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Career Resources

Getting Started

Your Career

As you consider your career plans, it is important to understand yourself, to explore career options, and to gain experience so that you can make informed, appropriate choices. This is an ongoing process, and CCE is here to provide assistance!

  1. Learn about Yourself

    What are your interests, skills, values, and personality traits? Make lists, talk with family or friends, meet with a career counselor, informally work on some online exercises, or talk to a career counselor about taking a formal assessment tool such as the Myers Briggs Type Indicator or Strong Interest Inventory.

  2. Research and Explore Industries

    What is out there? To begin learning about the variety of industries and the types of jobs within them, check Industry Exploration (and use research tools such as Vault and Wetfeet), peruse the books in our resource center, attend a panel of professionals in a specific career field, conduct an informational interview, talk with your faculty members and family, connect with alumni, meet with a career counselor, come to a career fair, or attend any of our events.

  3. Gain Experience

    Which careers might be a good fit for you? To see if something fits you, and to potentially present yourself as an appropriate applicant, go out and do it! There are many opportunities to volunteer, be involved in a student organization, work in a part-time job, or do an internship. You can also create new, unique opportunities. Check our online resources, meet with a career counselor, or start searching on your own for possibilities.

  4. Set Career Goals

    Determine which career fields (industries) and what types of positions you will seek. Your career goals should be appropriate fits for you, reflecting the time you’ve spent exploring yourself (skills, interests, personality, and work-related values), researching a range of career fields, and gaining some experience. Tailor your documents (resume, etc.) and focus your job/internship search on the industries you’ve selected, using a variety of job-hunting strategies