Year-by-Year Plan for Career Development

First Year: Discover Second Year: Explore & Decide
Third Year: Commit Fourth Year: Search

FIRST YEAR: DISCOVER

Student

  • Establish relationships with advisors & faculty
  • Become involved in a student club
  • Explore interests, values, skills and how they relate to majors & work world
  • Do SIGI on Career Services web site or enroll in UNIV100 for career exploration
  • Register online with Career Services and use career resource center
  • Investigate part-time, summer & volunteer opportunities

Parents

  • Encourage student to make grades a top priority
  • Encourage student to meet with professors & advisors regularly
  • Talk with student about campus clubs that may match interests
  • Encourage student to use Career Services

Career Services

  • Provide drop in hours and individual career counseling
  • Provide resource center and online resources including SIGI+
  • Teach UNIV 100: College Majors & Career Choice
  • Assist students in finding part-time, summer, & volunteer experience

SECOND YEAR: EXPLORE & DECIDE

Student

  • Explore and research different major and career options
  • Shadow an expert in a field of interest and conduct informational interviews
  • Choose and certify into a major
  • Attend campus career fairs and Career Quest
  • Learn to write a resume and interview effectively
  • Obtain a summer internship or career-related experience

Parents

  • Encourage student to seek career counseling if undecided
  • Talk with student about different majors and careers being considered
  • Help student develop a list of people in fields of interest so student can
    • conduct field research
  • Encourage student to obtain career-related experience

Career Services

  • Provide drop in hours and individual career counseling
  • Provide career workshops, host career fairs and events
  • Provide career resources in center and online
  • Provide job shadow, internship, CCAN, Career Quest, and campus interview program
  • Teach student how to obtain career-related experience

THIRD YEAR: COMMIT

Student

Parents

  • Encourage student to get involved in activities related to career interests
  • Talk with student about career goals
  • Encourage student to attend career fairs and other Career Services events
  • Provide networking contacts for student
  • Encourage student to obtain career-related experience

Career Services

  • Provide career counseling to assess goals and assist with job search
  • Teach UNIV 300, a career planning course for certified majors
  • Offer mock interviews and resume critiques
  • Provide career workshops, host career fairs and events
  • Provide career resources in center and online
  • Provide job shadow, internship, and CCAN programs
  • Provide opportunities to connect with employers, including the campus interview program
  • Assist with graduate school planning and application

FOURTH YEAR: SEARCH

Student

  • Develop a job search strategy and start early
  • Join a professional organization
  • Participate in campus career fairs and interview program, and view jobs online
  • Utilize the Career Resource Center and online resources to identify and research opportunities
  • Network and discuss career plan with faculty, counselors, and professionals in the field

Parents

  • Ask student how you can help them
  • Listen to their hopes and fears
  • Encourage student to participate in Career Services programs
  • Provide networking contacts for student

Career Services

  • Provide career counseling and job search assistance
  • Assist student in finding prospective employers and job search assistance
  • Host career fairs, workshops, and events
  • Maintain listings of job openings
  • Provide opportunities for students to connect with employers recruiting WSU students