Personal and Professional Action Plan

From the Freshwoman Orientation Course through internships, workshops, and capstone courses, students will be guided by a map of essential activities, skills, and tasks that are complementary to their liberal arts training and needed for the workplace. The map becomes an individual Professional Development Plan for each student. The Office of Career Services and faculty mentors will discuss critical steps students must take each year. A summary of the major components of a typical Professional Development Plan follows:

Freshwoman Year: stage I: Development (FRESHWOMAN)

  • Complete Orientation Course
  • Take the OCS assessment to identify values, skills, and interests.
  • Meet with assigned faculty mentor
  • Meet with Office of Career Services
  • Develop an Optimal Resume account
  • Decide on a major & connect with career options in that major
  • Join the Freshwoman to Internship Employment Support Program

Sophomore Year: stage II: Awareness (SOPHOMORE)

  • Work with the Office of Career Services and Faculty Mentors to become involved in special events such as
  • Informational  interviews and job shadowing,
  • Develop goal statement, and resume
  • Continue to learn more about career options and skills required
  • Work with faculty to better understand workplace competencies covered in courses

Junior Year: stage III: implementation (JUNIOR)

  • Apply for an Internship
  • Complete the on-line course covering the seven competencies–
  • Discuss progress in the course with faculty mentor and the Office of Career Services
  • Expand career network
  • Begin to look at graduate school options
  • Prepare for and take the GRE or other test for graduate or professional school

Senior Year: stage IV: finalization (SENIOR)

  • Refine goal statements, resumes,
  • Finalize networking with employers
  • Complete applications for employment
  • Take a capstone course such as Senior Seminar in order to use workplace competencies learned over the four years and to complete other important activities such as the ePortfolio
  • Provide Alumnae Affairs with post baccalaureate contact information
  • Complete First Destination Survey