Step 1: Explore Career Options
Use career assessment tools to explore fields further so that you can better utilize guidance from our careerstaff. This stage helps make you aware of the many possibilities that exist. In additionto learning position titles, you will also discover the skills, educational requirements,and personal attributes needed to be successful in various fields. Gathering thisinformation helps career counselors make suggestions formajors, jobs, and careersthat would fit in with your interests and skills. The goal here is to come up witha few options to share with a career counselor.
Step2: Conduct Field Research
This stage is useful in deciding between different fields to pursue. What better wayto explore career options than to meet with someone working in the field? It entailsmeeting with people in different positions or industries that you are interested inand asking them questions about their job. This is also the first step in startingto build a professional network. To help you with this stage, pick up a packet inthe Career Center on Field Research and Informational Interviews.
Step3: Determine Your Job Target
After you have looked at your options by doing career exploration and field research,it is time to make a decision and set some goals. The components of this decisionare called your Job Target. Your Job Target is the specific industry and position you choose to pursue. It mayalso include geographic location. Your Job Target can change as you gain more experienceand knowledge about yourself.
Step 4: Build Your Credentials and Resume
This stage is ongoing and the more you build your credentials, the better your resumebecomes. A great resume leads to interviews and offers. The best ways to build yourcredentials and knowledge are by:
- Doing internships related to your Job Target
- Taking classes and attending seminars related to your Job Target
- Reading books, journals, and magazines related to your Job Target
- Joining professional associations or clubs on campus related to your Job Target
Upload your resume at CLUpostings.com so employers can view it.
Step 5: Prepare for Your Job Search
This stage requires researching companies and organizations you want to work for andestablishing if your friends, family, or the Career Center have any leads there. Learnto write calling scripts and develop tactics for approaching employers other thanlooking at advertisem*nts (which seldom bring quick results). You will also need toget organized by starting a job search binder where all your activities are loggedand new information is kept. In addition, it is crucial to educate yourself regardinginterviewing and salary negotiations before you meet employers. (Our workshops are a great way to do this.) You have to stand out! It will take most new graduates3–10 months to find a job, so start early. For a graduate-level student, it may takelonger.
Step 6: Launch Your Job Search
Ready? There are many activities involved in launching your job search. Writing atargeted resume is important to show employers how your skills relate to their specificneeds. Set aside the time to make calls, write cover letters and thank you letters,conduct interviews, and do research. Be creative with the approaches you use and remember to ask yourself,"Will this help me to stand out from my competition?" Lastly, consistently updateyour resume with any new skills, knowledge, and experience.
