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Four Year Plan

 

This is your planning guide developed by The Career Center based on our experience working with students. These are the core steps that take you through each year of your college experience as you seek to become competitive, prepared, and confident about your future after UNCW. If you’ve missed a few steps in previous years and this is the first time you are seeing this, let the Career Center assist you in customizing a plan that will work for you!

First Year: EXPLORE

• Visit with a Career Counselor regarding major exploration.  If instructed, take a Career Assessment such as the Kuder Journey or MBTI and have your results interpreted
• Get active in a student group or other campus activities that match your interests.
• Utilize SeaWork to find a part-time, summer, or internship experience
• Get to know the various offices/resources around campus
• Get to know your Academic Advisor. We work closely with them to help you reach your goals
• Attend MAJOR EXPLORATION programming such as The Academic Majors Fair, Making That Major Decision, and Major Confusion
• Take classes that sound interesting and explore majors with your Academic Advisor
• Begin building your resume. Utilize our website or the Resume brochure to help you get started
• Get Organized! Use a daily planner and also begin to save major papers and projects from courses  (These will help you assemble a portfolio)
• Attend all of your classes, keep up with assignments, and establish a good GPA
• Establish relationships with faculty members, career counselors, advisors, and administrators who will assist you in your professional development

Second Year: DECIDE

• Visit with a Career Counselor about your future plans and goals. This is typically the year you will begin an internship or continue to explore an ‘Experiential’ educational experience
• Declare a major upon completion of your 45^th credit hour
• Once that is complete, develop a plan for graduation and review your degree audit with your Academic Advisor
• Develop short and long term educational goals that relate to your future career
• Continue building your resume and portfolio
• Volunteer and remain involved in a student organization
• Find a summer job or internship using SeaWork that will contribute to increasing your ‘relevant’ work experience. Also explore potential study abroad opportunities
• Maintain that good GPA

Third Year: PLAN

• Visit with a Career Counselor about graduate school and/or career planning strategy
• Explore careers related to your major, conduct informational interviews, and attend job fairs/networking events
• If you plan to attend graduate school, learn the application/admission process
• Update your documents (resume/cover letter) on SeaWork
• Search for jobs on SeaWork
• Continue to fine tune your resume and have them reviewed by a Career Counselor
• Provide leadership or plan events for your student organization or student group
• Apply for additional internship opportunities that will contribute to your relevant experience
• Identify several locations where you might like to live and work
• Maintain that good GPA

Fourth Year: EMBARK

• Visit with a Career Counselor regarding graduate school or finalizing career goals
• Select faculty and administrators that will provide references for jobs, graduate or professional school
• Stay on top of deadlines for graduate or professional school
• Keep your resume and cover letter updated and ready for the professional job search
• Attend job fairs and networking events
• Research employer information and prepare for upcoming interviews. Consider using InterviewStream to conduct a  practice interview
• Inform the Career Center when you have a job offer and accept our assistance when negotiating an offer