Career MAP: My Action Plan

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WHERE ARE YOU HEADED?

Follow this easy four stage CareerMAP to plan your journey to SUCCESS!

The University of Delaware looks at career development as a four stage process. Whether you are considering graduate or professional school or seeking employment after graduation, the most effective career decisions are made by proceeding through each step. In the process of making your career decisions, keep in mind that the following designations for first, second, third, and fourth stages are approximate. Think of the model as a process, and determine where you are currently and then what the next stage is for you.

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gain Self-Awareness & Explore careers

Gain insight into your values, interests, and skills as they relate to various careers.
Upon completion of this stage you should be able to answer the following questions:

Step 1:

Download worksheet

1. What Career Services Center resources are available to me as a UD student?

Attend Freshman Career Open House at Career Services Center (CSC)
Make an appointment with your CSC liaison to discuss assessment, internships and many other career-related questions; M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. For a staff introduction click here and to schedule an appointment click here
Take advantage of resume critiques offered during the Career Services Center’s “drop-in hours”; M-F 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Learn about recruitment events and interviews that are offered on-campus
Familiarize yourself with the Blue Hen Careers, Career Services Center’s online job posting network
1. Attend Blue Hen Careers Orientation
2. Learn how to schedule appointments with your liaison
3. Learn how to register for workshops
4. Learn how to search for career or internship opportunities
Attend a career exploration workshop (such as “From College to Career”) at the CSC

2. What are some of my areas of interest related to my college experience?

Make an appointment with your college liaison at the CSC for assistance with the CareerMap Process; M-F 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
1. Ask questions
2. Take the Strong Interest Inventory® assessment to discover personal/professional interests, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® to explore your personality and a values inventory to develop awareness. Discover how these factors might impact your career (at the Center for Counseling and Student Development or CSC)
3. Explore factors that influence your career development (e.g., values, interests, skills, family influences, personality)
Attend the Fall and Spring Career Fairs to learn about potential career paths

3. What skills and abilities do I have, or need to develop, based on my career interests, and how do I begin to investigate potential career paths?

Know your options
1. Meet with your academic advisor to explore courses that interest you
2. List some of the main career areas that might interest you
3. List your favorite leisure time activities
Investigate majors and related careers
1. Find more information about majors by finding Major Resource Kits
2. Familiarize yourself with the
  Occupational Outlook Handbook
  (OOH) and O*NET

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Learn about the world of work

Continue to develop insight into your values, interests, and skills as they relate to various careers. Learn about the world of work, make career decisions and gain experience.
Upon completion of this stage you should be able to answer the following questions:

Step 2:

Download worksheet

1. In response to personal assessment and industry research, what are careers in which I am interested and what do I know about these career paths?

Meet with your career liaison to narrow down career possibilities
1. Take the Strong Interest Inventory® assessment to discover personal/professional interests, the Myers Briggs Type Indicator® to explore your personality and a values inventory to develop awareness. Discover how these factors might impact your career.
2. Use the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET to gather information on potential career paths.
3. Develop a list of careers of interests to research.
Attend career/major-related events that are hosted by the Career Services Center
1. Participate in CSC workshops related to your major.
2. Attend career panel discussion hosted by CSC.

2. How do I gain knowledge and experience related to my career(s) of interest?

Resume critique: Schedule critique with CSC or stop by for drop-in hours 2:00-4:00pm Monday-Friday.
Attend the Fall and Spring Career Fairs to learn about volunteer and internship opportunities
1. Gain experience.
2. Use Blue Hen Careers to research opportunities for internships and part-time employment.
3. Check Career Services Center and your academic department for major-specific Internships.
4. Explore undergraduate research opportunities .
5. Volunteer with community or charitable organizations.

Get involved with the Blue Hen Leadership Program.
Get involved in the USEED Program.
Join a Registered Student Organization (RSO) to develop leadership skills.

