Career and Academic 4-Year Planning Guide
Career Center recommends that all students at UTSA have the following
upon graduation:
- A professionally developed, current resume that can grow and adapt throughout their lifetime.
- At least one professional-level experience, most likely through internship, cooperative education or research, but also through volunteerism.
- A basic understanding of professional etiquette including networking, job searching, interview preparation, interviewing skills, interviewing follow-up, and professional correspondence
- At least two opportunities to hear directly from professionals working in the students' field of choice through either informational interviews, career mentor program, presentations and seminars, career fairs and/or job shadowing opportunities.
Ways to Prepare for a Career While in College
| College Level |
Career Center |
Academic & Extracurricular |
| Freshmen |
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- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Attend study skills workshops.
- Study and adjust to college.
- Learn requirements for your major, since many require an early decision.
- Make friends who share your interests.
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| Sophomores |
- Draft your resume and get it critiqued by a career counselor, who can also help you decide on a major and develop job search skills. (Call 210.458.4589 to make an appt.)
- Update your student profile and upload your resume with the RowdyJobs.
- Do regular searches of internship listings on the RowdyJobs.
- Use the internet and career assessments to learn about different occupational fields.
- Attend career/internship fairs and follow up with employers.
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- Meet with your academic advisor.
- Take a variety of courses, especially ones that could improve your skills in writing, communication, speaking, business and computer usage.
- Participate in extracurricular activities.
- Do community service or volunteer work.
- Find opportunities through VOICES.
|
| Juniors |
- Update your student profile and resume on the RowdyJobs.
- Work with a career counselor to refine your resume and develop job search and interviewing skills.
- Use the RowdyJobs, WetFeet and Vault to continue your research on possible internships, employers and careers.
- Attend career/internship fairs. Follow up with contacts.
- Attend employer presentations and follow up with contacts.
- Set up a job search agent on the RowdyJobs so that internship listings are automatically sent to you after posting.
- Apply for all that interest you. Get an internship.
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- Become active in student organizations.
- Choose elective courses that complement your major and will help improve your communication and writing skills.
- Pursue academic assignments that stimulate professional interaction (i.e., interviews and surveys).
- Explore the Undergraduate Research Opportunities.
- Join professional/trade associations.
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| Seniors & Graduates |
Fall Semester
- If you don't have a resume, attend one of our professional development workshops or check out the links we've compiled to create a dynamic resume.
- Attend other professional development workshops to learn more about interviewing, your professional image and many more topics OR check out the tutorials and links we've provided.
- Attend the Fall Career Fair to talk to employers and find out what their hiring needs are. Find out how to work a Career Fair by attending one of our workshops or viewing the resources we've put together.
- Interview on-campus. Click here to find out which employers will be interviewing during the semester.
- Let people in your network know that you will be graduating soon and ask them to let you know if they hear of any openings.
- Keep a written log or spreadsheet of all of your employer contacts including items such as employer name, address, telephone number and contact person/job title as well as the date of each contact by letter, telephone call or interview.
Spring Semester
- Your last semester on campus will be a busy one with senior projects/courses, graduation and your job search but this is the time to shine when meeting with employers.
- Setup a Job Search Agent on your RowdyJobs account so that job listings are automatically sent to you when they are posted.
- Make sure your resume is updated to reflect your current contact information and GPA.
- Continue to Interview on-campus.
- Attend the Spring Career Fair. Follow up with contacts.
- March: Begin applying for positions that you hear about or see posted. The hiring process can take 3-6 weeks so you don't want to wait until the week before graduation.
- Do thorough research on potential employers, especially those with whom you plan to interview.
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- Assist or do research with professors.
- Pursue an independent study that will allow you to explore your career interests.
- Assume active leadership role in a campus chapter of a professional organization.
- Become active in community functions.
- Attend meetings of professional/trade associations and pursue additional networking opportunities.
- Apply to graduate/professional school.
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