Piecing It All Together
One of the biggest challenges you face in your last years at Shippensburg is making the connection between your personal values, interests, education, and career goals.
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER
2nd Floor, Room 200 Cumberland Union Building Shippensburg University Shippensburg, PA 17257 Phone: 717-477-1484 Fax: 717-477-4066 http://www.ship.edu/career Hours of Operation: M-F 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Extended Hours: Please call for information.
YOUR FINAL YEARS AT SHIPPENSBURG UNIVERSITY
Va lue s
Education
Interests
Career Planning Guide
Life After Graduation
Career
Piecing it all
together
and making meaning of it is an enormous task. Shippensburg University has programs and services available to assist you to begin the process of establishing and planning to implement your post-graduation goals, whether they include entry into the workforce or continuing your education in graduate school.
A proud member of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education
Shippensburg University is an equal opportunity educational institution. Direct requests for disability accommodations and other inquiries to the Office of Social Equity, Old Main 200, Shippensburg, PA 17257-2299, 717-477-1161
Planning Ahead
Career Development Center
Services Provided: Workshops Walk-In Hours Individual Appointments Resource Library Career Fairs On-Campus Interviewing
Preparing By Planning Your Final Years Checklist
Career planning is a process, not an event. In your final years at Shippensburg you have a lot of preparation to do. This includes research and exploration, clarifying your values and interests, and acquiring the basic skills of resume writing and interviewing. In order to make the important life decisions that lie ahead, you must be in touch with your core values, likes and dislikes, sources of satisfactions, and have a clear vision of the lifestyle you hope to achieve. You must also know how best to market yourself. One of the first decisions you have to make is deciding whether you are going to continue your education in graduate school or enter into the workforce. Whatever your decision, it is important to talk with your advisor, faculty, recent graduates, and people currently working in the field. Also, make use of the abundance of information available on the web. If you think graduate work may be a viable and practical option for you after graduation, begin researching programs in your area of interest. If you think you will be entering the workforce, begin thinking about the types of companies for which you would like to work. Make sure that the mission of the companies you express interest in and ultimately interview with align with your personal values and professionals goals. The job search process is not only about a company selecting you for employment, but also about you selecting the right company for which to work. The Career Development Center can assist you in this job search process. The Center offers individual appointments, workshops, job fairs, and on-campus interviewing. The staff can also help you in the decision making process by assisting you to weigh the costs and benefits of graduate school versus direct entry into the workforce. Plan wisely so that you have the opportunity to acquire related experience prior to graduation. This can be accomplished during the school year or over semester breaks. Consider internships, part-time employment, volunteer work, etc. Enhance your leadership skills. Now that you have had the time to become involved in clubs and activities, seek opportunities for increased responsibility by assuming leadership positions. Choose your electives wisely, as they can be used to enhance your qualifications and assist you in developing needed skills. Many majors allow enough elective hours for a student to acquire a minor if planned properly. Identify the skills employers and graduate programs are looking for in potiential candidates. Simply put, network. Find people in the field and begin to form relationships with them. You may be surprised with the opportunities that may become available to you by virtue of just talking to people. Alumni Affairs has a program that can connect you to alumni in your area of interest. Whether you are planning for graduate school or entry into the job market, you must keep track of and meet established deadlines. Make sure you have scheduled and completed required entrance examinations. Check to assure that you have submitted all required application documents. Learn the basics of interviewing. Take part in an Interview Skills Workshop at the Career Development Center to learn the skills necessary to conduct a successful interview. Consider participating in a mock interview to practice your interviewing skills. Continue to work on your resume and finalize your reference list. The Career Development Center offers workshops and walk-in hours to help you.
Resources & Services
Career Development Center Individual Counseling Appointments Walk-In Hours Workshops (Resume and Interview Skills) Resource Library Mock Interviews Job Fairs (On-Campus and Locally) On-Campus Recruitment and Interviewing College Central Network Alumni Affairs Alumni Career Connections Alumni Career Employment Services (ACES) Counseling Center Individual and Groups Appointments Career and Personality Assessments Workshops (Decision Making) Academic Advisor and Faculty Individual Appointments and Office Hours Extensive Knowledge of Field Information About Various Career Paths Graduate School Information and Guidance Academic Departments Academic Clubs and Student Organizations