Career Plan Timetable
Freshman Year Objectives
- Assess your study skills and habits and improve on them if they need work. The Academic Support and Access Programs (ASAP) offers help with study skills and time management. ASAP is located on the third floor of the Commons, Room 306.
- Get off to a good start academically. If you feel like you might struggle with a course, get a tutor from ASAP.
- Decide on courses for your second semester and sophomore year. Talk to your academic advisor about classes and long-range plans.
- Participation in the Focus on Success: First Year Transition program is a great way to begin your college career.
- Think about summer internships and develop your resume. The Career Center can help you find internship opportunities, as well as help you with cover letters, resumes and practice interviews.
- Attend the Job and Internship Fairs and related events to learn about potential internship and/or summer employment opportunities. Check the Career Center website for information on these events.
- Begin to critically evaluate your choice of major/career. Career advising is available through the Career Center or at the Academic Support and Access Programs (ASAP), located in the Continuing Education Building, Room 306.
- Begin to solidify your choice of major and your career goals. If you need assistance, Career Center and CTC staff offer individualized career advising.
- Register with and apply for several summer internships through the Career Center.
- Begin planning for a summer semester, junior year abroad or an exchange to another U.S. university. Study Abroad Program information is available through the International Programs Office. University Exchange information is available through the Dean of Students office.
- Keep talking with your academic advisor.
- Make at least one career contact. Talk to someone actually doing what you are considering making your career. (The Career Center can help identify possible sources.)
- Join one or two professional student organizations, clubs or special-interest groups. Talk to your academic advisor, visit the ASUI office (Commons room 302), or come to the Career Center for assistance in locating professional organizations.
- Continue to make good grades and get the most out of your classes.
- Cultivate mentors, including upper class students or faculty members.
- Attend the Fall & Spring Career Fairs.
- Have a clear idea of what you want to major in and begin to explore exactly how you can use that major in a career. Talk to your academic advisor.
- Continue to seek internships. The Career Center can assist you.
- Join another activity or honorary club/organization and become a leader of one of the organizations you’ve joined.
- Continue to refine your resume. Contact the Career Center for help.
- Take some classes outside of your major but which will make you a well-qualified job applicant and a better-rounded person.
- Begin selecting graduate schools and get applications.
- Take entrance exams for graduate school. Information on the GRE, LSAT, MCAT, GMAT, etc. is available at the CTC.
- Make sure you are on track for graduation as planned. Check with the registrar and your academic advisor.
- Attend the Fall & Spring Career Fairs.
- Apply for graduation early. Check with the Registrar’s Office for deadlines.
- Send out graduate school applications early. The Career Center can help you with your personal statement.
- Watch for interesting workshops on career issues hosted by the Career Center.
- Wage a full-fledged job search beginning with the fall semester.
- Make many business or professional contacts; gather information.
- Research the companies you wish to interview with. Attend the Fall and Spring Career Fairs. The Career Center has a wealth of information on companies that typically send campus recruiters to the University of Idaho.
- Participate in practice interviews to prepare for the real thing.