Career Planning
Career Development Timetable: Guide by Year
FRESHMAN YEAR (INQUIRY AND AWARENESS)
- Make an initial selection of major or meet with your advisor. Begin to consider career fields
- Explore interests, abilities through academics; utilize interests and career inventory tools, Strong Interest Inventory and TypeFocus.
- Participate in campus activities and consider volunteering to begin/build your resume
- Talk to individuals already employed about careers related to your interests
- Obtain part-time and summer jobs to develop interpersonal skills and work-related values
- Get to know faculty, counselors. and administrators
- Begin to attend CDS workshops and career forums
- Join a student professional organization/association
- Familiarize yourself with the career services homepage and other related resources on the Internet
- Use your UCID credentials to review and update your profile in Handshake, the Career Services job listings system
SOPHOMORE YEAR (ASSESSMENT AND EXPLORATION)
- Review your self-assessment of interests, skills, abilities, and values
- Explore preliminary careers
- Get information about participating in a cooperative education work experience (co-op)
- Research specific occupations, including educational requirements (ONet, Occupational Outlook Handbook)
- Attend job search workshops to develop your resume and learn interviewing tips
- Have resume critiqued in the Career Services office
- Apply to NJIT’s Cooperative Education Program
- Explore job postings on Handshake at CDS
- Attend Career Fairs to find part-time, co-op, or summer job
- Put together an interview outfit
- Use social media such as LinkedIn and Facebook to begin networking and marketing your skills and experience
JUNIOR YEAR (TESTING CAREER DECISION)
- Attend CDS workshops and career forums
- Attend Career Fairs to find part-time, co-op or summer job
- Use Handshake at CDS and Career Shift to identify internship and co-op jobs
- Participate in an internship, a co-op, or summer job or volunteer experience
- Continue to develop pertinent knowledge and job-related competencies-i.e. communication, leadership, organizational, problem solving, social media, team playing, and computer skills.
- Register with CDS for on-campus interviewing opportunities (On-Campus Interviewing Program)
SENIOR YEAR (JOB SEARCH)
- Attend workshops on resume writing, interviewing and other job search strategies
- Register with and participate in CDS’ On-Campus Interviewing Program ( OCI )
- Upload a revised, professional-looking resume to Handshake at CDS for resume referral
- Develop a list of contacts and participate in networking opportunities; include social media
- Attend NJIT and other Career Fairs to meet and network with employers
- Identify skills developed from short term or part-time employment
- Learn techniques for articulating your strengths to employers
- Schedule practice interviews for a critique of interviewing skills