Career Planning

As the saying goes, people don't plan to fail, but rather fail to plan. This timeline is provided in order to give you a reference when establishing your own goals.

Freshman Year EXPLORE

• Participate in all aspects of life at Fredonia (academic, cultural, social).
• Enroll in a variety of courses to gain exposure to new knowledge, skills, and issues.
• Pursue interests and skills by participating in clubs, teams, performances, or other campus or community activities.
• Learn about resources and services available on campus.
• Begin to explore career options at the CDO.
• Make a tentative selection of a major.
• Begin to get to know faculty, counselors, staff, and administrators.

Sophomore Year RESEARCH AND IDENTIFY

• Enroll in courses in prospective majors.
• Identify your interests, skills, and values.
• Talk with a career counselor in the CDO.
• Learn about and explore the world of work.
• Research selected occupations for academic, personality, and skill requirements.
• Interview people working in selected occupations.
• Make preliminary career decisions.
• Select a major appropriate to those decisions.
• Begin to develop your network of contacts.

Junior Year EXPERIENCE

• Enroll in several courses in your major.
• Accept responsibility for tasks, projects or a program in campus or community activities.
• Enroll in elective courses to enhance qualifications (i.e., computer applications, languages,writing).
• Talk to people working in career fields or organizations of interest.
• Try career fields of interest through summer jobs, internships, and volunteer work.
• Develop a resume for summer and internship opportunities.
• Investigate the potential role of graduate or professional school in your career plans.

Senior Year IMPLEMENT

• Discuss plans with counselors and faculty.
• Complete course requirements for major and degree.
• Plan job search campaign and/or graduate school campaign.
• Learn effective search skills, including writing resumes and cover letters, interviewing, and search strategies.
• Conduct a thorough job search campaign and/or application to graduate/professional school.
• Participate in special programs: Teacher Recruitment Days, Meet the Accountants Night, Human Services Career Fair, Job Quest, Recruitment Calendar, Employer Referral Service.