Plan For Your Career

You’ve reached the midpoint of your college career! Congratulations! Are you happy with where you are? Or, are you still looking for direction? By the beginning of your Junior Year, you should be committed to your major, and have made some preliminary decisions about where you might be headed after graduation. Also, with one summer remaining, this is a great time to start the planning process to prepare for your next step. Junior year can be incredibly busy, so get a head start now. Keep a running list of “to-do”s to keep yourself on track.

August – October

• Reassess your interests and options. Have they changed? How and why? Are you feeling stuck? Talk with a Career Counselor.
• Review your resume and transcript to determine what skills, knowledge and experience you still want and need to gain to pursue your field(s) of interest.
• Research different graduate, health or law programs. Review program descriptions to determine their strengths, read faculty biographies and make note of their entering criteria.
• Attend the fall career fair to practice your networking skills and find potential part time jobs and internship leads.
• Attend workshops to learn about resumes, cover letters, networking, and interviewing.

November – December

• Use Handshake to search for internships, and make note of the full time postings to help you get a better understanding of what positions may be available when you graduate.
• If you are planning to do an internship in the spring, begin the application process. All paperwork is due on Dec 10th for early decision, and final deadline is Jan 16th.
• Attend Grad School Open House, hosted by the Center for Career Development to find out if graduate school is right for you, which program you might be interested in, and to learn the requirements for entrance.
• Register for spring semester classes. Consider taking Career Development and Exploration, a career planning class.

January – February

• Aim for a strong academic performance, especially in your major, visit Academic Success for support if needed.
• Follow The Career Development at OU and Oglethorpe Internships on Facebook, and Pinterest to stay up to date on our events, opportunities and resources to help you succeed.
• Continue to be involved in Campus Organizations, and consider taking a leadership role.
• Volunteer with the Center for Civic Engagement- volunteer opportunities are wonderful ways to give back and also look great on your resume!
• Attend workshops offered by the ALAB for professional development.
• If you plan to attend Law School, make plans to prepare for the LSAT.
• If you plan to attend Medical School, begin your MCAT preparation.

March – May

• Attend the spring career fair to practice your networking skills and find potential part time jobs and internship leads.
• Be strategic about your last summer as a college student. . Look for summer employment on Handshake and start applying.
• Conduct informational interviews with alumni in the fields that interest you. Contact the Office of Alumni Affairs and the A_LAB for support.
• Attend and get involved in OU’s annual Symposium in Liberal Arts and Sciences. Listen to your peers presentations; look for areas of research and topics that might interest you.
• When registering for fall semester classes, consider taking Senior Transitions, a career planning course for seniors as they prepare for life after OU.
• Create a target list of potential employers, graduate or professional schools, or transitional programs.

The time has finally arrived…It may seem like just yesterday that you arrived on campus as freshman, making the transition from high school to college. Now you stand ready to make an even bigger transition from college to the workforce or graduate school. Think about how much you’ve grown, all you’ve learned and the amazing possibilities that are within your reach! Enjoy your successes and feel proud of your accomplishments!

While it is a time to enjoy your last year of college, it is also extremely important to get a head start of taking action. Targeting opportunities and preparing for the application process early in the year will help you launch your career.

August – October

• Early in the fall semester, research and create a target list of employers, transitional programs and graduate schools that are of interest to you.
• Meet with a Career Counselor to discuss your target list, polish your resume, learn search skills, and strengthen your interview techniques.
• Learn about recruiting trends for your targeted employers/industries and stay aware of any on campus recruiting.
  Attend OU’s annual fall career fair to practice your networking skills and find potential part time jobs and post-graduate internship leads.
• Attend workshops to learn about resumes, cover letters, networking, and interviewing.
• Attend major specific alumni panels to learn about the world of work and job search strategies.
• Create a LinkedIn Profile if you don’t have one.
• Complete applications for graduate programs

November– December

• Use Handshake and to search for full time positions, applying now.
• Read trade journals and business articles to gain industry knowledge.
• Meet with a Career Counselor regularly to keep the process moving and for follow up.
• Practice interviewing skills with a Career Counselor.
• Conduct informational interviews with professionals in the field. Contact the Office of Alumni Relations or the A_LAB if you need assistance.
• Reach out to people within your network that you’ve been building over the last few years.
• Register for Spring Semester classes. If you haven’t already, consider taking Senior Transitions, a career planning class for seniors as they prepare for life after OU.

January – February

• According to a recent survey of employers, the top skills and qualities desired in recent graduates:
Ability to communicate with persons inside and outside the organization