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Academic and Career Planning Milestones

Now that you’ve learned about the major components of academic planning and strategies for investigating career options, let’s look at key milestones that come up in academic and career planning. Understanding these milestones can help you sketch out approximate times for completing them, which adds structure to your college experience.

Find your path. Are you currently at a two-year college? If so, Table 13.3 offers two sets of suggested milestones: one for those who want to enter the workforce directly after graduating and another for those who plan to transfer to a four-year college. Are you currently at a four-year school? Table 13.4 offers suggested milestones for you to follow. Feel free to modify these models to suit your educational time line; if you’ll be in school for more or less time than the models show, make adjustments to fit your specific circumstances. In addition, exactly what you do for each milestone (and when you do it) may vary depending on your school’s requirements. So talk with an adviser or a career counselor to see whether there are campus-specific recommendations to keep in mind as you make your plans.
Get started. As you look at the suggested milestones, consider which primary tasks you need to address right now — such as maintaining a strong GPA or planning a course of study with an adviser. Many of these tasks will be familiar, as they’re discussed in previous sections in this chapter as well as in other chapters.
Consider tasks that are on the horizon. Can you get a jump on some of these upcoming tasks now? If so, how? Take a particularly close look at the final year in the model plans. Except for students who are going on to further schooling, this is a time when most students begin searching for a job in their chosen field. This is a vital stage of your career development and it requires serious attention. Research suggests that students who take an active role in their job search are much better off than those who don’t.⁵
Make connections. Even if you’re not looking for a job just yet, it’s a good idea to start building relationships with counselors in the career center now. When the time comes, they can help you prepare for job interviews, review and critique your résumé, show you how to gather information about employers you’ll be interviewing with, and give you tips on negotiating pay and other employment terms with an organization once you receive a job offer. (This book’s Appendix also provides valuable tips on preparing for and conducting a job search.)
Revise as needed. Finally, always remember: Academic and career planning is an ongoing process. As you go through college, you’ll revisit your plans periodically and refine them as needed to reflect your most recent thoughts about your education and work life. By doing some reflecting and readjusting, you can be sure you’re pursuing a path that’s meaningful for you.

ACTIVITY: Invite students to begin creating a career portfolio. Ask them to begin with a current résumé, list seminars and trainings they’ve attended, and include a copy of their academic plan to show future employers everything they’ve accomplished in preparing for the world of work.

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Table 13.4: TABLE 13.3 Two-Year College Planning Milestones

Year 1: Transitioning, Exploring, and Planning
All Develop and practice the success skills discussed in this book. Focus on establishing a strong GPA. Begin to identify your career-related interests, skills, and values. Get involved in campus activities. Develop a preliminary résumé. Explore work or volunteer activities that will strengthen your résumé.
Transfer Option Plan your course of study with an academic adviser to maximize transfer credits. Discuss colleges and universities that you are considering transferring to. If possible, meet with an academic adviser at the schools to which you may apply. Identify the application deadlines for schools to which you may apply.
Work Option Document how the success skills you’re using at school translate to future careers. Discuss with a career counselor what career opportunities are available for graduates with your degree. Conduct information interviews with people in your community who are employed in areas that interest you.
Year 2: Completing Your Program and Preparing for Another Transition
326 Transfer Option Prepare and submit applications for admission to four-year colleges. Gather information about the majors available at the schools to which you are applying. Meet with your adviser, or advisers at your target schools, to talk about declaring a major when you arrive. If possible, work with an adviser on your campus or an adviser at your target school to create a first-year course plan so that you can hit the ground running. Update your résumé annually. Continue to acquire practical experience through clubs and organizations, volunteering, and work.
Work Option Continue to develop the transferable skills that employers desire most. Meet with one or more instructors to discuss career options. Meet with a counselor at the career center to discuss the job search services the center provides. If available, register for on-campus interviews, or identify where employment opportunities are posted on your campus. Have a counselor at the career center critique your résumé. Conduct mock interviews with friends, colleagues, or a counselor at the career center. Continue to acquire practical experience through clubs and organizations, volunteering, and work. Consider leadership opportunities in clubs and organizations.

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Table 13.5: TABLE 13.4 Four-Year College Planning Milestones

Year 1: Transitioning and Exploring
Develop and practice the success skills discussed in this book. Focus on establishing a strong GPA. Begin to identify your career-related interests, skills, and values. Reflect on which topics covered in your first-year courses you find interesting. Talk with an academic adviser about the majors you’re considering. Talk with career counselors about the relationship between various majors and the careers you’re considering. Get involved in campus activities. Develop a preliminary résumé. Explore work or volunteer activities that will strengthen your résumé. Conduct one or more informational interviews.
Year 2: Finding Your Direction
Declare an academic major. Join a club or professional organization related to your academic major. Begin to develop relationships with instructors in your major who can later support your job search with letters of recommendation. Document how the success skills you’re using at school translate to future careers. Consider volunteer or employment opportunities related to your academic major. Discuss with a career counselor what career opportunities are available for graduates with your major. Update your résumé annually. Research how to prepare for the careers that interest you. Consider conducting another informational interview with a recent graduate in your major. (The alumni center may help you find recent graduates who would be willing to talk with you.)
Year 3: Confirming Your Path and Gaining Experience
Evaluate your satisfaction with the direction you have chosen. If you’re not satisfied, meet with an academic adviser or career counselor to assist you in changing direction. Continue acquiring practical experience related to your major through clubs and organizations, volunteering, and work. Continue to develop the transferable skills that employers desire most. Consider whether you want to start working after getting your degree or enter a graduate or professional training program. If appropriate, determine graduate school testing and application deadlines. Begin researching graduate programs or employers related to the careers you are considering. Review syllabi in the courses in your academic major to identify possible career and graduate school specialty options. Update your résumé annually. Meet with instructors in your academic major to discuss career and graduate school options. Meet with a counselor in the career center to discuss the job search services the center provides.
Year 4: Preparing for Another Transition
If you plan to continue your education, fill out graduate or professional school applications. If you are seeking employment, register for on-campus interviews. Meet with a counselor in the career center to polish your résumé. Research employers with whom you will interview. Conduct mock interviews with friends, colleagues, or a counselor at the career center. Continue to acquire practical experience through clubs and organizations, volunteering, and work. Find out what services the career center offers to students after graduation.