Your Successful Career Planning Strategies Checklist
Self-Assessment
Interests
- I have listed some of the main career areas I might be interested in.
- I have decided whether I like "doing" or "thinking" activities at work.
- I have listed some of my favorite activities I enjoy doing (both work and leisure).
Values
- I have listed some of the most important values to me (i.e., prestige, security, and variety).
- I know what kind of rewards are important to me in a job (i.e., social, monetary, and/or job flexibility).
Skills
- I have listed my three most useful job skills.
- I know what I am most successful doing.
- I have identified whether I want to work with people, data or things.
- I know whether I want to be supervised or be the supervisor.
- I know if I want to work with others or work alone.
Setting
- I have chosen the setting in which I would like to work (i.e., large industrial, small business, government, non-profit, etc.).
Many of these tasks can be accomplished through taking a career assessment workshop at the Career Center.
Career Exploration
- I am familiar with the resources in the Career Center Library so I am able to further explore my options.
- I have developed a list of job and career possibilities to research.
- I have identified employers interested in interviewing people with my academic background and experience.
- I have complied a list of potential employers who may not have immediate openings, but would be good prospects in the future. I am establishing a professional relationship with these employers.
- I have a list of three or more employers in the field I’m considering. I plan to visit their organizations.
- I have made at least three contacts in my field.
- I have conducted three information interviews to gain information and advice from professionals in my field.
Internship Experience
- I have narrowed down the job/career options I am considering for an internship position.
- I have identified the needed additional educational or experiential background I need to better prepare for or help test my choices (i.e., course work, part-time work, extracurricular activities, etc.).
- I have met with the internship coordinator.
- I have participated in some work experience or interned in my field of interest.
- I am aware of the daily realities of the occupational area I am approaching.
- I have visited several of the work sites being considered as my career choice.
- I have become an active member in at least one professional association to enhance my job awareness.
Internship/Job Search Preparation
Resume
- I have attended a resume writing workshop.
- I have a clear job objective.
- I have written a resume which:
- shows how my skills and experience fit my objective;
- speaks in terms of accomplishments and uses action verbs;
- is one or at the most two pages;
- has no spelling or grammatical errors; and
- has been typed and professionally duplicated.
- I am ready to compose a specific cover letter to accompany each resume.
Interview
- I have attended an interview techniques workshop.
- I have thoroughly researched the employer with whom I am to interview.
- I have completed informational interviewing to gather information about employers.
- I have practiced my interviewing technique and am prepared to answer most interview questions.
- I have questions to ask employers during the interview.
- I will arrive at the interview on time and looking professional.
- I have written a thank-you letter after each interview.