Student Support Services

Steps to Career PlanningDeveloped by Herm Allen

Designed by Alex Wilson

1. Career Counseling

See a Career Counselor to discuss your current situation; begin setting goals

Effectively use academic advising (especially if you are unsure of a major)

2. Self- Assessment

Take career interest inventories and personality tests (ex. Myers Briggs, CAI, Strong Interest Inventory)

Follow up with a Career Counselor Take a personal inventory of your skills, abilities, talents

3. Career Exploration

Develop a list of “potential” occupations or career interests from inventories

Use resources such as Encyclopedia or Careers, Occupational Outlook Handbook,

Dictionary of Occupational Titles (D.O.T.) Gather Information from professional

Associations; join as a student

4. Informational Interviewing

Set up and conduct interviews with individuals in fields/careers of interest to you

Learn about entry-level requirements, typical workday, advancement opportunities, etc

5. Synthesize Personal Inventory

Discuss any progress you have made with a career counselor

Identify skills, abilities and/or talents that you can use in various careers

Know your personal inventory inside and out

6. Prioritize/Rank Order Career Options

Identify 4-5 careers that interest you( from your “potential” list)

Rank them according to how well they fit with your personal inventory

7. Develop Self-Marketing Strategy

Attend career workshops/seminars(e.g.resume writing, interviewing, etc.)

Develop a professional resume Begin networking; attend career fairs Conduct mock interviews

8. Career Counseling

Discuss possible plan of action with career counselor

Position yourself for employment opportunities:internships, co-op, shadowing

Questions/Comments

*To earn credit for this workshop please click here for evaluation form.*