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The 4 Year Plan
Freshmen Year
- Visit the Career Services office, meet the staff, and become familiar with our resources. Do not wait until you are a senior to stop by our office. A successful job search begins during your first year at SIUC!
- Begin to consider possible career choices. Discover what academic majors are offered at SIUC.
- Read Saluki Spotlight, the Career Services bi-yearly newsletter.
- Meet with a Career Services Specialist to discuss career options and employment trends.
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Take interest and/or personality inventories to relate your interests, skills, and values to specific occupational areas.
- Strong Interest Inventory
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Begin to explore specific careers.
- Spend time in the Career Services computer lab conducting extensive internet research with the help of a Peer Advisor.
- Visit the Career Development section of Morris Library
- Explore how particular majors relate to specific careers.
- Identify at least five skills employers want and plan how you will acquire these skills before graduation.
- Attend the Fall and Spring All Majors Job Fairs to determine which employers are hiring in each field.
- Build your interpersonal skills by becoming involved in student activities - join at least one club, organization, or extra-curricular activity. Check out the over 400 Registered Student Organizations at SIUC.
- Register with Saluki Recruiting, Career Services' online job search tool, and develop your personal profile.
- Create a preliminary resume and meet with a Career Services professional staff member for a critique.
- Check the Career Services website for Upcoming Events.
- Check out "What Can I Do With A Major In. . . ?" to learn about majors and careers.
- Attend Career Awareness Week activities as well as the Fall and Spring All Majors Job Fairs and Ask the Expert (eventual hyperlink) sessions throughout the year.
- Research specific careers and qualifications.
- Meet with a Career Services Specialist to discuss "shadowing" current professionals in your areas of interest.
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals in the career fields you are considering.
- Update your resume and meet with a Career Services Specialist for a professional critique.
- Continue to be active in extra-curricular activities - begin assuming leadership positions.
- Join at least one professional or honorary organization related to your major in order to begin networking with current professionals
- Participate in volunteer activities - join the Saluki Volunteer Corps. Students who participate in SVC may request a Student Involvement Transcript when they are ready to graduate. The Student Involvement Transcript documents a student's academic-related volunteer activity, community service, and organization involvement and leadership experience.
- Attend the Fall and Spring All Majors Job Fairs and Ask the Expert sessions throughout the year.
- Meet with a Career Services Specialist to discuss different majors and career options.
- Begin looking for internship opportunities via Saluki Recruiting.
- Acquire additional work experience by pursuing a part-time or summer job in your field of study.
- Check the Career Services website for Upcoming Events (eventual hyperlink).
- Begin networking. Talk to people in your chosen career field - faculty as well as current professionals.
- Have your resume updated, reviewed, and ready to go at the beginning of the fall semester! Make an appointment with a Career Services Specialist for a resume critique or attend the Resume Blitz (eventual hyperlink) prior to each All Majors Job Fair.
- Meet with a Career Services Specialist to discuss composing a cover letter.
- Begin applying for internships early in the semester. Many programs have early application deadlines.
- Participate in a mock interview in preparation for the internship interview.
- Continue to participate in extra-curricular and community service activities.
- Attend Career Awareness Week activities as well as the Fall and Spring All Majors Job Fairs and Ask the Expert (eventual hyperlink) sessions throughout the year.
- Apply to participate in the Alumni Association's Extern Program.
- Explore the option of attending graduate or professional school. Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair.
- Be sure to familiarize yourself with the exam necessary for admission to your graduate program of choice and review the exam schedules.
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If applying for graduate school
- Attend the Graduate and Professional School Fair.
- Visit Career Services to discuss the graduate school application process and have a staff member review your essays and personal statement.
- Check application deadlines and prepare applications.
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If searching for employment
- Finalize your resume and cover letter and stop by Career Services to have them critiqued.
- Meet with a Career Services Specialist to discuss effective job search strategies during the first semester of your senior year
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Organize job search strategies:
- Check out the job search strategies on the Career Services website.
- Target desired industries and determine geographical preferences.
- Complete a resume consistent with industry preferences.
- Research and gather information on companies in select industries.
- Develop an employer prospect list with contact names and addresses from organizations you are interested in pursuing.
- Gather information on realistic salary information.
- Attend the Fall and Spring All Majors Job Fairs - dress professionally and bring multiple copies of your resume.
- Attend Employer Information Sessions.
- Register with Saluki Recruiting if you have not already done so and begin checking relevant job listings.
- Begin applying for positions through Saluki Recruiting as well as other job links and search engines
- Hone your interview skills by participating in a mock interview.
- Begin developing a professional wardrobe.
- Continually monitor the On-Campus Interview Schedule.
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