4 year Career Game Plan
The Consider IowaSM program created this list of activities for students to do throughout their two or four years at a community college or university to help prepare throughout college years for life after graduation.
First Year
- Meet with a career advisor at your school or contact the career advisor at the Consider IowaSM program to help clarify career interests and options.
- Identify your main areas of interest (hobbies, school subjects, etc.) and what career they relate to.
- Locate at least two student organizations to join that will help explore and define career goals.
- Participate in volunteer opportunities that can add to your skill sets.
- Determine the values that are important to you in a career (prestige, flexibility, challenge, etc.)
- Identify your three strongest talents or skills (academic and personal).
- Attend a local Career Fair to find out more about prospective careers in Iowa.
Sophomore Year
- Visit your academic advisor to discuss courses that you could take to help you gain additional skills (i.e. computer courses, career exploration classes, etc.)
- Understand how to conduct an informational interview and participate in at least two.
- Create your first resume
- Explore all and participate in at least two of the following:
- Internship
- Part time work
- Externship or job shadowing
- Volunteer work / Service learning
- Summer employment
- Study Abroad or international volunteer experience
- Choose your major. Utilize the "What can I do with my major?" feature on this website.
Junior Year
- Make a tentative career goal and a list of alternative career options.
- Develop a strategic plan to achieve career goals.
- Visit your career advisor and academic advisor to coordinate guidance and planning.
- Start to evaluate graduate and professional programs if needed.
- Update and polish your resume - is it career specific?
- Write a sample cover letter and have it reviewed.
- Conduct an internship search and participate in at least one internship during this year.
Senior Year
- Create an individualized job search plan.
- Meet with someone at your career center to brainstorm job search strategies or contact a career advisor at the Consider IowaSM program.
- Search the web for jobs and employer information - know how to perform company research.
- Visit the Consider IowaSM website for resume, cover letter, and interviewing critiquing services.
- Build upon your existing resume by making it job specific.
- Talk with individuals (professor, former employer, and mentor) who will serve as your references and give them a copy of your resume.
- Polish your interview skills - be able to articulate short and long term goals.
- Consider doing a second internship as a way of transitioning into the world of work.
