A Plan for Career Success Freshman Year—Explore • E xplore your interests and abilities through academic courses; demonstrate excellent academic performance • Strengthen your written communication skills in English classes and writing labs. • Create a first draft of your resume and have it critiqued by a Career Coach at The Career Center. • Discover ECU resources including The Career Center, Counseling Center, Academic Enrichment Center, and college advising centers. • Explore majors and careers through career assessment tools offered at The Career Center or via our website at www.ecu.edu/career; familiarize yourself with all of the resources available through the web site. • Register with The Career Center to obtain a logon to PirateJobs and become familiar with the database. • Obtain an introduction to your initial field of interest through an internship, job shadow, or conversation with an Alumni Mentor. • Consider volunteer positions or a part-time job to help build your resume and broaden your experience • Attend career fairs to gather information on potential careers and employers.
Set goals for each year to achieve your career plans!
Junior Year • B egin to plan for an effective job search. Set deadlines for required steps. • Seek leadership positions in co-curricular activities (committee chairs and elected positions.) Join career-related student professional associations. • Update your resume in The Career Center online recruiting system, PirateJobs. • Use the Optimal Resume software on The Career Center’s website to develop an electronic portfolio which highlights the school and employment projects you have completed. • Choose electives to enhance your qualifications, especially your oral and written communication skills. • Attend the fall and spring Career Fairs and interview with employers to obtain co-op or internship positions. • Participate in a Mock Job Interview through The Career Center. • Research graduate school options and apply according to established guidelines and deadlines.
Sophomore Year
Senior Year
• T alk to professionals in career fields you are considering. Review the Career Success Guide for additional information on informational interviewing. • Get to know faculty in a major of interest. They can talk about career options and provide a letter of reference when you apply for a job or to graduate school. • Develop a professional quality resume and register with The Career Center for internship opportunities. • Obtain a part-time job in your field during the school year or summer. Obtain a summer paid or volunteer internship in your major area of interest. • Attend career fairs and employer information sessions that relate to your major. • Enhance your technical/computer skills. Take workshops offered by ITCS. • Use The Career Center’s online job interviewing software to practice job interviewing.
• P articipate in The Career Center career fairs both fall and spring to network with employers and obtain full-time job offers. • Attend The Career Center workshops on job search strategies, resume writing, and job interviewing. • Research companies before your job interview. • Review the handouts on our website on salary negotiation. • Participate in face-to-face Mock Job Interview offered by The Career Center. • Conduct a thorough job search campaign in addition to on-campus interviews. • Notify The Career Center once you have accepted an offer. • Establish a reference list and/or ask for letters of recommendation from academic references
4 East Carolina University
• www.ecu.edu/career