It's never too early to begin planning and training for your career.
Five Career Planning Steps
1. Assess Yourself
- What interests and skills have you developed?
- What do you like best: working with people, things, or ideas and information?
- What subjects really interest you?
2. Explore Possibilities:
- Read about various career possibilities of interest to you.
- Get experience: part time work, volunteering, co-op education.
- Explore options through apprenticeships, mentoring, and career days.
3. Inform Yourself
- What are the qualifications needed?
- What are the projected needs for this type of position in the future?
- What are the working conditions: working alone, with others, indoors, outdoors, etc.
- What are the work place laws you need to know about?
4. Prepare Yourself:
- Have your resume and cover letter ready and available.
- Make up a job hunting plan including goals, contacts, and schedules.
- Find out information about the company.
5. Present Yourself:
- Make sure that your resume is articulate and professional.
- Make sure that your appearance is professional, well groomed, and presentable.
- Career Planning Materials
- The Office of Career Development has many career planning materials that you can come by and take with you.
Cooperative Education
Cooperative Education (Co-op) is a unique educational program that combines academic instruction with a supervised career-related work experience. A co-op student will:
- Receive a practical education.
- Receive a competitive salary.
- Contribute to the employer's productive work effort.
The Cooperative Education Program at Claflin University allows a student who has completed 45 semester hours to alternate a semester of paid employment with a company related to the student's major field with a similar period of study until the senior year. The student must complete a minimum of two work periods. This enables the student to integrate classroom work with practical on-the-job experience while studying for their undergraduate degree.