Career Planning Timeline

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FRESHMAN YEAR: It’s never too early!

College passes by quickly, and before you know it- it will be interview time! It is important to begin career development early on so you can make the most of your time in college. Even as a freshman, planning is the key that will open doors to internships and experiences in the years to come.

Whether you have entered college with a major or are still undecided, this should be every college freshman’s first step. While you may have chosen a major based on your interests, you may not be aware of the career opportunities that lie at the end of the tunnel. Likewise, you may know exactly what kind of career of field you may want to work in after college, but aren’t quite sure what to major in to obtain the skills and experiences needed in order to make it happen.

If you are undecided about a major, your institution’s Career center is an invaluable resource. Set up an appointment to meet with a career counselor who can assist you in finding resources, narrowing down options, and honing in on your skills and interests. Even if you are set on a major, career counselors can help you map out strategies that will help you achieve your goals after graduation.

After speaking to a career counselor, make it a point to speak to anyone you know working in your field of interest. Be honest about your interests, and ask them detailed questions about their daily work routine, major projects and work environments. If possible, set up a time to shadow someone working in the field in order to gain an inside view of an industry or profession. Be realistic about evaluating the experience, and try to imagine working within the setting you observe.

Ask any employer and they will tell you- gaining experience while in college is your ticket to after-college employment. Waiting until your senior year to gain experiences means other students will pass you by. Develop valuable skills and experience by working in your field while in school, and seek out opportunities that will allow you to work in the type of environment you are planning to pursue after graduation. By doing so, you are not only gaining experience that is crucial to landing a job, but you are testing the waters to make sure the career you have chosen is a good fit.

Make the most of your college experience by planning early, setting goals and taking advantage of the great opportunities that lie ahead. It’s never too soon to start filling in the white space on your resume!
 
SOPHOMORE YEAR: Full speed ahead!
Welcome to your second year of college! You have conquered the frenzy of your first year, and are a seasoned professional at this whole college thing. So now its time to get down to business!

If you are still questioning your choice of major, now is the time to engage in some serious career exploration. Your junior and senior years will be defined by internships and other experiences, and having a good sense of direction will only make the process easier.

Even if you have chosen a major and are well on your way, begin to consider different career paths within the field. Two people with the same college major may not always end up in the same career, and looking at options now can help you to tailor your internships to fulfill your goals.

Begin to ask yourself what you are passionately interested in, and then find a way to fit it into a career. Ask yourself what you would like to spend your days doing even if you weren’t able to be paid for it. Your response to that question may just lead you to find your perfect match! If you can’t find a connection between your interests and a career field, try to determine why you love what you do. Talking this over with a career counselor can help you to find other areas that might be related.

Your sophomore year is an important time when it comes to getting involved on campus and engaging in activities that can be used later on your resume. Join student organizations, submit articles to the school paper, run for student government. Take on leadership roles in organizations, volunteer in the community or start an initiative on your campus. Any efforts to lead, take initiative or organize an event or group will be held in high esteem by employers when you begin your job search. Begin researching professional organizations in your field (ex: American Marketing Association, American Psychological Association, etc) and consider joining. Most professional organizations offer membership at discounted rates for students, and becoming a member can give you inside information about the field you are planning to enter.

Challenge yourself this year to try new things and to explore areas within your major or chosen field. If you have always been fearful of public speaking, take a course to help you develop excellent communication skills. Challenging yourself will help you to develop a strong sense of drive and determination, and may also help you to discover skills and talents you never knew you had!

Your sophomore year is also a good time to start organizing materials for future portfolios and resumes. Designate a binder, folder or drawer in your desk for networking contacts, media coverage of events you have participated in, writing samples or projects you are particularly proud of. Update your resume each time you complete a new activity, take on a new leadership role or start a new job. Doing the dirty work now will pay off when you need a resume in a hurry, and will also ensure that you do not forget to include important and valuable information in your resume or portfolio. Imagine looking back over four whole years trying to remember all the hard work you did!

Start viewing your second year of college as an important stepping stone to your future. Now is the time to consider which internship opportunities you would like to pursue and what experiences you would like to one day have on your resume. Then take action and make it all a reality!

 
JUNIOR YEAR: Testing the Waters
After deciding on a career path, it’s now time to try on your new career for size. Your junior and senior years are characterized by internships and other experiences that allow you to have a firsthand glimpse into the career you have chosen. No matter what your field, combining the skills you have learned in the classroom with practical experience will be your ticket to a great career. You junior year is a valuable one because it is the point in your college career that allows you to really begin to plan for post-graduation success.

