TWO YEAR PLAN

What is Career and Life Planning?

Career and life planning is an on-going process. It involves exploring your temperament, values, interests, and skills in order to expand your self-knowledge and better evaluate your career direction. It also involves exploration and experimentation in the world of work.

How can Career Services help?

Each year at Taft College we want to help you gain information and experience that will allow you to explore and formulate your career goals. Here are some ideas on what you can do each year to work towards designing your life. Career Services can assist you with everything listed here. Do not be overwhelmed...do a little at a time and let us help you.

Freshmen – 1^st Term

• Explore academic concentrations and the types of careers typically associated with them.
• Complete career inventories to assess your interests, skills, values, and personality type.
• Attend career-related programs and workshops.
• Review career resource library materials.
• Enhance your skills and leadership experience by participating in campus and community service activities.
• Explore and apply early for enriching summer jobs and internships.
• Begin to formulate a resume.

Freshmen – 2^nd Term

• Meet with a career counselor to discuss your career options with a liberal arts degree.
• Review career service library resources.
• Attend career-related programs and workshops.
• Conduct information interviews with alumni and professionals who work in fields that interest you.
• Participate in internships to learn about various career fields.
• Create or update your resume.
• Explore and apply early for enriching summer jobs and internships.

Sophomore – 3^rd Term

• Attend career fairs.
• Review career service library resources.
• Continue to conduct "informal interviews" with alumni or other professionals in your field of interest.
• Continue to evaluate your goals and explore career options.
• Find a mentor who can offer support.
• Attend career-related information sessions and workshops.
• Create or update your resume.
• Join professional associations or organizations related to your field of interest and attend their meetings.
• Participate in an internship in your field of interest.
• Explore and apply early for enriching summer jobs or internships.
• Research fellowship and scholarship opportunities.

Sophomore – 4^th Term

• Research fellowships and scholarship opportunities.
• Continue to clarify your work and life values and goals.
• Review Career Resource Library materials.
• Share your goals and career objective with others; let them help you explore.
• Find a mentor who can offer support.
• Participate in an internship in your field of interest.
• Develop your personal job search action plan.
• Attend job search and interviewing workshops.
• Polish up your resume and cover letters.
• Research potential employers; explore work settings.
• Establish and secure your references.
• Continue to conduct "information interviews" with professionals in your field of interest.
• Begin to network with alumni and other professionals.
• Conduct a mock interview with a career counselor.
• Join professional associations or organizations related to your field of interest and attend their meetings.

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