Four-Year Career Plan
With every academic major and minor, there is a checklist or "blueprint" on how to be successful in that career path. However, most students do not think about their career plan or a road map that will help with maintaining their career readiness and update those skills every year. Students who utilize our Four-Year and Transfer Career Plans are provided with a complete lineup of when they need to complete a piece of their road map.
Below are the steps you can take each year to lead you on a successful path.
- Meet regularly with your academic advisor
- Complete a self-assessment inventory in Career Exploration that will provide majors and careers that fit your interests, skills, values, and personality
- Speak with departments across campus about academic majors, minors, and concentrations and review their academic requirements
- Visualize and plan coursework for each semester
- Attend Career Development Center information sessions, workshops, and career fairs
- Explore related career titles, internships, and employers for Appalachian State majors
- Research career titles and industry information via Handshake and O*Net Online
- Identify part-time jobs on and off campus with Handshake
- Gather information on course requirements
- Join a club and/or organization related to your major and interests and attend Club Expo
- Identify local volunteer opportunities that are related to your major and interests
- Apply for Financial Aid and find out how to manage loan debt
- Continue to meet regularly with your general academic advisor if you are undeclared. If you declare a major, meet with your new departmental advisor
- Visit Career Exploration and take additional self-assessments and explore majors and careers if you are undeclared
- Schedule an appointment with your career coach via Handshake to develop your collegiate resume and discuss internship opportunities
- Utilize Handshake to research internships
- Create a LinkedIn profile and network with students, alumni, and professionals with similar professional interests
- Complete informational interviews and job shadowing with professionals in your field of interest
- Pursue summer volunteer, work, and internship opportunities
- Attend Career Development Center career fairs and events to learn about different fields and apply for jobs and/or internships
- Explore student research opportunities once you declare your major
- Schedule an appointment with your career coach via Handshake to update/refine your resume and for internship application assistance
- Build and develop your professional portfolio via A-portfolio
- Utilize the internships page for resources in finding and applying for internships
- Seek research opportunities with the Office of Student Research
- Take on leadership roles within clubs and organizations and join regional or national professional organizations
- Attend Career Development Center workshops, events, and career fairs
- Determine if graduate or professional school would be beneficial to your long term goals
- Practice your elevator speech
- Develop professional networking skills and wardrobe
- Update your LinkedIn profile to enhance your professional image and connect with employers, colleagues, campus/community leaders, and mentors
- Apply for Financial Aid and track your current total student loan debt
- Schedule an appointment with your career coach via Handshake to discuss your post-graduation plans
- Update your resume to include professional organizations, internship, volunteer, leadership, and work experiences
- Complete a practice interview through Big Interview or in person with employers and/or career coaches
- Attend Career Development Center information sessions, workshops, and career fairs
- Research company and organization information for your field via Handshake and O*Net Online
- Attend an Appalachian State, regional, or national professional organization workshop and/or conference
- Present and/or publish student research
- Utilize Handshake to sign up for on-campus interviews, search for jobs, and learn about employers
- Follow up with employers/interviewers and always send a thank you letter for their time and consideration
- Identify a list of references or professional contacts
- Take a graduate school admissions tests, write a personal statement, and complete applications (if applicable)
- Complete Financial Awareness Counseling and Exit Counseling
For Transfer Students
- Meet regularly with your academic advisor
- Speak with departments across campus about academic majors, minors, and concentrations and review their academic requirements
- Visualize and plan coursework for each semester
- Research and apply to on-campus jobs at Student Employment
- Explore related career titles, internships, and employers for Appalachian State majors at Career Exploration
- Research career titles and industry information via Handshake and O*Net Online
- Identify part-time jobs on and off campus with Handshake
- Explore alumni profiles
- Join a club and/or organization related to your major and interests
- Identify local volunteer opportunities that are related to your major and interests
- Schedule an appointment with your career coach via Handshake to discuss your career interests and goals
- Utilize Handshake and the internships page to research internships
- Create a LinkedIn profile and network with students, alumni and professionals with similar career interests
- Pursue summer volunteer, work, and internship opportunities
- Attend Career Development Center career fairs and events to learn about different fields and apply for jobs and/or internships
- Schedule an appointment with your career coach via Handshake to review your resume and discuss your job/internship search strategy and post-graduation plans
- Build and develop your professional portfolio via A-portfolio
- Utilize resources in finding and applying for internships and research opportunities
- Take on leadership roles within clubs and organizations and join regional or national professional organizations
- Determine if graduate or professional school would be beneficial to your long term goals
- Apply for jobs and post-graduate fellowships and programs during your senior year; be mindful of application deadlines
- Attend Career Development Center workshops, events, and career fairs
- Practice your elevator speech
- Develop professional networking skills and wardrobe
- Update your LinkedIn profile to enhance your professional image and connect with employers, colleagues, campus/community leaders, and mentors
- Complete a practice interview through Big Interview or in person with employers and/or career coaches
- Attend an Appalachian State, regional, or national professional organization workshop and/or conference
- Engage in student research
- Utilize Handshake to sign up for on-campus interviews, search for jobs, and learn about employers
- Follow up with employers/interviewers and always send a thank you letter for their time and consideration
- Identify a list of references or professional contacts
- Take a graduate school admissions tests, write a personal statement, and complete applications (if applicable)