Your first step in beginning this process is to research internship opportunities even before your junior year. Start considering what you would like to gain from an internship, and then narrow down opportunities by industry or company. Talk to your classmates about positive internship experiences they may have had in the past, and become a regular on sites like ClevelandIntern.net and your university’s career center webpage. Try setting aside time each week to research all the many possibilities that are open to you.

Make use of all the resources around you when searching for that perfect internship, including your institution’s alumni association, personal contacts, and pervious networking contacts. You never know when or where a great opportunity to gain valuable experience is going to surface!

While preparing to apply for internship experiences, it is important to make sure your resume is current and up to date. Remember all those organizations you joined and leadership roles you took on throughout the past few years? Now is the time to let them shine! Stop by your school’s career center to meet with a counselor to review your resume, choose an appropriate format and make the changes that are sure to land you the internship you are hoping for. Also make sure to check out the resources ClevelandIntern.net has provided for you regarding resume and cover letter writing.

Make sure your resume highlights the skills the company or organization is looking for, but also remember to be honest about the skills you possess. Presenting false information on your resume is unethical, and can cost you a great internship opportunity or tarnish your professional reputation. Keep it simple and honest, but present your accomplishments in an appealing and positive manner.

While searching for internships, you may discover that many opportunities offer pay, while others do not. Avoid automatically dismissing opportunities that do not offer compensation, though tempting. Remember that employers are looking for experience, and unpaid internships will pay off next year when you begin your job search. Think of unpaid internships as an investment in your future, and try to place value on experience rather than money.

Throughout your junior year, try to make connections between your classroom learning and internship experiences. Talk to professors and advisers about what you experience while working in the field, and continuously seek out new challenges.

Most importantly, begin compiling a portfolio containing your professional work. Work completed within your internship offers employers evidence that indicates how you perform in the workplace. Develop pride in your accomplishments, and be able to speak enthusiastically to others about the work you do. Use this year to build strong professional skills that will take you to the next level.
 
SENIOR YEAR: The Search is On!
You’ve made it! Now it’s time to get out there and watch your hard work pay off. By now you have an internship or two under your belt, and you are armed with the valuable, practical experience employers are looking for in new hires.

If you haven’t been all along, now is really the time to make use of all the resources your career center has to offer. Begin meeting with career counselors to update your resume to include internships, community involvement and leadership roles you have recently completed. At this point, you should have enough experiences to fill a resume without using information from high school, and your resume should outline a combination of work experiences, internships, activities, volunteerism and leadership roles.

Each resume you submit, whether it be via mail, email, fax or face to face should be accompanied by a cover letter outlining your objectives. When writing a cover letter, think of the letter as your only way to communication to the reviewer key points about your skills, talents and experiences. Keep it brief and concise, but also make sure that it conveys a positive message and enthusiasm about the job you are applying for. You may also want to use the cover letter to highlight some of the key points you would like the reviewer to see on your resume, such as a special project, award or position.

When looking for a job, networking is too valuable an activity to ignore. Make contact with those you have met along the way to let them know you what type of position you are looking for, and provide them with copies of your resume. Attend career fairs in the local area or at your institution to meet with representatives from hiring companies and organizations. You may also wish to attend a professional conference in your field in order to meet professionals and recent graduates who can share their own stories. Consider everyone you meet to be an important resource in finding a fulfilling and rewarding career.

Begin to organize your job search materials so that they are easily accessible. Try creating a spreadsheet of the positions you have applied for, the date you sent the resume, the name of the interviewer, etc. This will help you keep track of your search, and will allow you to review your progress from time to time. Keep copies of your resume on hand at all times, in the case that an interviewer may call unexpectedly or an opportunity suddenly arises.

Most importantly, spend time developing your professional image and taking the steps necessary to make the transition from student to employee. Read up on professional guidelines for dress and etiquette and do everything you can to make a lasting (and positive!) impression on those you meet. Get in the habit of writing and sending thank you letters immediately after interviews by keeping packages of blank cards in your planner or in your car. Every courteous action counts!

Last but not least, don’t get discouraged by rejection! Do not internalize rejection by blaming yourself or questioning your skills, talents or behavior. As long as you put your best foot forward, you can only assume that the position was simply not a good match and that something even better is about to come along. Consider each and every interview to be excellent preparation for the next, and continue to build upon your strengths as you come closer and closer to that perfect job.