Finding a job in your field after graduation is a process that takes years of preparation. Listed below are some recommendations to maximize your potential and prepare you to land the job of your choice.
Freshman - Year 1
- Complete your Handshake profile. This will help you find jobs, internships, volunteer work, and other opportunities to build your resume and make you more marketable.
- Develop a resume and make an appointment with Career Services to review. Once it is completed, upload your resume into your Handshake profile.
- Look at the career options listed on "What Can I Do With This Major?" This link will provide you some examples of what you can do with certain degrees.
- Join a student organization. This will help you become involved on campus and looks great on a resume.
- Start building and maintaining your career portfolio in Handshake and the Reflection portfolio.
Sophomore - Year 2
- Update your Handshake profile and resume. Sync your Handshake account with LinkedIn.
- Visit Career Services to learn what careers may be of interest to you right now and in the future.
- Create a LinkedIn profile with a professional profile picture. https://www.linkedin.com.
- Pursue opportunities related to your career interests (i.e. internships, part-time jobs, job shadowing, volunteering, etc...).
- Join an organization related to your career interests.
- Consider taking a leadership role in an organization you are part of. You don't want to just be a name on the roster. Be active!
- Research whether you should attend graduate school and where.
- Consider a semester to study abroad; visit the Study Abroad program office for information.
Junior - Year 3
- Update your Handshake profile and resume.
- Visit Career Services to speak with a counselor to review your resume and goals.
- Get an internship. This will provide you with hands-on knowledge about what the day-to-day responsibilities of a particular job would be.
- Attend the career, graduate school, and internship fairs.
- Attend on-campus information sessions of companies in your field.
- Attend job search and cover letter workshops and presentations by Career Services.
- Participate in research projects related to your field.
- Start creating and maintaining a list of professional contacts and references. You should have references other than friends, family, etc.
- Attend a professional conference related to your career interests.
- If you will be going to graduate school, identify potential schools and take appropriate entrance exams.
Senior - Year 4
- Update your Handshake profile, resume, and LinkedIn account.
- Begin the job search process in the fall.
- Attend career fairs, career-related events, and information sessions by companies in your field.
- Prepare for job interviews by completing mock interviews with Career Services.
- If you are going to graduate school, apply. Be aware of deadlines, they can be early.
- Continue to build your professional network and update your LinkedIn account.
- Connect with the A-State Alumni Association at http://astatealumni.org/s/1531/start/aspx.
- Upon graduation, complete the senior exit survey.
