There are several steps in the development of a career decision. These generally corroborate with the four years of the college experience, although different students will progress at different paces.
SELF-ASSESSMENT (FIRST YEAR)
- Evaluate your interests, skills and values. The Student Engagement Center can assist you in doing this! We have signed up with MyPlan.com, an online self-assessment program that helps identify character traits and match students with possible career fields that fit their personality. The program can also be accessed from any computer. See the Student Engagement Center for the MyPlan.com access code.
- Work with the Student Engagement Center to take a career interest inventory. Begin to relate your interests to possible career fields.
- Identify several careers which seem to be good matches in terms of skills required, environment in which you would work, position responsibilities and other factors.
- Use the
Career Consultant Network to make contact with alumni in career fields of interest to you. Gather information about what they do, how they prepared for their jobs, and advice they may have for someone preparing to enter the field.
- Target ways you can gain exposure to and experience in career fields in which you are interested: volunteer work; summer/part-time jobs or internships; related clubs or organizations; and classes which may be related.
- Attend workshops and programs (such as
Alumni Career Series, networking programs, guest lecturers and the career and internship fair in February) where you can meet and gain exposure to people from various career fields.
- Take courses in various academic disciplines so that you will have the information you need to decide on a major.
- Strive to maintain a strong academic grade point average.
- Work with advisors in the Student Engagement Center to develop a resume.
- Look for internships or summer jobs which match your interests.
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EXPLORATION (SECOND YEAR)
- Meet with your academic advisor to discuss course requirements for majors you are considering.
- Use the Student Engagement Center's Career Resource Library, the Internet, and other resources to gather information about specific career fields and the skills they require, duties and tasks they perform, academic preparation which might be helpful and companies or organizations which hire people in that field.
- Continue to gain experience in and exposure to career fields of interest to you.
- Go to the Center for Community Service to explore volunteer opportunities in Walla Walla which match your interests.
- Begin taking a leadership role in organizations or clubs in which you have become involved.
- Participate in career workshops and programs sponsored by the Student Engagement Center, Alumni Career Series, networking receptions and the Career and Internship Fair in February.
- Consider the option of a semester abroad and attend informational meetings about the variety of opportunities available.
- Declare your major! We can help you look over your options.
- Meet with a career advisor to discuss summer jobs/internships, volunteer work and other opportunities for you to gain experience in your areas of career interest.
- Update your resume to reflect your most recent experiences.
- Visit the Office of Fellowships and Grants to explore applying for prestigious awards for furthering your education.
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EXPERIMENT (THIRD YEAR)
- Review your academic plan with your academic advisor. Begin to target a specific area of career interest.
- Continue to develop your career network: access the
Career Consultant Network to target alumni and parents who are in your area of career interest then make an effort to contact these people to obtain information you can use to assist you in your goals.
- Join a club, organization or professional group related to your possible career field and take an active role in it.
- Develop a resume or resumes targeted to your chosen career field(s).
- Apply for or develop a summer job or internship related to your area of career interest. Use resources in the Student Engagement Center and on the Student Engagement Center website, including our subscriptions to online internship listings.
- Be aware of programs (such as the Washington Work Study Program and the Whitman Internship Grant) which may help to fund your summer internship experience.
- Attend the Career and Internship Fair in February, Alumni Career Series presentations, and other opportunities to increase your knowledge of careers; begin to focus your career expectations.
- Consider the option of graduate study. If you may attend graduate or professional school, begin researching programs which may be most appropriate for you. Plan to attend the Graduate School Fair, usually held in the fall.
- Visit the Office of Fellowships and Grants to explore applying for prestigious awards for furthering your education.
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LAUNCH YOUR JOB OR GRADUATE STUDY SEARCH (FOURTH YEAR)
- Finalize your resume! You will need it either for your job search or to apply for graduate assistantships.
- Meet with your academic advisor to be certain that you are on track for fulfilling major and distribution requirements.
- Take the appropriate graduate exams (GRE, MCAT, GMAT, LSAT, others).
- Continue to develop your networking contacts through the
Career Consultant Network, your faculty contacts, networking programs and other college connections.
- Consider attending a meeting or conference (state, regional or national) of a professional association in your field. Get information about becoming a student affiliate of a state, regional or national association.
- If you plan to attend graduate or professional school, request and complete application materials in a timely fashion. Be aware of deadlines!
- Attend the Whitman College Career and Internship Fair in February!
- Take advantage of on-campus interviewing opportunities.
- Attend information sessions presented by employers.
- Work with the Student Engagement Center to develop your job search strategy, including targeting employers and creating cover letters.
- Practice your interview skills by scheduling an in person or telephone Mock Interview in the Student Engagement Center.
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Use the Student Engagement Center throughout this process.
