Long term career planning can be daunting. However, if you devote time each year to your own career development,
your goals will be more attainable and your opportunities immense. UCS has created a 4-year plan to help you translate
your academic and co-curricular experience into professional skills and opportunities. Keep in mind that these are
recommended tasks; not every item will apply to your unique situation. Make sure that you work with your UCS advisor
to adapt the plan to your goals and needs at least once per year.
Freshmen Year
Assess
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Identify how your interests, values, and skills align with career options by taking a career assessment such as the
Myers Briggs Type Indicator or Strong Interest Inventory.
Explore
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Get involved in at least 1-2 student or service organizations to explore your interests.
Take diverse coursework and talk with different academic departments to test out different majors, minors, and
certificates.
Research 2-3 potential careers/industries on WetFeet, Vault, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Decide
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Meet with your career advisor to create an individualized career plan for freshman and sophomore year.
Narrow down summer opportunities (research, study abroad, internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work).
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Convert your high school resume into a professional document, and upload into CareerCat.
Create a LinkedIn profile and build your network by requesting to connect with personal and academic contacts.
Speak with people you know who have careers of interest.
Pursue summer opportunities with targeted resumes and cover letters.
Act
Sophomore Year
Assess
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Meet with a UCS career counselor to clarify the careers you’re considering.
Think about what you can offer to employers (your strengths, skills, experiences), and begin to develop a career
narrative or professional introduction.
Explore
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Decide
Use LinkedIn and Our Northwestern to view profiles of alumni who studied your major and/or work in an
industry of interest.
Conduct 1-2 informational interviews each quarter with personal contacts, NU alumni, and industry experts.
Increase your leadership experience within your student organizations by chairing a committee, initiating a
project, or running for office.
Explore options for summer jobs and internships with your UCS career advisor.
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Decide on what summer opportunities you may want to pursue.
Narrow down and decide on academic major(s), minor(s), or certificate program(s); meet with University
Academic Advising if you are considering an inter-school transfer.
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Update your resume in CareerCat and incorporate freshmen and sophomore year experiences.
Update your LinkedIn profile and connect with new contacts.
Participate in career fairs to pursue specific internship opportunities.
Apply to summer experiential learning opportunities with targeted resume and cover letters.
If considering graduate school, get to know 2 professors to increase your chances of attaining strong letters of
recommendation.
Act
Junior Year: Narrow down your post-graduation options.
Assess
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Reflect on your internship, job, and student involvement experiences and what you’ve learned from each one.
Identify your skills and values by doing a card sort with a UCS career counselor.
Explore
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Research organizations of interest using WetFeet, Vault, Hoover’s, LinkedIn, and company websites.
Evaluate internship options for the summer with your UCS career advisor.
Decide
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Select a summer opportunity that will provide relevant experience and/or skill development for your desired
career.
Identify 2-3 industries to consider for full-time employment upon graduation and learn the recruiting timelines
for these industries.
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Continue to network with NU alumni using the LinkedIn alumni tool.
Contact the Office of Fellowships to obtain information about career-related fellowships.
Develop a polished professional introduction to engage employers and alumni during networking events.
Strategically target specific employers and industries of interest at career fairs.
Practice your interviewing skills by participating in a mock interview with your career advisor.
Act
Senior Year: Choose and implement your post-graduation career plans.
Assess
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Reflect on your values and interests and how they might determine the work setting you choose upon
graduation.
If you don’t have a clear career focus, meet with a UCS career counselor to discuss your options.
Explore
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Research employers of interest using Hoovers and LinkedIn.
Expand your knowledge of job opportunities, examine work settings, and prepare for interviewing by
networking with employers in your field (through employer information sessions, coffee chats, career fairs, etc.).
Decide
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Select 2-3 industries to pursue for full-time employment and learn/implement the best search techniques for
those industries.
Develop a back-up plan for post-graduation, especially if you are interested in highly competitive graduate
programs or fields.
Accept offers for full-time employment or graduate school, and negotiate salary for employment positions.
Act
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Tailor your resume toward industries and employers you’re considering.
If applicable, begin preparation for graduate school by taking admissions tests in the fall and preparing your
application.
Engage in career fairs to make connections with specific employers and pursue full-time employment
opportunities.
Apply for full-time positions as early as possible and tailor cover letters to each company and position.
Follow up with employer contacts from past career fairs, information sessions, and informational interviews.
Strengthen your interviewing skills by participating in a mock interview with your career advisor.
Identify references and request permission to use their information in applications for employment or graduate
programs.