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To prepare for your career you need to set goals and work hard to achieve them. Our career development model shows the three stages of career development that you'll go through to achieve your goals. 

Just because there are three stages, doesn't mean you'll go through one each year. It might take a while to figure out the right major or you might know exactly what you want to do and start looking for internships immediately. Everyone goes through these stages at their own rate, we recommend that you meet with a career specialist to establish your goals and figure out your next steps. Students and recent alumni can set up an appointment with a career counselor through Handshake.

Explore

Develop self-awareness about your interests, skills, values, abilities, and personality. Take a vocational assessment and meet with a career specialist to examine who you are.

Understand your career options and the world of work, including possible job titles, companies, and industries. We recommend learning about careers through informational interviews with alumni in the field and researching on O*Net.

Once you've identified careers that match who you are, pick a major that will prepare you for that industry. Meet with a career specialist and your academic advisor to discuss what you've learned about yourself and career options before declaring a major.

Experience

Narrow down career options that closely fit your skills and values. Engage in experiences that strategically build your skills, allow you a sense of the right fit, and prepare you for your future while building your resume and professional connections, including:

  • Internships
  • Part-time jobs
  • Volunteering
  • Job shadowing
  • Informational interviews
  • Networking
  • Other experiential learning opportunities.

We can help you search jobs and internships, develop a resume and cover letter, and prepare you for interviews.

Execute

Successfully transition into a career or grad. school. Start looking 12 months before graduation as some employers make job offers by the fall and grad. school applications are due well in advance.

Work with a career specialist to learn effective job search strategies, network connections, job postings, write an effective resume and cover letter, perfect your interviewing skills, understand salary offers and negotiations, and talk about a smooth transition into life after Bethel.

We can help you decide if graduate school is a good option, searching for a program that fits, and help prepare you for grad school exams, application and writing samples.