4 Year Career Plan

Figuring out what to do after college can be intimidating, but planning early and getting help can make all the difference. Take a look at our 4 Year Career Plan. We’ll get you moving and keep you going in the right direction! Your career starts now.

First Year

Prepare

  • Use Majors & Minors
  • Talk with faculty, mentors, family and friends about majors and occupations.
  • Consider career assessments to understand how your skills, interests, and values relate to careers.
  • Talk with a career counselor about possible interest areas.
  • Start to define a strategy for reaching career goals.
  • Take courses you enjoy that will help you decide if your major is a good fit.
  • Conduct an informational interview with a professional to learn about the realities of a career.
  • Explore ePACK, NC State’s on-line job posting system.

Participate

  • Take advantage of opportunities to develop skills through activities on and off campus.
  • Create a resume and cover letter and fine tune them with a career counselor.
  • Evaluate strengths on your resume and areas to develop.
  • Attend career fairs to learn about career paths for different majors.
  • View opportunities posted in ePACK; identify careers of potential interest.
  • Consider career-related experience through an externship, internship, co-op, research or volunteer experience.
  • Document your experiences, skills and accomplishments.

Sophomore Year

Prepare

  • Update and fine tune your resume and cover letter.
  • Create or update your ePACK account.
  • Practice your interview skills with a friend, employer or career counselor.
  • Speak with an academic advisor in your major about career interests and plans.
  • Join a student organization that is related to your major or career of interest.
  • Be open to leadership opportunities.
  • Choose courses that help you make progress toward a degree of interest.

Participate

  • Gain career-related experience through an internship, co-op, research or volunteer opportunity.
  • Speak with faculty about research opportunities.
  • Apply for internships and on-campus interviews in ePACK.
  • Apply for co-op, start with an orientation.
  • Attend career fairs and events to learn about internships and co-ops.
  • Attend employer information sessions posted in ePACK to learn about opportunities.
  • Use strategies and resources provided by the CDC.
  • Document your experiences, skills, and accomplishments.

Junior Year

Prepare

  • Update and fine tune your resume and cover letter.
  • Update your ePACK account.
  • Practice your interview skills with a friend, employer or career counselor.
  • Research the application timeline if you are thinking about graduate school.
  • Speak with faculty about career interests, graduate study, and future plans.
  • Meet with a career counselor to discuss strategies including decisions about grad school.

Participate

  • Gain career-related experience through an internship, co-op, research or volunteer opportunity.
  • Speak with faculty about research opportunities.
  • Apply for internships and on-campus interviews in ePACK.
  • Apply for co-op, start with an orientation.
  • Attend career fairs and events to learn about internships and co-ops.
  • Attend employer information sessions posted in ePACK to learn about opportunities.
  • Use strategies and resources provided by the Career Development Center.
  • Meet with faculty or employers as you create a list of references or request recommendation letters.
  • Become active in student organizations to develop leadership and teamwork skills.
  • Document your experiences, skills, and accomplishments.

Senior Year

Prepare

  • Update and fine tune your resume and cover letter.
  • Update your ePACK account and maximize your use of the system.
  • Discuss your job search strategies with your career counselor.
  • Applying to grad school? Follow individual program guidelines and deadlines.
  • Schedule GRE and other admissions exams.
  • Practice your interview skills with a friend, employer or career counselor.
  • Take advantage of student rates to join professional organizations.
  • Be sure your voice mail and social networking sites are professional.

Participate

  • Begin your active job search at least one semester prior to graduation.
  • Get organized; create a spreadsheet or file to track your job search activity.
  • Speak with faculty about career interests and plans.
  • Secure your list of references or recommendation letters.
  • Attend career fairs and events to learn about entry-level jobs.
  • Attend employer information sessions posted in ePACK to learn about opportunities.
  • Utilize services for one year after graduation.
  • Use strategies and resources provided by the Career Development Center; services continue for one year after graduation.