Career Planning Checklist

The section that is most pertinent to you depends on your students' status:

• First-year
• Sophomore
• Junior
• Senior

• Familiarize yourself with the Career Services website and connect with us via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube and LinkedIn pages in order to stay up to date with our current events, tools, resources, and services.

• Inform your students that we offer 1:1 personalized career coaching in the areas of  Business and Communication; Health Care/STEM; Performing Arts, Media, and Entertainment; Education, Public and Human Services; Major and Career Exploration.

• Encourage your student to take our online self-assessments which will help them to understand their own unique personality characteristics, strengths, interests, values, and more.

• Promote your student’s involvement in campus activities, clubs, organizations, and jobs which match their interests. Check-out LakerLife, the hub for students involvement.

• Assist your student with establishing their online presence and ensuring their social networking pages are appropriate by referring them to our Digital Dirt Squad.

• Be open and willing to discuss ideas your student has regarding their current or potential major and career fields of interest.

• Assist your student as they further explore potential occupations and majors. Encourage them to set up a meeting with their academic advisor or a career coach to explore career paths. 

• Support your student as they gain valuable experiential knowledge through community service, part-time work, student clubs, and co-curricular activities that relate to their interests and skills.

• Brainstorm with your student professionals in their field of interest who can be contacted for informational interviews and/or shadowing. Don’t forget about CandidCareer videos, too! Here you will find an extensive library of informational videos, including SUNY Oswego alumni.

• Consider suggesting your student attend one of our Career Fairs in their Fall or Spring semester. This allows for them to get a taste of what to expect in the future and serves as a great way to gather information on potential careers and employers.

• Encourage your student to start thinking about or even seeking out potential internships for academic credit in their junior and/or senior year.

• Empower your student to start their LinkedIn profile and take a professional headshot using resources at Career Services. Remind your student to remain mindful of what they are posting and cognizant of any digital dirt they have lurking.

• Remind your student to regularly update their LinkedIn profile.

• Encourage your student to complete an internship for academic credit.

• Encourage your student to customize their résumé to positions they are interested in and then meet with the Compass Navigator staff in the Resource Center for a final critique.

• If your student is considering graduate school as an option, facilitate the start of the brainstorming and search process.

• Encourage your student’s continuance in meaningful co-curricular activities and support them in seeking out a leadership role within these groups if possible.

• Discuss positive networking strategies which will allow your student to build strong professional relationships with individuals who could potentially serve as a reference.

• Remind your student to attend our Fall and Spring Career and Graduate School Fairs.

• Speak to your student about solidifying career-related choices and goals.

• Encourage your student to update and enhance their LinkedIn profile to broaden their professional network.

• Have your student check out CandidCareer videos to increase their knowledge of networking techniques, interviewing skills, and how to financially succeed after graduation.

• Encourage your student to take part in mock and on-campus interviews through Career Services.

• Make sure your student has sought out the Resource Center for personalized 1:1 assistance to finalize their résumés and cover letters.

• Remind your student to attend our Fall and Spring Career and Graduate School Fairs, emphasizing networking with potential employers of interest.

• Remind your student to solidify their references and share their career aspirations with mentors and supervisors. 

• Listen, discuss, and support your student as they launch their career search process (remind them it is of benefit to start sooner than later!).