4-Year Action Plan

Freshman Year

• Meet with a Career Services staff member for one-on-one advising.
• Attend a Career Services resume workshop to build your resume.
• Utilize your career guide for building an effective cover letter.
• Get engaged with Student Life to find out about student organizations and volunteer opportunities to add to your resume.
• Explore the Cardinal Career Network for on- and off-campus employment.
• Attend a Career Services event on campus.

Sophomore Year

• Edit and review your resume; have it critiqued by Career Services.
• Explore the Cardinal Career Network for experiential learning opportunities like internships, co-ops, or job shadowing.
• If you haven’t joined an organization on campus, do it this year!
• Engage in volunteer activities through Student Life.
• Go to at least one career fair to immerse yourself in knowing what it is like to network with employers.

Junior Year

• Update your resume, have it critiqued, and upload a polished version to the Cardinal Career Network.
• Attend career fairs to research employers and look for internship opportunites.
• Take a leadership position in your organization on campus - a great experience and great resume builder!
• Schedule a mock interview.
• Check the Cardinal Career Network to sign up for an on-campus interview and apply for internships.

Senior Year

• Update your resume, have it critiqued, and upload a final version to the Cardinal Career Network.
• Get references together from employers, faculty members and advisors.
• Apply for jobs: it takes a student 4-6 months to secure a position so START EARLY.
• Attend as many Career Services events as possible! Job fairs, etiquette dinners, workshops, etc.
• Network and apply for jobs at career fairs.
• Meet with Alumni Relations to build a networking team for after graduation.

Before you apply...

• Personalize your profile on the Cardinal Career Network by uploading a critiqued cover letter and resume, and unofficial transcripts.
• Check police reports for any previous offenses.
• Google yourself!
• Reassess the privacy settings on your social networking sites (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)
• Have an appropriate voice message on your phone.
• Be aware that many employers require a drug test and a reference check.
• Complete a mock interview to ensure you are prepared for the real interview.