
- Identify organizations and associations in your interest areas for shadowing opportunities and informational interviews.
- Put together an interview outfit.
- Read at least one book on career planning.
- Think about your answers to these questions:
- What do I have to offer an employer?
- Who needs what I have to offer?
- How do I make them want me?
Junior Year
Decisions- Update your resume and have it critiqued by a Career Services counselor.
- Update your resume on eRecruitings and check the job listings and on-campus interviewing sections regularly.
- Narrow your career interest areas.
- Continue to explore and participate in cooperative education opportunities and internships in your field.
- Participate in interviewing, cover-letter writing, and other job-search workshops. Practice your skills in a mock interview with a Career Services counselor.
- Plan your job search campaign.
- Attend on-campus career and job fairs and employer information sessions related to your interests.
- Take leadership positions in clubs and organizations.
- Review alternative career plans. Consider graduate school and get information on graduate entrance examinations. Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair in the fall.
- Ask former employers and professors to serve as references.
- Complete at least five informational interviews in careers you want to explore. Shadow professionals in your field.
- Research potential employers in the Career Services library and on the internet, and talk to recent graduates in your major about the job market and potential employers.
- Review your progress in learning four (or more) skills employers look for in new hires.
- Build your professional wardrobe.
- Network! Network! Network!
Senior Year
Job Search- Put your job search campaign in high gear. Commit yourself to a thorough search.
- If you have not registered with eRecruitings on the Natural Sciences Career Services home page, do so now!
- Apply for jobs and participate in as many interviews as possible.
- Update your resume and keep it updated!
- Develop an employer prospect list with contact names and addresses from organizations you are interested in pursuing.
- Discuss career opportunities with faculty and counselors, friends and acquaintances. Network! Network! Network!
- Attend workshops you may have missed on resumes, cover letters, interviewing, networking, and conducting a job search. Practice interviewing.
- Keep track of your interview results and assess your performance after each interview.
- Be positive and stay alert to opportunities.
- Gather information on realistic salary expectations.
- Draft an acceptance and refusal letter that can be adapted for a variety of employers and have it critiqued.
- Read two or more professional or trade publications from your major and career field on a regular basis.
- If applicable, take graduate school entrance exams and complete applications.
- Consider and review job offers.
- Accept the job that best fits your career and professional needs.
