Career Services - Wilmington College   Tags: career, careers, graduate_school, internships, jobs, occupations, profession, resources, resumes  

Make a Living, Make a Life, Make a Difference

Wilmington College Four Year Career Plan

Guidelines to help you reach your career goals

All Four Years

• Demonstrate strong academic performance by making the best grades you can.  A high grade point average is important for admission into graduate or professional school and to many employers.
• Develop strong computer skills and familiarity with a variety of software programs.
• Gain experience by participating in a part-time job, volunteer position or campus leadership position.
• Develop your networking skills and use them to gain access to internships, jobs and graduate/professional school.
• Attend the annual Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges Careerfest held in Columbus, Ohio every February. 
• Read your campus email daily so you are aware of job postings, internship opportunities and campus recruiters.
• Visit Career Resources on the WC@Home page on a regular basis to keep abreast of the campus recruiting schedule and to check job and internship postings on NACElink Connect.

Freshman Year

• During summer orientation attend the Career Services session and learn about the many resources and services available to you.
• Get acquainted with the many online resources available at our web site including NACElink Connect and DISCOVER.
• During summer orientation open your DISCOVER account and take a tour of this  career guidance software that will help you with exploration of majors, career fields, graduate schools and job search tools.
• Take the interest, values and work related skills inventories in DISCOVER and make an appointment to review the results with your faculty advisor or the director of career services.
• Get to know your faculty advisor and meet with him/her regularly to discuss ways to get involved in campus and/or community organizations and events to help you determine appropriate career fields and to develop your skills.
• If you are planning to attend a professional school be sure that you are taking the appropriate prerequisite courses for acceptance. 
• Meet with a writing assistant and/or the director of career services to write the first draft of your resume and cover letter.
• Attend campus information meetings conducted by recruiters so you gain a better understanding of the wide variety of employment opportunities available.

Sophomore Year

• Conduct an informational interview with an alumni and/or other professional in a career field that you are considering.
• Talk to your faculty advisor about what type and when you should do an internship.  Interview for appropriate internship opportunities.
• Get to know faculty in career fields that interest you and talk with them about their career path and career options in their field. 
• Continue to work in the DISCOVER program researching careers and talk with your faculty advisor and/or the director of career services about your options.
• Meet with a writing assistant and/or  the director of career services to update your resume and cover letter.
• Attend campus information meetings conducted by recruiters so you gain a better understanding of the wide variety of employment opportunities available.

Junior Year

• Focus on your career field by contacting the professional association in your field  to obtain specific information about the career and membership.

• Complete an internship in your field of interest.
• If you are considering graduate or professional school start early to determine your program of study and identify graduate schools of interest and obtain applications.  Have your resume and personal statement critiqued by your faculty advisor and/or the director of career services. Research and apply early for graduate assistantships and other financial aid sources.  Prepare for and take the appropriate admissions test.
• Practice your interviewing skills by participating in a mock interview conducted by Career Services.
• Attend campus information meetings conducted by recruiters and interview for appropriated internships.

Senior Year

• Complete an internship if you have not already done one.

• Conduct a thorough job search:
  • Update your resume and cover letter.
  • Target and research prospective employers.
  • Participate in on campus interviews.
  • Contact employers and apply for positions.
  • Follow up with prospective employers.
• Finalize graduate/professional school plans, complete application materials and take the necessary entrance examinations.
• Complete the senior survey so the College has information on your plans after graduation.