Career Planning and Student Employment

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Freshman Year
Sophomore Year
Junior Year
Senior Year

Four-Year Roadmap

This page is designed to provide you advice about what you should be doing now in terms of career planning to prepare for future success. Keep in mind that all students have varying degrees of motivation and skill levels. There are many roads that lead to success. Career Planning and Student Employment is here to facilitate that process.

 

FRESHMAN YEAR: Adjusting to College Life and Work

Freshman Advocacy Program (FAP) First-Year-Experience

PURPOSE

• The purpose of the Freshman Advocacy Program is to improve retention through mentoring CSU students inside and outside of the classroom. The program consist of two First-Year-Experience courses. In the fall, freshman students register for Freshman Seminar. In the spring, second semester students register for Career Planning.

PROGRAM GOALS

1. To improve freshman-to-sophomore retention to at least 80 percent by 2010.
• Assessment method: Review retention data annually.
2. To create a “seamless” freshman experience that begins on arrival in the Fall Semester and continues through the end of the Spring Semester
• Assessment method: Ninety (90) percent of freshmen will enroll in a 1-credit hour class during the Spring Semester that will focus on career development and life skills
3. Freshmen will establish a personal relationship with at least one faculty member, staff member or upperclassman during the freshman year.
• Assessment method: On an end-of-the-year survey, freshmen will report that they have developed a relationship with at least one faculty member, staff member or upperclassman.

PROGRAM OBJECTIVES

• To encourage students to make an informed and timely decision regarding an academic major and to explore related careers
• To help students become engaged members of the campus community by increasing students’ awareness of their own values and strengths
• To help students learn to apply higher-level thinking skills to academic and career decision-making
• To encourage all students to collaborate with the entire CSU community in order to enhance their own University experience
• To provide students with experiences that encourage career exploration, career readiness, and career application through Applied Learning Experiences

FALL SEMESTER

Fall Freshman Seminar is a course that provides a strong foundation for first-year students-through close faculty interaction and involvement with the university community-that helps our first-year students achieve academic and personal success.

• 23 Sections based on students’ choice of major
• All sections taught by faculty in the major department
• Each section will have a Staff Liaison and a Peer Leader assigned
• Freshman Seminar professor serves as the academic advisor to the students in that section for the entire freshman year
• 23 Faculty members who will also serve as their students’ academic advisor for the entire freshman year
• 23 Staff Liaisons who will work with the faculty members to ensure that students do what is necessary to succeed academically and socially
• 23 Peer Leaders (upperclassmen) who will develop out-of-class activities designed to facilitate the development of interpersonal relationships

SPRING SEMESTER

Spring Career Planning Seminar is a course that provides a strong foundation and introduction to professional development and the new challenges that college students will face in the 21st Century. Students are introduced to assessments, self-marking concepts, job market research, salary negotiations, interviewing techniques, and student portfolios.

• 23 Professional Staff serve as instructors
• 23 Staff Liaisons from the Fall Semester)
• 23 Peer Leaders from the Fall Semester)

Things To Do In Fall of Your Freshman Year:

• Get to know the university & surrounding community
• Meet with your faculty advisor regularly.
• Register for Freshman Seminar in Fall
• Register for Career Planning in Spring
• Attend CPSE Fall Career Fairs
• Attend CPSE Spring Career Fairs
• Attend the Job Resource Conference in Spring
• Attend MUSC Health Professional Night in Spring
• Complete an assessment through Career Planning and Student Employment
• Explore majors with a career counselor
• Discuss a career options with a career counselor
• Get involved in campus organizations
• Visit CPSE to develop a resume and cover letter that will market your career-related qualifications
• Get your resume critiqued by a career cons posting a draft on the BucCareer Network at www.charlestonsouthern.edu/careers

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SOPHOMORE YEAR: Selecting a Major and Identify Career Goals

Things To Do In Fall of Your Sophomore Year:

• Declare a major prior to spring registration
• Meet with your faculty advisor regularly
• Attend CPSE Fall Career Fairs
• Attend CPSE Spring Career Fairs
• Attend CPSE Resume and Interview Workshops
• Schedule a Video Mock Interview
• Register for the Kaplan Free Practice Test
• Attend the Job Resource Conference in Spring
• Attend MUSC Health Professional Night in Spring
• Take a personality or skills assessments if needed
• Develop teamwork/leadership skills by becoming involved in university organizations
• Consider graduate education for the future
• Visit CPSE for assistance with summer internships

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JUNIOR YEAR: Translating Experiences into Career Goals

• Registration for APPLE Program (Applied Learning Experience) GNED 398
• Register for the “Career Planning Seminar” course
• Develop a list of career options and conduct an Informational Interview with Several business professionals
• Visit Career Planning & Student Employment to discuss career plans
• Attend CPSE Spring Job Resource Conferences
• Explore graduate and professional school options
• Register for the Kaplan Free Practice Test
• Conduct informational interviews with your employer network
• Spend your summer gaining experience in your career interest area
• Attend CPSE Fall and Spring Career Fairs
• Attend the Job Resource Conference in Spring
• Attend MUSC Health Professional Night in Spring
• Schedule a Video Mock Interview

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SENIOR YEAR EXPERIENCE: Implementing Your Goals

Things To Do In Fall of Your Senior Year:

• Register for the APPLE Program (Applied Learning Experience) GNED 398 /399 APPLE
• Get a degree check from the Registrar’s Office
• Organize a self-directed job search
• Meet regularly with a career counselor to evaluate you job search strategies
• Continue contacting individuals on your networking list.
• Schedule a Video Mock Interview
• Attend Fall Career Fair
• Attend Spring Career Fair
• Attend CPSE Spring Job Resource Conferences
• Explore graduate and professional school options
• Attend CPSE Resume and Interview Workshops
• Register for the Kaplan Free Practice Test
• Confirm professional references
• Complete applications and take entrance exams if attending graduate school
• Follow-up on job leads and send thank you letters after interviews
• Register for Career Planning Class
• Complete your professional portfolio

Contact us: cpse@csuniv.edu or 843-863-8019

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