Career Services
DeVry University’s
Keller Graduate School of Management
Career Ready – The Two Stage Plan
Career Ready is a step-by-step plan that allows students to develop employment-seeking competencies and
prepare for the competitive nature of the job search. By working closely with their respective career services
team and following a two-stage plan of progressive behaviors, graduate students who add the “hidden” skill
set of career readiness to a quality degree program will better position themselves for meaningful career outcomes.
STAGE 1
Reflect and Explore
STAGE 2
Develop and Execute
m Identify the core values your work should reflect, your career objectives,
and create career-related SMART goals
m Create a budget for tracking job search time and activities
m Take inventory of your most marketable career-related skills
m Develop a tailored cover letter
m Define your ideal job
m Audit your online identity
m Review current or past jobs to identify transferable skills
m Clean up your Facebook page; set proper security levels
m Create a LinkedIn profile; build your contact list to at least 150 people in
your network
m Join campus organizations
m Identify a potential coach or mentor in your field
m Draft a targeted, accomplishment-based resumé/portfolio
m Conduct informational interviews with alumni, staff, faculty, family, friends,
and people in your field
m Utilize library/online resources to research job industries, functions,
qualifications, employers and salaries
m Continue on to Stage 2 and introduce yourself to your career services advisor
m Upload resumé into Hire DeVry
m Consider business cards and/or a networking resumé
m Create target list of 10-20 employers; add to a networking resumé
m Conduct informational interviews
m Follow targeted employers on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google Alerts
m Prepare answers to common interview questions; conduct mock interviews;
practice accomplishment and personal marketing stories
m Attend career fairs
m Identify and join professional associations
m Expand LinkedIn networking contacts to 200 people
m Join LinkedIn groups to network and build brand awareness
m Gather at least 3 written or online references
m Track weekly job search activity
m Complete all career services forms and discuss graduation responsibilities
m Check in with career services advisor
In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060.
DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC, www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus – 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. ©2011 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 09-200025 8/11 10M
STAGE 1
Reflect and Explore
Career Ready
The Two Stage Plan
Your first year of graduate school is critical in terms of how you begin to position yourself for
employment success. With the completion of your degree program a year or less away, clarity and
focus will help you navigate your next career move. Use the following checklist to help you reflect
on your strengths, explore your options, and move forward with confidence and precision.
m Identify which core values your work should reflect; your career objectives;
create career-related SMART goals
m Take inventory of your most marketable career-related skills
m Define your ideal job
m Audit your online identity
m Review current or past jobs to identify transferable skills
m Clean up your Facebook page; set proper security levels
m Create a LinkedIn profile; build your contact list to at least 150 people in your network
m Join campus organizations
m Identify a potential coach or mentor in your field
m Draft a targeted, accomplishment-based resumé/portfolio
m Conduct informational interviews with alumni, staff, faculty, family, friends,
and people in your field
m Utilize library/online resources to research job industries, functions, qualifications,
employers and salaries
m Continue on to Stage 2 and introduce yourself to your career services advisor
In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to
operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC, www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus
– 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. ©2011 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 09-200025 8/11 10M
DeVry University’s
Keller Graduate School of Management
STAGE 2
Develop and Execute
Career Ready
The Two Stage Plan
The primary objective for job seekers at this stage is to be prepared to get and perform
well in interviews. That means networking activity, communication skills, and
marketing tools must all come together to present you as the most qualified candidate.
Use the following checklist to develop and execute the game plan.
m Create a budget for tracking job search time and activities
m Upload resumé into Hire DeVry
m Develop a tailored cover letter
m Consider business cards and/or a networking resumé
m Create target list of 10-20 employers; add to a networking resumé
m Conduct informational interviews
m Follow targeted employers on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Google Alerts
m Prepare answers to common interview questions; conduct mock interviews
m Practice accomplishment and personal marketing stories
m Attend career fairs
m Identify and join professional associations
m Expand LinkedIn networking contacts to 200 people
m Join LinkedIn groups to network and build brand awareness
m Gather at least 3 written or online references
m Track weekly job search activity
m Complete all career services forms and discuss graduation responsibilities
m Check in with career services advisor
In New York, DeVry University operates as DeVry College of New York. DeVry University operates as DeVry Institute of Technology in Calgary, Alberta. DeVry is certified to
operate by the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia. AC0060. DeVry University is authorized for operation by the THEC, www.state.tn.us/thec. Nashville Campus
– 3343 Perimeter Hill Dr., Nashville, TN 37211. ©2011 DeVry Educational Development Corp. All rights reserved. 09-200025 8/11 10M
DeVry University’s
Keller Graduate School of Management