Where Are You Going?
In keeping with the mission of Greensboro College, the Office of Career and Personal Development views career development as encompassing personal, educational, professional and spiritual dimensions. We help students and alumni develop life skills that can be used to make positive contributions wherever they live and work. We challenge students and alumni to develop self-awareness by identifying their interests, abilities, skills, gifts, values, preferences, strengths, weaknesses, life’s purpose, and to have a personal vision for the future. We emphasize employability and adaptability throughout a lifetime. Career and Personal Development assists students and alumni with:
- Recognizing that developing self-awareness is a lifelong process, that a career evolves over time and can be composed of many different jobs, and that a person’s career is a part of their life journey
- Investigating career and educational options while gaining hands-on experience through career shadowing, internships, and relevant work experience
Securing appropriate full-time employment or admission into graduate school and transitioning into the next phase of life after college
- Learning life-long networking, job search, and interpersonal skills that will enable them to remain employable in the changing 21st century workplace
The Career Services Four-Year Plan
Freshman Year Get to Know Yourself and Your Purpose!
You have known yourself all your life. But now is the time to achieve greater self-awareness, to clarify your purpose for being in college and to connect that purpose to the bigger picture of your life, your calling in life. The Career Services staff will guide you as you clarify and make these connections. At this point, you can:
- Schedule a one-on-one career counseling session
- Identify your: interests, skills, life and work values, personality and temperament, strengths and weaknesses
- Join clubs and organizations and volunteer to develop interests and skills that employers seek
- Investigate and explore areas of study, including majors, minors, and certificates offered at Greensboro College
- Gather information about additional helpful campus resources and staff
Sophomore Year Explore Major & Career Options!
Now that you have a better sense of purpose and self-awareness, it’s time to find out how your strengths and preferences can be utilized in the job market and in the big picture of your life. Career Services offers many guidelines and support systems.
- Investigate internships for your junior year
- Develop skills through student organizations, part-time jobs and volunteer opportunities
- What Can I Do With a Major In? Explore the connection between majors and career paths using the links on the Office of Career and Personal Development website
- Research careers using online resources such as the Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*Net online
- Introduce yourself to faculty in departments to learn more about careers related to particular majors
- Join an organization or club related to your career interests
- Engage in informational interviews and/or job shadows to begin learning more about various career options and to begin growing your network of professionals
- Attend local area Career Fairs and career related events on campus
- Speak to upperclassmen about their coursework and experiences
- Consider enrolling in CLD 1100: Exploring Career and Life Directions
- Review Pride Job and Internship Leads sent to all students
Junior Year Try It On For Size!
By now you are ready to take action. Experience will be a great help in making informed choices and preliminary decisions. This year, be sure to:
- Set short and long term goals
- Develop a resume if you have not done so
- Develop a Personal Contact List for the purpose of networking and exploring job options
- Begin seeking out internship opportunities to develop professional skills. Speak with faculty; utilize online resources including your school’s career development website, network at Career Fairs and campus related career events.
- Secure a part-time job and/or a summer job related to your future career
- Volunteer and engage in clubs and organizations related to your career interests. Take on leadership roles.
- Keep a journal of your experiences, paying particular attention to what you like and disliked, the skills you learned, used or would like to develop
- Consider enrolling in CLD 3100: Experiencing Career and Life Directions
- Participate in a career shadowing experience and/or conduct informational interviews
- Take career-related elective courses
- Attend local conferences related to your major or career interests and seek out opportunities to present
- Conduct graduate or professional school research; begin preparations for graduate studies. Check deadlines for financial aid and tests such as the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc…
Senior Year Make Informed Decisions!
As a senior, you have the self knowledge, academic knowledge, skills and related work or volunteer experience to pinpoint the next step after college graduation. But there is still much to do! Make plans to:
- Develop your LinkedIn profile
- Develop your own Personal Contact List if you have not already done so
- Secure another internship
- Research and gather information on employers of interest to you
- Attend career fairs and career related events on campus
- Identify your transferable skills
- Refine your resume
- Explore Internet career and job search resources, including the Weekly Pride Job and Internship leads
- Consider enrolling in CLD 3100: Experiencing Career and Life Directions
- Work with Career Services to develop a resume and cover letters and to enhance interviewing, networking and job search skills
- Solidify graduate/professional school plans; prepare for and take entrance exams in a timely manner
- Determine if your immediate plans after graduation fit onto the bigger picture of your life’s purpose
Caryn J Atwater, M.A.
Director, Office of Career and Personal Development
Greensboro College, Room 321
815 W. Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 272–7102 xtn 5370
caryn.atwater@greensboro.edu
