Senior career tips

Bethany Tuller, Undergraduate Intern at Career Services
If you are a senior, the month of May can feel like it’s a million miles away. But with graduation and the real world looming in the not-too-distant future, the question of what you will be doing after you receive your diploma can be quite scary. The first step is to set goals and find out what the steps are to reach those goals.
Narrow and finalize your career choice
What would the “Help Wanted” ad for your dream job look like? Knowing exactly what you want to do is the first step to finding a job that you’re qualified for and one that you will enjoy. Does your dream job require continuing your education? If so, what do you need to do to get to that point?
Prepare for graduate or professional school
If you need to continue your education, now is the time to find out how and when you will do this. Decide if you will begin soon after graduation or take a year off. Check out programs you are interested in and see when deadlines are. If you need to take any tests to get into these programs, start studying and taking practice tests. Find out how long it will take you to get your scores back and plan accordingly. Many graduate programs require recommendations, so start talking to professors and employers who know you well, and let them know far in advance that you will need a recommendation.
Research labor market information
Where are the job opportunities? If you want to stay local or move to a specific region, take a look at the outlook for jobs in your intended field in that area. If you are unsure of where you want to live, research regions that have a positive outlook for your field and start researching how you will afford to live in that area.
Narrow focus on positions and industry openings
Schedule an appointment in Career Services to go over your resume, improve your cover letter and polish your interviewing skills. Start looking at potential jobs you will apply for and plan your strategy. Take a look at your online presence and delete anything that isn’t professional. Create a LinkedIn profile and begin networking both online and offline.
Check out the next Seniors Career Column for more tips!