3. Should I attend graduate school?

Consider graduate school
1. Research potential career paths and advancement with graduate education.
2. Review the graduate school section of the CSC website and meet with a CSC staff member to engage in the graduate school decision-making process.
3. Attend a graduate school program at CSC
  - Personal Statement Workshop.
  - Graduate School Admissions Program.
  - Resume Writing for Grad School.

4. How do I get in touch with alumni who are professionals in my field of interest?

Begin building and maintaining your network
1. Schedule and participate in informational interviews, asking professionals about their career experiences
2. Create LinkedIn profile and join Blue Hen Career Network Group
3. Check out Alumni Spotlights

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Develop Career Management Skills

Participate in career related experiences to build necessary skills to succeed in a career field and learn about how to develop your personal brand and self-marketing tools.
Upon completion of this stage you should be able to answer the following questions:

Step 3:

Download worksheet

1. What findings, either through personal/professional experiences or industry research, helped me to clarify my career goals?

Narrow down the career options you are considering based on assessments, courses taken, and personal research
Know the research
1. Utilize internet to learn more about potential employers, check out salary surveys, and hiring trends in your anticipated career field
2. Research trends in your fields of interest through trade publications and news articles
Explore “Experiential Internship” UNIV 364 course (three credit elective course)

2. What does it mean to have a personal brand?

Update your resume
Attend Career Fairs to build your personal brand and network
Review information on creating your social media brand
Customize and format all of your marketing materials (e.g., resume, cover letter, portfolio and references) to reflect a unified brand

3. Who is in my network and how will developing and maintaining a network help me to gain experience?

Continue to develop and maintain your network
1. Make at least 3 professional contacts through professors, alumni, family and friends to learn more about your field of interest
2. Build your professional networking tools

4. If I determined that I need to attend graduate school, when do I begin the application process and what can I expect?

Begin the application process now by conducting in-depth research on programs of interest
Start to compile all necessary documents in order to complete your application and have them reviewed by CSC and faculty members
Review the graduate school application timeline on the graduate school section of the CSC website

5. How do I prepare for interviews and polish my interview skills?

Prepare for interviews
1. Consider a mock interview using Interview Stream (access through Blue Hen Careers)
2. Practice interview techniques with a friend
3. Create a list of personal strengths
Earn Career Skills Certificate from CSC
Participate in on-campus interviews for summer internships through Blue Hen Careers

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Implement Career Goals

Connect to employers and conduct your job search or further education.
Upon completion of this stage you should be able to answer the following questions:

Step 4:

Download worksheet

1. What findings, either through personal/professional experiences or industry research, helped me to clarify my career goals?

Take advantage of CSC’s opportunities for seniors
1. Peruse Career Services’ “Blue Hen Career Guide”
2. Attend workshops on salary negotiation
3. Attend resume and interview workshops specific to industry

2. Am I prepared for a job search and have I set-up a job search agent on Blue Hen Careers?

Update your resume and revise your LinkedIn profile
Utilize Blue Hen Careers and apply for jobs with uploaded and approved resume
Use part-time employment as a way to improve job search skills, gain experience and responsibility
Prior to your interviews, do the following
1. Familiarize yourself with the potential employer’s product lines, services, and growth prospects, etc.
2. Purchase appropriate interview attire

3. What employers are coming to campus for interviews or to attend job fairs, and am I interested in pursuing opportunities with any of these employers?

Participate in on-campus interviews for full-time employment through Blue Hen Careers
Attend Career Fairs to discover employment opportunities

4. What additional job search resources have I identified to assist in my job search?

Search for opportunities using supplemental resources found on Blue Hen Careers
1. CareerShift
2. Goinglobal for international opportunities and to identify companies that sponsor international candidates
Visit the CSC website to browse industry-specific, job search resources that have been identified for your college

5. How have I engaged my network and utilized my status as a UD student to connect with Blue Hen alumni?

Continue to develop and maintain your network (this is a life-long process)
1. Attend professional association meetings
2. Join relevant networking groups and participate in discussions on LinkedIn
3. Teacher candidates should attend Project Search
4. Periodically follow up with your contacts, ensuring your network does not fizzle