Four Year Roadmap

The most important task during the first year is to become active in the career planning process by exploring the following:

1. Career Services
   • Begin by becoming familiar with career and testing services staff and resources, and speak with the director about your career goals.
   • Register with Handshake - an online job posting and web resume system.
   • Review the Freshman 5 Career Planning Checklist.
2. Self-Exploration and Assessment
   • Utilize the computerized career guidance program Focus 2 to examine your interests, skills, and values while learning about a variety of occupations/career paths.
   • Take a career interests assessment (Strong Interests Inventory or Myers Briggs Type Indicator) offered at the career services center.
   • Discuss your career interests with parents, family, friends, and others who know you well.
3. University and Majors
   • Get to know and meet regularly with your academic advisor to discuss your career plans.
   • Explore academic majors and minors. You can also attend the Fall Majors/Minors Fair.
   • Become familiar with the University of Mary's online course catalog describing course offerings.
   • Go to class, keep up with your assignments, and focus on maintaining a solid GPA.
   • Learn more about different majors.
4. World of Work
   • Research the world of work, including qualifications, job duties, market trends, and salaries for various occupations, at the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET.
   • Join student organizations enabling you to form connections, discover interests, skills, and strengths, and gain practical experience.
   • Check out the career fairs on campus to see what businesses may have opportunities for the University of Mary students.
   • Visit the career resource library to learn more about the world of work, including qualifications, job market trends, and salaries for various occupations.
5. Advance Now
   • Begin to gain real-life experience valued by employers through volunteer services, work on-campus, part-time employment, or summer work experience.
   • Start building your career portfolio, convert your high school resume into a professional one, create a LinkedIn profile, and list your top five strengths.
   • Take time to reflect on what you want to do and where you want to go.

The focus of the sophomore year is to select a major and develop tentative career goals.

1. Commit to a Career Choice
   • Revisit the Career Roadmap and your career counselor to evaluate your progress and discuss possible career paths that align with your values and interests in your major. 
   • Decide on/declare a major and apply to be admitted to your major if necessary.
   • Meet with your academic advisor to confirm your degree plan and learn more about degree requirements for your major area.
   • Get to know the faculty and upper-class students in your major.
   • Continue to maintain a strong GPA.
   • Determine if graduate school is necessary for your career.
2. Test and Strengthen Your Choice
   • Attend career fairs to gain awareness of companies/employers in your study area.
   • Begin researching internships, student teaching, and clinical placement options while applying for related summer employment.
   • Gain relevant experience from part-time employment during the year or through volunteering.
   • Contact the Mission for Life on campus to learn more about service-learning or volunteer opportunities related to your field of study.
   • Continue to participate in student organizations, clubs, and extracurricular activities to develop your skills and leadership.
3. Begin Preparing Job Search Correspondence
   • Start creating a resume. Take a close look at the resume on the next page and use it as a model for your resume.
   • Attend a resume writing workshop sponsored by Career Services.
   • Career Services can critique your resume or have it done by an employer at the Resumania event in the spring of each year.
   • Learn more about the importance of cover letters and begin preparing a draft.
   • Consider the process of creating a work-related portfolio and deciding on relevant content.

In the junior year, preparing yourself for entry into a specific career field is important.

1. Graduate and Professional School
   • Begin to consider different schools and programs; learn about their requirements and application processes.
   • Request a degree audit from the registrar to monitor your progress toward graduation.
2. World of Work
   • Research career areas, including industry, employers, and jobs matching your interests, values, and skills.
   • Conduct informational interviews to learn more about your field and create networking contacts.
   • Attend professional meetings, networking events, socials, or information sessions relevant to your career field to collect information and expand your professional network.
   • Attend fall and spring career fairs to make contacts, network, and learn about job requirements.
   • Complete internships, research, or volunteer opportunities related to your career goals to gain valuable skills and experiences.
3. Career Services
   • Market yourself effectively by updating your resume and tailoring it to your career field.
   • Sharpen your professional interview skills by participating in a mock interview.
   • Build a high-quality LinkedIn profile and establish additional professional contacts.

Throughout the senior year, actively engage yourself in the search for employment or admission to graduate school.

1. Graduate and Professional School
   • Develop a timeline to complete all necessary components of the application process.
   • Complete graduate school applications. Remember to apply early, search for funding sources, arrange campus visits, and do all necessary follow-ups.
2. World of Work
   • Visit Career Services to learn more about a job search timeline.
   • Be flexible and realistic in your expectations for first-year employment (the average job search can take up to six months).
   • Research employers and industries to assist you in the interview process.
   • Continue networking and develop your unique “elevator pitch” when meeting with professional contacts.
   • Develop business cards to market yourself to potential employers.
   • Start purchasing professional clothing; attend a Suit-Up event.
   • Develop a list of professional references tailored to each position/employer.
   • Continue to learn and gain skills through places like Forage.
3. Career Services
   • Refine and polish your resume; learn to write a dynamic cover letter.
   • Continue to perfect your interviewing skills by doing a mock interview as needed. Career Services offers Mock Interview Days each semester.
   • Participate in career and internship fairs both locally and statewide.
   • Attend on-campus employer interviews or socials through Career Services.
   • Develop a list of prospective employers and begin actively applying.
   • Keep in contact with Career Services and the Alumni Association; become involved with the Young Professionals Network.
   • Obtain salary information and learn how to negotiate job offers effectively.
   • Attend Life After Graduation or Knowledge After College events.
   • When you find a job, contact Career Services to notify them and complete a First Destination Survey.