Career Development Timeline

1. Career Development Timeline First-Year MBA

2. Career Development Timeline • Timeline provides a guide for when to undertake career development activities • Timeline is fluid and will vary slightly by individual situation • Career development is an iterative process • Major phases of career development during first year of business school include: • Preparing for career search • Creating a career plan • Exploring and refining targets • Actively pursuing target opportunities • Finalize internship and maintain professional network

3. Career Development Timeline • Timeline provides a guide for when to undertake career development activities • Timeline is fluid and will vary slightly by individual situation • Career development is an iterative process • Major phases of career development during first year of business school include: • Preparing for career search • Creating a career plan • Exploring and refining targets • Actively pursuing target opportunities • Finalize internship and maintain professional network

4. July August • Complete career assessments including CareerLeader, DISC and Social Skills Inventory. • Draft resume according to Smith guidelines and submit to career advisor for review. • Begin researching target industries, companies and functions. • Attend career development portion of orientation. • Create HireSmith profile and upload OCS-approved resume. • Check schedule for corporate presentations and on-campus recruiting (begins 8/25). • Attend the seven-week Career Management Seminar which begins on (8/30). • Schedule initial advising/ mock interview with advisor (8/30). • Attend MBA Career Conference Workshop (8/31)

5. Begin attending company information sessions. • Prepare for/attend MBA Career Quest career fair 10/8. • Determine extra-curricular activities to enhance career development. • Begin conducting informational interviews. • Attend OCS industry panels and networking events. • Begin monitoring internship postings in HireSmith. • Refine list of top companies. • Use SmithConnector to identify alumni contacts in target companies. • Begin actively targeting contacts and employment opportunities in your target companies. • Continue monitoring and applying to internship postings in HireSmith and through other sources. • Use online tools to continue researching and refining employment targets. • Develop elevator pitch and accomplishment stories. • Review corporate leadership programs and deadlines and determine if you will apply. • Review upcoming MBA Career Conferences and determine if you will attend.

6. November December • Assess network of contacts and work to expand network within target companies. • Research job openings via HireSmith, company web sites, and online job posting sites on a weekly basis. Intensify internship applications. • Send thank you notes for all informational and formal interviews and networking conversations on an ongoing basis. • Refine your resume to incorporate new/ongoing professional development experiences. • Refine your elevator pitch to include newest learnings and refined focus. • Contact potential employers to express interest in anticipated openings and schedule interviews or informational interviews for over winter break.

7. January (Winter Break) April/May February/March • Continue internship strategies from fall semester and catch up in areas you may have fallen behind in during the semester. • Schedule/conduct interviews • Further identify internship opportunities, find networking contacts and send out resumes. • Review schedule for winter on-campus recruiting which beings on 1/24. • Conduct last push to secure and finalize internship offer if you do not have it finalized already. • Submit internship reporting form to OCS. • Send an update to your network to notify people of your summer plans and thank them for their help along the way. • Make the most of the on-campus recruiting season that kicks off in late January. • Reach back out to networking or interview contacts you worked with in the Fall to update on your internship search and generate new leads. • Continue to monitor postings in HireSmith and other sources on a regular basis. • Intensify internship applications.