Research Careers on the Internet

Take some time to understand occupations in your area of interest. The Learning Resource Center (LRC) is available 24/7 and contains some of the most comprehensive career information available.

Informational Interviews

Talk with professionals in the field to learn more about job responsibilities and verify occupational information. This is not the time to be asking for a job but it won't hurt to leave your resume behind just in case you made a positive impression on them.

Internship/Externship

Getting some experience before you graduate can give you an advantage when competing for job offers. Internships and externships provide on-the-job experience by integrating academic knowledge with practical work skills, and can build relationships with professionals in your field. Visit the LRC for additional information.

Volunteer Work

If you can't get into a formal internship or externship program because of work, family, school, or other issues, try volunteering somewhere in your industry within your local community. By becoming a volunteer, you are helping others while at the same time helping increase your self-confidence, making new friends in the industry, and boosting social skills.

Job Shadow

Job shadowing enables you to spend some time observing an industry professional on the job and is designed to bring career awareness. Unlike internships and many volunteer options, job shadowing typically would be only one or two days long and definitely unpaid. You could even job shadow several people to make you feel more confident in the career path that you are on.

Professional Associations

Practically every academic and career field has at least one professional association tied to it. Check with career services and faculty to see which associations may be the best to participate in. You could possibly subscribe to the associations newsletter or website to keep updated on trends in your field. Visit the LRC for additional information on professional associations in your industry.

Student Organizations

Student clubs or groups available at your campus may be focused within a certain career field to provide students valuable networking opportunities in the industry. Student groups are a great way to learn more about shared topics of interest or become involved in activities that you enjoy. Many other student groups can be academic, social, cultural, political, spiritual, or international.