First Year
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Visit the Center for Career and Leadership Development (CCLD) Career Development Services to learn about the resources available to you (career coaching, workshops, part-time jobs, on-campus employment, internships, career-related events and more).
- Complete “My Next Move” to identify your interests and how they relate to your major and career and take FOCUS 2 self-assessment to explore career options.
- Unsure what to major in or what to do with your major check out What can I do with this major?
- Visit the Center for Major Exploration or attend the Majors Fair in the Spring to explore how your academic interests align with majors at ODU.
- Join at least one student organization that interests you to establish peer relationships and gain transferable skills.
- Activate your Handshake account. Activate your Handshake account to make an appointment with a career coach and gain access to jobs and career events.
- Draft a college resume. Need quick assistance? Stop by CDS for drop-in appointments (transition from High school to college resume)
- Engage in experiential learning opportunities. Consider research, volunteering, part-time work, micro-internships, or service learning.
- Visit your professor’s office hours to get a deeper understanding of class material, gain access to research opportunities, and gather valuable career advice.
- Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to help you achieve your education goals.
- Plan early for meaningful summer activities. Consider employer hosted freshman leadership programs, summer jobs, micro-internships, or conducting informational interviews with employers.
Second Year
- Schedule a career coaching session through Handshake to research careers that match your interests, skills, and abilities.
- Learn how to write a resume and cover letter in a career coaching session and upload your resume to Handshake.
- Officially declare your major to ensure timely graduation. Visit the Center for Major Exploration or attend the Majors Fair if you need support choosing a major.
- Participate in an internships, employment, or volunteer opportunities related to your career interests. Make an appointment with the Monarch Career and Internship Office to learn more about internship/work-based learning requirements and exploring options. (Reach out early)
- Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Internship and Career Fairs, information sessions/tables, etc. to learn more about employment opportunities, and networking with employers
- Participate in career and professional development workshops and events to assist in your professional development growth
- Create a LinkedIn profile, start building your professional network, and visit CDS for your professional headshot
- Connect with alumni through LinkedIn to ask professional questions about your future career through an informational interview.
- Explore Handshake for internships, jobs, on-campus opportunities to obtain worked-based experience in the world of work.
- Continue your participation in a student organization and take on a leadership role.
- Explore and participate in study abroad opportunities, LeADERS, research, micro-internships etc. (Research these opportunities early)
- Visit your professor’s office hours and schedule a meeting with your advisor.
- Conduct Informational Interviews to learn about career options
- Shadow a professional in your field of interest to experience the work firsthand
Third Year
- Identify skills and knowledge you have gained through your education and relate those to potential career opportunities. Visit the “What Can I Do with This Major?" website.
- Participate in summer internships, employment, or volunteer opportunities related to your career interests. Make an appointment with the Monarch Career and Internship Office to learn more about internship/work-based learning requirements and exploring options. (Reach out early)
- Update your resume in Handshake to include recent internship, volunteer, and job information.
- Schedule at least two mock interview sessions using Career Commons or scheduling through Handshake to improve your interview skills and gain more confidence
- Update your LinkedIn with information about your new experiences and visit CDS for your professional headshot
- Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Career Fairs, Co-Op & Internship Fair, etc.
- Conduct informational interviews or job shadow with alumni in your specific field of interest.
- Explore and participate in education abroad opportunities, LeADERS, research, micro-internships etc.
- Seek a leadership role in your student organization or employment.
- Plan when you want to take the GRE, LSAT, or GMAT tests to ensure you have enough time to study
- Complete the GRE, LSAT, or GMAT in preparation for graduate school (if applicable).
- Identify your professional references and begin to request your letters of recommendations.
- Visit your professor’s office hours and schedule a meeting with your advisor.
- Reflect on your experience so far and reassess any changes that need to be made for your personal career action plan
- Build and maintain your academic and professional relationships
- Identify 2-3 kinds of jobs/work you are interested in
Fourth Year
- For Job Seekers:
- Update your resume in Handshake and apply for relevant positions.
- Start researching companies for which you would like to work.
- Schedule a career coaching session to finalize your job seeking strategies.
- Participate in CDS career-related events, including the Career Fairs, employer information sessions, etc.
- Graduate School Applicants:
- Submit your graduate school application(s).
- Submit your letters of recommendation and test scores
- Schedule at least two mock interview sessions
- Continue to build your network on LinkedIn.
- Use Handshake to find 2- 5 full-time job descriptions that you would be interested in applying to and practice tailoring your documents to each position
- Attend a workshop or watch a LinkedIn Learning course on Salary Negotiation.
- Begin applying and interviewing for full-time positions in the fall semester (or) apply to graduate or professional schools.
- Join a professional association.
- Apply for graduation in your second to last semester through Leo Online
- Finalize your job search
- Reflect on your experiences and reassess any changes that need to be made for your personal career action plan
- Evaluate your personal network. Your network can support you during your job search
- Consider joining an ODU alumni club to continue to build your network
- Celebrate & reflect on your accomplishments and what is to come