Steps to take:

I can achieve my objectives by doing the following:

A combination of the resources below can help me achieve my career planning objectives

What can I expect at this level of career planning

I need to continue to assess my skills

list my most important career-related skills, drawn from education, work and leisure experiences

- contact my advisor

- attend workshops (contact career service offices for my field/s of interest)

- take standardized inventories (contact Counseling & Consultation Services), including:

Strong Interest Inventory

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

Self-Directed Search

"My Vocational Situation" (Education Career Services)

Campbell Interest and Skills Survey

- attend career fairs and career presentations by career service offices, academic departments, employers & student organizations

- make Career Connections through the Wisconsin Alumni Association

(Reminder to Engineering students: Register with the Engineering Cooperative Education/Internship Office.)

(Note: Activities similar to those in the freshman year are appropriate.)

- consult books on future economic trends

- read national newsletters on labor market and employment trends

- where appropriate, register for internship opportunities with career service office(s); contact the Student Job Center of the Student Financial Services office

- create a personal time line

- an increasingly clear understanding of who I am and what I do well

- the confidence to define my strengths and weak-nesses, skills and interests

- the ability to identify what I would like to learn, and why

- the ability to rank or prioritize my interests

- relevant work and study experience

- a tentative choice of major

be able to explain to myself and others why I tend toward choosing, or have chosen, a particular major

I need to explore my interests and clarify my values

name the work and non-work activities I most enjoy

make it a point to attend career-related programs

identify at least two career interest areas

visit career services offices appropriate to field of interest and relevant departments, to gather information about internship opportunities

meet with two or three faculty members about majors, careers and internships

arrange a "shadowing" experience, or conduct international interviews in my field/s of interest

plan for part-time employment, summer co-ops, internships, volunteer experiences or independent research related to my career interests

I need to make career decision

list my responsibilities, what I learned, and my contributions and accomplishments, for each of my most important job-related experiences, as an addition to my portfolio

become knowledgeable about labor market, future trends in employment

explore the connection between my major and possible career paths and work opportunities

I need to implement my career decisions

(These may be future goals and activities for consideration during later years in my college career. I will bring my questions and concerns to my academic advisor.)

Steps to take:

I can achieve my objectives by doing the following:

A combination of the resources below can help me achieve my career planning objectives

What can I expect from this level of career planning

I need to continue to assess my skills, in relation to my chosen major

list at least three people whom I have met and talked to, whose jobs are in an area that I would consider for a career choice

- conduct informational interviews (contact professionals known to me or my family, and ask them about their jobs)

- contact:

my career service office about job opportunities;

my academic advisor;

the Wisconsin Alumni Association for Career Connections

- make arrangements to attend:

resume writing workshops;

job search skills workshop;

interview skills workshop;

individualized and group advising for majors; professional or graduate school workshops.

- consult Directions for information on career fairs campus-wide;

gather job and employer information.

- attend graduate school fairs

- use Memorial Library reference guides

- use Graduate School "Home Pages" on the World Wide Web

- use other career resources on the World Wide Web

- a view of career options

- an informed view of graduate, professional schools, or post- baccalaureate training in field of interest

- experience & understanding of the world of work

continue to attend career fairs

continue to seek related professional experience through formal internships and/or part-time employment

list at least five position titles that might be appropriate to my interests and abilities

identify the education & additional skills necessary for me to attain my employment or other career goals

identify the type of organization for which I would like to work

I need to explore my interests and values in the wider context of the world of work

I need to consider geographic preferences (urban, rural, regional, international)

understand the lifestyle and tradeoffs associated with my career choice

talk to professors and graduate students to find out about connecting with potential advisors and networks in graduate school

evaluate feasibility of my admission to a graduate or professional program

at the beginning of my Junior year, request application materials & important deadlines for graduate or professional school applications, like the GRE, LSAT, GSAT, MCAT, etc.

study catalogues of schools that offer the degree program I wish to pursue

maintain satisfactory academic work for entrance requirements

talk to faculty in my area of interest and have at least strong references among my professors who know my work and my ability

identify the positive and negative features of the graduate program/institution I am considering

test occupations and document my experiences

investigate job search activities for the summer prior to my senior year

understand and learn about the job search process

at the beginning of my Junior year, check for the appropriate time to register with my career services office

become familiar with my career services programs and procedures

investigate career and placement activities & scheduled programs

visit the Career Services Office to gather information about placement in substantive internships related to my career interests

Prepare employment or post-graduate study

assess personal interest and qualifications for self-employment

prepare a list of references

secure the job or graduate program I have chosen

further investigate career choices, current job market availability

pick up materials and register with career services for on-campus interviews and resume referrals

prepare a resume or several resumes that market me to my target area or type of employer

have several people critique my resume

update my portfolio with accomplishments from internships, campus and community involvements and other pertinent achievements

At this level of career planning, I should:

- contact my career service office and make arrangements to attend:

resume writing workshops;

job search skills workshops;

an interview skills workshop;

individualized and group advising for majors

- get on career service offices database

- use career job search resources available on the Internet/WiscInfo;

- obtain a list of organizations and employers visiting the campus for interview opportunities

- check job listing binders, boards, UW Student Job Center of the Office of Student Financial Services

- explore services and programs available in other career service offices

Begin my job search

learn about employer site visit protocols; contact career service offices for information

organize a high profile career search campaign; contact career service offices for information

clarify my job objective, distinguishing between a senior student job, a temporary job and long-term employment goals

investigate ways of developing job leads other than advertised listings; contact career service offices for information

focus on occupation or geographic areas of maximum potential

attend fall semester career fairs and target my top employer-choices before interviews; contact career service offices for information

select at least five employers whom I plan to contact

become familiar with the services, programs or products of the employers whom I plan to contact; contact career service offices for information

clearly state why I am interested in working for each employer I contact; check the schedule of employers who conduct on-campus interviews to determine if any are a good match for me

prepare for interviews by attending seminars and workshops; contact career services offices for information

Understand that the job search can be frustrating, and remind myself that I need to....

maintain some balance in the midst of academic work and job search activities

consider taking a break prior to beginning employment of graduate school

allow some time for exercise or entertainment to relieve stress

report any job offers and acceptances to my career services office at the appropriate college or department

learn all that I can about the transition from student to professional employment, or graduate student survival skills

keep in touch with my department or college career placement service office, job club or fellow grads, recognizing that I may need a survival job

After graduation, with or without employment, I should...