Although the following information is presented in a 4-year format, it is useful no matter where you start the process, or if you are taking more than 4 years to complete a degree. The goal of Crown College Career Services is to provide Biblically based counseling and assistance to each student and graduate in the area of lifelong career planning. The Career Services staff is here to support and assist you! Stop by or make an appointment (#4352).
First Year
- Get off to a solid start academically. (many employers like high GPA's, and graduate schools usually require at least a 3.0)
- Get involved in student activities, organizations, athletics, volunteer work or community service projects.
- Start identifying your gifts, interests, abilities and values. This can be done through a meeting with Career Services staff, utilizing assessment tools, conducting informational interviews with professionals in your career / major, shadowing someone in your career / field, and discussions with faculty.
Second Year
- Relate gifts, interests, abilities and values to possible career choices.
- Narrow your choices of major and apply for admission to a specific Crown
Academic Department. - Think about what minor will add to your expertise and how it may compliment your major. Ask something like, "What if I majored in youth and minored in counseling?"
- Create a resume.
- Find career / major related work during the school year or at a summer job.
Third Year
- Keep your GPA strong, especially in your major.
- Update your resume.
- Stay involved in activities and seek to gain leadership experience and skills that employers desire.
- Begin identifying preferred work settings (i.e. Christian, secular, industrial, small business, non-profit).
- Gain experience and build your network of contacts in your field through an internship, part-time job, or summer work experience.
- Look into graduate school programs that you may want to pursue.
Fourth Year
- Update your resume, learn to write professional letters, learn how to interview for positions.
- Network with professionals in your field.
- Identify and apply for jobs. (use your network, job fairs, the Internet, classified ads, etc.)
- If you are pursuing graduate school, plan to apply the fall semester of your senior year.
- Education majors establish a reference/credential file.
- Education majors attend the annual Minnesota Education Job Fair that is held each spring. Contact Career Services for the date and registration.
