planning and preparing for your career

1. Planning and PreparingforYour Career Sophomores 4.22.10 www.citadel.edu/career_services

3. Finding Your FOCUS Are you in the correct major? Which jobs best match your values and interests? Which duty assignment should you pursue? Which graduate program should you pursue? To see, use FOCUS, complete Self-Assessment, then Narrow and Refine your results: example www.citadel.edu/career_services/FOCUS.htm Explore your matches: www.bls.gov/oco & in FOCUS Decide: Are you in the correct major?

4. Building Your Network Purpose of a Network? Members needed? Expectations? How to use your Network? Best ways to connect? The Gate/Online Mentor Network www.citadel.edu/career_services/TheGate.htm LinkedIn & The Citadel Group www.linkedin.com (over 1500 members) Networking with Alumni: Guidelines www.citadel.edu/career_services/Alumni/AlumniTalk/DevelopingSuccessfulNetworkingSkills.pdf Sample Introductory Message to an Alumnus: Dear Mr. Anderson, My name is David Rivers. I am a cadet at The Citadel, majoring in Political Science and scheduled to graduate in May 2012. I am contacting you to request your advice. I have a strong interest in working in federal law enforcement after graduation, and would appreciate an opportunity to discuss this with you. May I please arrange a time to meet with you to do so? I may be reached at riversd1@citadel.edu and 843 123 4567. Thank you very much for any assistance you are able to provide. Very respectfully, Cadet David Rivers Informational Interviews: Guidelines www.citadel.edu/career_services/Interviewing/InfoInterviewGuide.pdf

5. Professional Communication Using Your Resume: When and how? www.citadel.edu/career_services/ResumeSamples.htm Using Your Business Cards: When and how? www.citadel.edu/career_services/Alumni/AlumniTalk/PersonalBizCardTips.pdf Using Your Cover Letter: When and how? www.citadel.edu/career_services/Communication.htm Using Your Work Samples: When and how? www.citadel.edu/career_services/Resumes/AcademicPortfolios.pdf Using Thank You Messages: When and how? www.citadel.edu/career_services/Communication.htm The Application Process & Follow-up Actions

6. My Career: Four-Year Process What is My Career? A Mixed-Mode Course A Four-Year Plan to Prepare for Success www.citadel.edu/career_services/Students/MyCareer_Cadets.pdf Why follow the steps in My Career? Preparing for Success is a Multi-Year Process

7. Summer Employment Information Summer 2010 Employment Packet www.citadel.edu/career_services/Students/Summer/Summer2010Packet.pdf Use The Gate to Connect with Employers www.citadel.edu/career_services/TheGate.htm Use www.indeed.com to see Position Lists Use Chamber of Commerce Membership Directories to Select and Contact Employers www.charlestonchamber.net/directory Use your Network to connect with Employers

8. What is in the FAQs? www.citadel.edu/career_services/Students/FAQs.pdf This is your introduction to many additional career planning resources.

9. Summary Use your FOCUS results: Determine and explore professions of best fit, confirm major Build your Network, use The Gate, and join the LinkedIn Citadel Group Follow Networking and Professional Communication Guidelines Use the resources linked to the FAQs Apply to Employers of Interest & Follow-up Preparing for Success is a Multi-Year Process Dream big, then plan and prepare accordingly

10. Thank You Best wishes as you plan and prepare for your life after The Citadel! www.citadel.edu/career_services www.citadel.edu/career_services/CareerCtrIntroStud.ppt Success is about making the right choices.