Career Planning Guide

Where does your journey begin?

Career Planning Guide

student using the map on the BikeTowns

Discover Who You Are

Identify & Explore

  • Get ideas about careers based upon what others with your major have pursued by reviewing the “What Can I Do With a Degree in…” webpages
  • Conduct research about careers of interest using resources for exploring careers
  • Read job or internship descriptions to learn about typical responsibilities and requirements
  • Conduct informational interviews with people in the fields you are interested in
  • Attend a career fair and employer information sessions to learn about organizations and job/internship opportunities
  • Apply for internships, jobs, and/or volunteer positions to do hands-on exploration and to learn about careers
  • Reflect, evaluate career options, and begin researching graduate/professional schools if appropriate
  • Meet with a career counselor

Make Decisions

  • Learn about your decision-making style through self-reflection, talking with a career counselor, taking our UNST 195 Career Exploration course, or attending the Career and Major Exploration Workshop
  • Apply decision-making style to explore career direction
  • Reflect and evaluate career options
  • Reflect and evaluate how your skills, interests, and values relate to your career options

Get Experience

  • Attend a career workshop
  • Identify places to get experience related to career interests (e.g. internships, volunteering, work, student leadership, etc.)
  • Refine or develop a resume and cover letter
  • Connect in-person with professionals in your field of interest (e.g. informational interviews, LinkedIn, group events, etc.)
  • Attend PSU career fairs and employer information sessions to get connected with organizations and job/internship opportunities
  • Apply for internships, jobs, and/or volunteer positions that relate to career interests
  • Reflect on past experiences to further confirm or modify career decision
  • Begin researching graduate/professional schools, if applicable

Launch Your Career

  • Choose a capstone course or other career-related courses
  • Attend a career workshop
  • Attend PSU career fairs and employer information sessions to get connected with organizations and job/internship opportunities
  • Implement a job search strategy 4-6 months prior to employment
  • Connect in-person with professionals in your field of interest (e.g. informational interviews, LinkedIn, group events, etc.)
  • Identify jobs you want to apply for
  • Improve job search resources and skills (e.g. resume/cover letter writing, interviewing, and networking)
  • Practice interviewing skills with a career counselor
  • Finalize graduate/professional schools applications, if applicable