Career Roadmap: Discovering purpose. Launching a Plan.
The Center offers services and programs to advance Converse students towards success in academic, personal, and professional areas. The Center aims to develop interdisciplinary skills through out-of-class experiences to help build professional tools for life after Converse.
- Stop by The Center for Professional Development to understand the valuable resources offered and visit with staff members to discuss your major and career plans
- Visit the student representatives from our office, the Career Peers, to gain knowledge and resources that will be offered throughout the year
- Take FOCUS II assessments to learn more about yourself and how interests, skills, personality, and values connect to a career (Access Code: valkyries)
- Participate in the Student Success Seminar (SSS) and First-Year Seminar (FYS) to enhance your collegiate experience
- Register for the Career Exploration Course (CON 101) in the Spring to help develop your career direction
- Join a club/organization on campus to build your skill set and further understand your interests
- Volunteer within the community to better understand opportunities and further invest in your experience and your career plan
- Create a resume on Optimal Resume and have it reviewed by a staff member
- Create a LinkedIn profile and join the Converse College Alumnae/i Network
- We hold a variety of workshops throughout the academic year to help further your career development and make the most of the next 4 years
- Look for summer jobs, or volunteer/internship opportunities on Purple Briefcase
- Take a variety of courses to gain a wide range knowledge and skills
- Start to network with professors, advisers, staff members and administrators
- Consider a student employment opportunity to learn professional skills you can transfer to your future career while earning money and building your network
- Contact Sabrina Wilson to schedule an appointment with a Center for Professional Development staff member to discuss your career direction and experiential learning opportunities
- Update resume on Optimal Resume and have it reviewed by a staff member
- Update and review your social media profiles
- Go on an informational interview or job shadow someone in careers that interest you
- Research careers in FOCUS II to better understand the different opportunities available
- Attend on-campus employer information sessions, Graduate School Fair, and Career Week
- Begin to research study abroad options
- Participate in career related workshops and presentations
- Investigate and join professional associations within your career interest
- Deepen involvement on campus and in the community to continue building your resume
- Use the Converse College Alumnae/i Network to further gain advice and possible options available to you
- Practice interviewing in the Center by setting up a mock interview
- Attend the Internship Expo (November) to see past internship experiences and check out available options on Purple Briefcase
- Consider a student employment opportunity to learn professional skills you can transfer to your future career while earning money and building your network
- Make an appointment with Cathy Gowan, Director of Internships and Employer Relations, to discuss and plan an internship experience
- Update resume and create a cover letter on Optimal Resume to ready it for an internship experience
- Continue to prepare your professional documents and skills to enter job market (LinkedIn and connect with Converse College Alumnae/i Network)
- Conduct a mock interview with a staff member in the Center
- Attend career fairs to network with employers (SCICU Career Fair, Graduate School Fair)
- Establish a networking list and begin making connections in your career field
- Attend workshops to gain information on job search strategies and utilizing LinkedIn
- Begin researching graduate schools if planning on attending graduate school and take GRE, GMAT, or LSAT if needed
- Attend our Graduate School Week and Career Week events
- Participate in a Study Abroad trip
- Begin searching for a second internship for the summer before Senior year or for Senior year on Purple Briefcase
- Meet with the Center’s staff to plan your job search
- Gain a second internship experience to further develop your experience and resume on Purple Briefcase
- Attend skills-building workshops
- Update your resume on Optimal Resume
- Develop a cover letter and list of references
- Join a professional organization in your field
- Attend career fairs as a way to network with employers ( SCICU, Education Fair)
- Learn market trends and salary expectations for your industry and career of interest
- Develop a career/job search portfolio including updating your LinkedIn account
- Update your networking list and begin to use it to connect with possible job openings
- Apply to Graduate School and Graduate Assistant opportunities
- Complete Graduate Survey to inform office of plans after graduation