Explore

Explore Steps

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• STEP 1: Collect career information

  • Conduct library and Internet research on careers you have an interest in (use the links in the Career Tools (link to Career Tools) section of the site).

  • Talk to upper class students in various majors about their career plans.

  • Schedule "information interviews" with alumni or other contacts in career fields of interests. The CCP can help set up these interviews.

  • Arrange to job shadow someone in a job you are interested in.

  • Discuss career options with your advisor or career counselor related to your interests.

  • Use "choose your own topic" class assignments to explore career-related interests.

  • Register on Cardinal Careers (link to Cardinal Careers) to learn more about potential job and internship opportunities.

• STEP 2: Track your career progress

  • Meet with your advisor or career counselor to assess your experiences so far, identify areas for further exploration and make tentative plans for your second and third years.

  • Solidify your choice of major by integrating self assessment and career information and evaluating your personal goals and making a tentative decision.

  • Think about possible minors in areas that interest you or complement your major.

  • Explore the Five Cardinal Experiences off-campus options (study abroad, community service, off-campus internships) and make tentative plans for how they will fit in your schedule.

  • Continually update your career development portfolio (see DISCOVER).

• STEP 3: Cultivate career skills

  • Do a Skills Audit: Learn what skills are important in work you want to do and assess your strength in these areas. Discuss how to strengthen needed skills with your advisor or CCP.

  • Develop a first draft of a resume and have it critiqued at the CCP.

  • Develop a first draft of a cover letter to be used for internships or summer jobs and have it critiqued at the CCP.

  • Seek membership in student organizations that encourage you to improve your interpersonal relationship and communication skills.

  Attend CCP career programs.

• STEP 4: Become familiar with ways to gain career experience

  • Seek help in the CCP to locate a career-related part-time or summer job.

  • Attend the OFIC CareerFest job fair to gain information about internship opportunities.

  • Participate in community service projects in organizations of interest.

  • When you have chosen your major, become involved in departmental organizations and activities.

• STEP 5: Begin to develop a career network

  • Continue to talk to professors and advisors about career options.

  • Check with the CCP for names of Otterbein alums in the Cardinal Career Network who work in a career area of interest.

  • Get business cards (or names and contact information) of classroom speakers and follow up with information interviews.

  • Check to see if family or friends know people who work in fields you are interested in and ask to meet with them.