Meet the Professionals Night

Career Planning Timeline

Who to contact

Career Development Office

Career Planning Timeline

Freshman Year
EXPLORE

  • Participate in all aspects of life at Fredonia (academic, cultural, social).
  • Enroll in a variety of courses to gain exposure to new knowledge, skills, and issues.
  • Pursue interests and skills by participating in clubs, teams, performances, or other campus or community activities.
  • Learn about resources and services available on campus.
  • Begin to explore career options at the CDO.
  • Make a tentative selection of a major.
  • Begin to get to know faculty, counselors, staff, and administrators.

Sophomore Year
RESEARCH AND IDENTIFY

  • Enroll in courses in prospective majors.
  • Identify your interests, skills, and values.
  • Talk with a career counselor in the CDO.
  • Learn about and explore the world of work.
  • Research selected occupations for academic, personality, and skill requirements.
  • Interview people working in selected occupations.
  • Make preliminary career decisions.
  • Select a major appropriate to those decisions.
  • Begin to develop your network of contacts.

Junior Year
EXPERIENCE

  • Enroll in several courses in your major.
  • Accept responsibility for tasks, projects or a program in campus or community activities.
  • Enroll in elective courses to enhance qualifications (i.e., computer applications, languages, writing).
  • Talk to people working in career fields or organizations of interest.
  • Try career fields of interest through summer jobs, internships, and volunteer work.
  • Develop a resume for summer and internship opportunities.
  • Investigate the potential role of graduate or professional school in your career plans.

Senior Year
IMPLEMENT

  • Discuss plans with counselors and faculty.
  • Complete course requirements for major and degree.
  • Plan job search campaign and/or graduate school campaign.
  • Learn effective search skills, including writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and search strategies.
  • Conduct a thorough job search campaign and/or application to graduate/professional school.
  • Participate in special programs: Job & Internship Expo, CDO On-campus Interviews with employers, Jobsapalooza, Teacher Recruitment Days, Meet the Accountants Night, Graduate School Fair, Network on the Go, the Interview Face-Off, as well as CDO Spotlights and recruitment events.