Career Services

Career Planning Process

The Career Planning Process encourages individuals to explore and gather information that enables them to discover their interests, gain competencies, make decisions, set goals and initiate the job search. Each individual varies in their progress through each of these stages for many reasons. Some advance rapidly through each or all of the stages while others progress more slowly. Individuals may repeat all or parts of the career development process at various points throughout their lives as values, interests, abilities and life circumstances change.


Each of the following phases explores the Career Planning Process:

Phase I:  Discover - Self-Assessment
Self-Assessment involves gathering information about yourself to assist in making a decision about a career or vocation. You should develop an understanding of self including values, interests, aptitudes, abilities, personal traits and desired life style, and become aware of the interrelationship between self and occupational choice.

A sample of links to help you discover.  For more helpful links choose Discover from above.

Identify skills, interests, values, skills, and special gifts.            

In depth description of MBTI personality types                         

Become familiar with career resources.                                      

Explore extracurricular activities.                                 

Volunteer in the community and on campus.                                                


Phase II:  Exploration - Academic/Career Options
Exploration allows individuals to investigate career and graduate school options in greater depth, narrow a general occupational direction into a specific one through an informed decision making process, and declare a major. 


Phase III:  Prepare - Relevant/Practical Experience

In Phase III individuals evaluate occupational choices and gain practical experience through internships, cooperative education, relevant summer employment, volunteer work and campus activities. In addition, more specific decisions about occupational and graduate school choices are made. 


Phase IV:  Initiate - Job Search/Graduate School Preparation

An initial occupational choice which will be meaningful to you is made in Phase IV. Individuals prepare for and begin conducting a job search, or apply to graduate or professional schools.

Last Updated: 11/18/11