Career Services
Developing Your Career Plan:
A 4-year Adventure
FRESHMAN YEAR ~ Become Aware - Find Resources
- Visit the Career Services Office in Atwood Center
- Enroll in core courses with help of advisor; learn the academic system; do well in your classes.
- Talk with parents, your professors, and the CSO about careers.
- Take a computer class. Use a computer to do coursework, papers, etc. · Gain experience in off-campus/on-campus jobs.
- Meet with a career counselor in the CSO. Do career testing.
- Begin to identify career interests, values, skills, talents, and personality style.
- Begin to develop your resume and/ or attend a resume workshop.
- Obtain your e-mail account at APU.
- Make a tentative selection of a major field.
- Become familiar with the Internship Program at APU through the CSO.
- Seek supportive services when necessary such as tutoring, advising, and study skills. Get help when needed.
Summer:Work in a summer job or internship or volunteer in your community in your area of interest; take a computer class; develop competent computer skills. Explore the Internet.
SOPHOMORE YEAR ~ Assess & Explore
- Read about careers in the career library.
- Consider studying abroad. Develop bilingual skills.
- Develop a resume and have it critiqued by a career counselor.
- Talk with professionals and alumni in careers of interest to you. This is called "information interviewing."
- Continue working with a career counselor. Complete career testing. Attend an interviewing and job search workshop or meet with a career counselor for assistance.
- Plan to do an internship. Meet with the internship coordinator.
- Get involved in student activities at APU.
- Decide on your major.
- Register in the CSO or on the website to receive job/internship information by email.
Summer: Explore occupations through your summer job or internship; build skills; work on computers and develop proficiency in word processing, databases, spreadsheets, and desktop publishing, Internet applications.
JUNIOR YEAR ~ Test Career Decisions
- Do at least one internship in your major or area of interest.
- Make a tentative decision about your career direction.
- Study abroad for a year, summer, or Interterm.
- Attend:
- career workshops
- the Graduate School Advising Day
- On-campus Career Fairs
- Talk with Alumni Mentors (get contact information in the CSO).
- Develop leadership skills through student activities at APU.
- Keep talking to professionals to research possible career options.
- Begin in early spring to find a summer job or internship in your chosen career field. Develop related work experience.
- Register in CSO to receive job/internship information by email.
Summer:Work part-time or seasonal in a career field related to your interests. By now you should have strong computer skills. Plan to use these skills for important projects at work and in your classes.
SENIOR YEAR ~ Make First Career Choice
- Complete a final internship in your field.
- Update your resume early in fall semester for job your search and recruiting.
- Plan your graduate school or job campaign. Meet again with the CSO staff to get help with this.
- Work with the CSO staff to develop interview and job search skills. Sign up for a mock interview.
- Work with the CSO to participate in on-campus recruiting..
- Attend an on-campus recruitment event.
- Use all opportunities to meet employers: job fairs, alumni meetings, Alumni, networking, etc.
- Get references for graduate school applications/job interviews.
- If you do not have a job by graduation, meet with CSO staff to plan your job search.
- All majors can benefit from this planning!
