Career Success Syllabus

Grab your future by the horns by following this general guide to completing career milestones during your college experience.

All Students

• Attend fairs, events, and networking opportunities hosted by Your Career Development Center
• Utilize applicable services offered to you by Your Career Development Center
• Check your @mnsu.edu regularly for tailored messages for you from Your Career Development Center
• Please note the below is an APPROXIMATE timeline, customize the timing & tasks to suit your own unique career needs

First-Year

• Explore Your Interests, Skills, & Talent
  • Take the FOCUS
  • Get to know the Academic Catalog and explore any areas of natural interest
  • Get involved on campus! Consider joining a Student Organization
  • Consider a part-time job, workstudy position, or volunteer role find opportunities on Handshake
• Develop Your Understanding of Careers
  • Check out What Can I Do With This Major?
• Manage Your Career Path
  • Write your first resume using the Job Search Handbook
  • Complete your Handshake Profile

Sophomore

• Explore Your Interests, Skills, & Talent
  • Talk with your advisors, faculty, career advisors, or mentors about majors, study abroad, and career paths
  • If undecided, meet with a Career Advisor to guide you in moving forward
• Develop Your Understanding of Careers
  • Conduct an Informational Interview with someone working in your field of interest
  • Explore O*NET or the Occupational Outlook Handbook
• Manage Your Career Path
  • Begin building your network by creating and using a LinkedIn Profile
  • Use Handshake to find internship or summer job opportunities  

Junior

• Explore Your Interests, Skills, & Talent
  • Begin to explore graduate schools if additional education is needed for your career goals  
  • Seek out leadership opportunities in 1-2 student organizations or extracurricular activities
• Develop Your Understanding of Careers
  • Consider setting up a job shadow to strengthen your network and explore different career paths in your major
• Manage Your Career Path
  • Build your resume with off-campus applied learning such internships, part-time jobs, undergraduate research, volunteer work, or study abroad
  • View Candid Career videos to inform your career path options
  • Explore opportunities on GoingGlobal

Senior

• Explore Your Interests, Skills, & Talent
  • Revisit your many experiences and skills you have developed to prepare for interviewing
• Develop Your Understanding of Careers
  • Set your job search strategy early
  • Update your resume, cover letters, and other application materials – tailor each to the position you are applying for
  • Do regular searches on Handshake and use filters to find opportunities of interest
  • Reach out to your LinkedIn network
• Manage Your Career Path
  • Think about what faculty, advisors, supervisors, mentors, or coaches could be positive references for you – be sure to ask them BEFORE submitting
  • Complete the Graduate Follow-Up Survey