Career Planning Strategy for Undergraduates
As you begin planning your career, use these lists to identify the items that make sense for your unique situation (not every item may apply). Consider working with a Northwestern Career Advancement team member to adapt the plan for your goals.
- Reflect on which activities and experiences you’ve enjoyed in the past and why. What did you learn about yourself from each experience?
- Identify and enhance your understanding of your interests, values, and skills by taking the career and personality assessments NCA offers.
- Examine your strengths and weaknesses and how they affect your career goals.
- Think about how your values and interests might determine your work setting preferences.
- Consider how your skills, values, interests, and experiences intersect to shape your professional narrative—the story you want others to know about your career pursuits.
- Meet with an NCA team member to clarify your career interests and options.
- Enroll in classes that allow you to learn about fields that interest you.
- Explore your interests by participating in student organizations, volunteer opportunities, or research. Gain leadership experience by chairing a committee, initiating a project, or running for a position.
- Research industries, positions, and employers of interest using the NCA website, Vault, LinkedIn, company websites, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
- Network at employer information sessions, alumni events, coffee chats, and career fairs to expand your knowledge of job opportunities.
- Attend programs and events sponsored by NCA, academic departments, and student organizations.
- Use LinkedIn and the Our Northwestern portal to view alumni from your major or who work in an industry that interests you. Conduct informational interviews with alumni, industry professionals, and personal contacts to learn about their career experiences.
- Utilize the Northwestern Network Mentorship Program to cultivate relationships with alumni mentors.
- Connect with an with an NCA team member to evaluate opportunities for gaining experience and to learn about search strategies for your industry of interest.
- Declare a major. Meet with your academic adviser if you’re considering changing your major or school.
- Narrow the range of opportunities you want to pursue to one or two industries that interest you the most.
- Research industries to learn about their recruitment processes and timelines. Meet with an NCA team member to create a personalized career plan and search strategy.
- Consider and explore opportunities to gain experience, such as research, study abroad, internships, part-time jobs, and volunteer work.
- Determine and prioritize your must-haves and preferences for the opportunities you’re exploring.
- Develop a list of alternatives and practice parallel planning should you need to consider options other than your top-choice employer, industry, or graduate program.
- Update and tailor your résumé to the industries and employers you’re considering. Refine your résumé using VMock.
- Consider developing a portfolio of your projects to show employers, if that fits your industry of choice.
- Create a LinkedIn profile. Build your network by connecting with academic, professional, and personal contacts and joining relevant LinkedIn groups.
- Update your Handshake profile and confirm your preferences and career interests.
- Polish and practice the professional introduction you plan to use during events with employers and alumni.
- Practice and strengthen your interviewing skills in a mock interview with an NCA team member.
- Establish new contacts using LinkedIn and Our Northwestern and request informational interviews with people whose careers interest you.
- Participate in career fairs, career treks, and employer and alumni events to learn about different industries, jobs, and internships.
- Identify references and request permission to use them in applications for jobs or graduate programs.
- Pursue opportunities that align with your skills and with experiences you want to explore; apply using tailored résumés and cover letters.
- Apply for positions when you are ready, but be mindful of deadlines.
- Prepare yourself for rejection, which is common in the job search process.
- Provide updates to your network contacts and seek guidance as you navigate the search process.
- If you’re considering graduate school, complete the required admission tests and work on your applications. Connect with your professors to establish strong relationships.
- Accept an offer for an internship, full-time employment, or graduate or professional school after carefully evaluating the details.