Freshmen

Year 1 - Freshman Year

Self-Assessment and Career Planning Activities

• After the first three weeks of class check in with your advisor
• See your advisor to discuss mid-tem grades.  Plan for registration, final grades, and adjustment to your schedule.
• Start a career information file that includes names of contacts and records of your activities for the next four years.
• Schedule an appointment at the Student Academic Services Center to familiarize yourself with the services and resources available.
• Take an interest inventory test at the University Testing Center, W.R. Collins Admin. Bldg. Room 134.
• Identify at least four skills employers want and plan how you will acquire these skills before graduation.
• Scan the Occupational Outlook Handbook, (www.bls.gov/oco) a book filled with information on hundreds of occupations, and leaf through other career-search books in the career library.
• Familiarize yourself with the Student Academic Services Center's homepage and other job-search resources on the Internet.
• Take resume writing and other career planning workshops and write your first resume and personal statement.
• Attend on-campus career and job fairs to gather information on potential careers and employers.
• Explore your interests, abilities, and skills through required academics.
• Collect, analyze, and evaluate information about yourself to aid your in obtaining a career position consistent with your personality, abilities, aptitudes, values, interests, academic preparation, past work, and life experiences.
• Review various career and business publications.  Consider and use exercises, projects, psychological tests, and other ways to determine your career interests.
• Talk to faculty, alumni, advisors, and career counselors about possible majors and careers.
• Join university organizations that will offer you leadership roles in the future.
• Collect information on cooperative education programs, internships, and summer jobs that are available through the Center.
• Consider volunteer positions to help build your resume.
• Create your personal career action plan.
• Include in your plan the answers to the following FOUR 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?

SUMMER VACATION AFTER FRESHMAN YEAR

• Get a Summer job/earn expenses.

• Acquire work experience and develop a strong business and work ethic.

• Develop maturity ability to function in a work environment and get along with people.