COLLEGE ROADMAP

THE COLLEGE ROADMAP

The career planning process takes time. Small steps can be taken throughout your college education to research your opinions, develop your skills, build your résumé and make connections with potential employers. There is no need to worry if you haven’t completed each recommended step during the suggested year. Evaluate where you are in your own career planning process and take action now to prepare yourself for the job search.

FRESHMAN YEAR SOPHOMORE YEAR

− Join at least one service or leadership organization − Meet with a career counselor to establish needs − Begin developing a professional résumé − Register with Handshake at handshake.auburn.edu − Look for opportunities to build your résumé (e.g. leadership, service, work, etc.) − Follow us on social media platforms

JUNIOR YEAR

− Join a career related organization or professional association − Research specific careers and required qualifications − Attend career fairs and employer information sessions − Participate in job shadowing or conduct an informational interview with a professional in your field of interest − Begin developing useful skills through part–time jobs, internships, and volunteering

SENIOR YEAR

− Pursue a leadership role in a campus organization − Update your résumé and have it reviewed by the University Career Center − Update the information in your Handshake account − Attend career fairs and employer information sessions − Complete an internship to gain career related experience

− Discuss upcoming career plans with a career counselor − Update your résumé for the job search − Update your Handshake account and participate in on-campus interviews − Attend career fairs and employer information sessions − Schedule a mock interview to practice interview skills − Begin applying for jobs 8-10 months before graduation

YOUR JOB SEARCH

It has been said that looking for job feels like a job in and of itself, a sentiment that often feels true for many. Searching for a job can be arduous and timeconsuming, as there are multiple moving parts that need to successfully align to land your desired position. Thinking about the process may feel overwhelming. You might be asking yourself, “Where do I even start?” Do not fret! Whether you are just beginning your search or are deeper into the process, this section will provide you with suggested tips, tangible steps, and valuable resources to help guide your search. It is our hope that these tools help you to develop key skills and knowledge that will enhance your search and enable you to feel more confident in the process as a whole.

One initial step that should be emphasized when job-searching is the importance of networking. Throughout your Auburn education, you have been building your professional network as you develop relationships with peers, professors, staff, and any additional professionals you meet in and out of the classroom. It is imperative that you maintain these relationships and engage with professionals in a meaningful way, as well as be intentional about expanding your network through efforts such as Informational Interviews, utilizing LinkedIn, and attending career fairs. Not only does networking help new professionals learn valuable industry knowledge, but you also never know if it could lead to a potential job opportunity. Additionally, another good place to begin is by identifying online job-search engines that produce timely, reliable results in your desired field. Handshake is a great resource for online searching, along with other sites such as LinkedIn and CareerShift. With that said, it is also important to research companies prior to and during the application process via websites such as Glassdoor, which optimize your access to the inner workings of an organization or company. This section will underscore the benefits of networking and informational interviews, navigating online job-search engines, where to look for positions and/or research companies of interest, and career-fair preparation.

CHRISTINA BEVILACQUA

Career Counselor