Career Exploration

Freshman Year: EXPLORE

Gather information about yourself to help make decisions about careers and direction.

1. Meet with your Career Coach to begin your college-level résumé.
2. Complete TypeFocus to determine your strengths, interests, and values
3. Create your profile in Handshake and upload your résumé.
4. Begin to explore careers associated with major and/or interests. Use resources like What Can I Do With This Major, ONET, and the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
5. Join and participate in at least one activity (club/organization/athletic team/community service)
6. Make at least one connection and ask questions (Faculty Advisor/member, University Advisor, Career Advisor, RA/PA, etc.)

Sophomore Year: EDUCATE

Gather information about the world of work by conducting research on careers, industries, and organizations. 

1. Meet with your Career Coach to explore potential industries, internships, and careers.
2. Participate in Sophomore Career Connections or connect with an upperclassman/mentor to learn about academics and plans.
3. Attend a professional skills workshop, career fair, or company information session to learn about future options.
4. Prepare for the summer job search by researching different internships/experiential opportunities, updating your résumé, creating a cover letter, and applying for summer internships.
5. Take a more active role in co-curricular activity.
6. Create a LinkedIn Profile and have it reviewed by the Delbridge Career Center.

Junior Year: APPLY

Take advantage of all that Western New England University has to offer in the classroom through research and projects as well as, outside through internships, and applied experience.

1. Meet with your Career Coach to explore specific careers, industries, and companies through Handshake. Conduct an informational interview with alumni or employer partner.
2. Research graduate/professional schools, degrees, and timelines.
3. Participate in career workshops and practice your interview skills through a mock interview.
4. Update your professional LinkedIn profile and have it reviewed by the Delbridge Career Center.
5. Attend a Career and Internship Fair, employer information session, or career panel.
6. Apply for and secure an internship related to your field or one that will provide you the building blocks.

Senior Year: IMPLEMENT

This is the beginning of your next step, applying what you have learned in and out of the classroom and putting your career strategy into place.

1. Meet with your Career Coach to strategize your jobs and/or graduate program applications.
2. Practice your interviewing skills through an in-person mock interview or through InterviewStream.
3. Reconnect with your networking contacts and continue to make new connections.
4. Transition into your next destination and share with the University your next steps through the Graduating Class Update.

The Career Center will help you on every step of your career journey. Whether you aren’t sure what academic major to pursue, or what shape you want your career to take, your Career Coach will help you explore your options and determine what path will best suit your goals and abilities.

Helpful Resources:

• TypeFocus Personality, Interests, and Values Assessment: This will help you identify how your own personal traits and strengths can best complement certain career paths. Contact careercenter@wne.edu to receive the access code.
• What Can I Do With This Major?: This resource will help you connect majors to careers. Learn about typical career areas and types of employers as well as strategies to make you marketable.
• O*Net: Detailed descriptions of the world of work. Type in a job title under Occupation Quick Search and learn the knowledge, skills, abilities, content, and activities of that position. Also included are professional associations, wage and employment trends, and related occupations.
• Occupational Outlook Handbook: Sponsored by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, search occupations by groups, education, pay, training, growth rate, or title. Gain detailed information on all aspects of the position or industry to help guide your decision making. 
• Candid Career: View career videos of industry professionals sharing their job descriptions, backgrounds, and helpful advice to prepare for the position or industry.

Contact the Delbridge Career Center for access to our Career and Major Guides.

Whether you are pursuing a job or internship, or simply want to have your materials ready for future opportunities, the Career Center can help you craft professional and focused résumés and cover letters. When you make an appointment for your résumé, bring a list of work experience and extracurricular activities as well as a description of the tasks performed at each area of employment, and your Career Advisor will show you how to turn that list into a professional and engaging document.

• Resume Guide
• Cover Letter Guide
• Professional Reference List

Western New England University has a network of more than 1,000 internship sites. Whether you would like to work with an organization in the Springfield area during the academic year, or intern at a hometown company, the Career Center will guide you through the application and interview process. Once you secure an internship, you will continue to work with the Career Center to complete required paperwork to receive academic credit for the experience.

• Academic Internship Guidelines 
• Log in to Handshake to view internships for credit and not credit.
• Make an appointment to discuss options with your Career Coach.

Internship Site Highlights

• College of Arts and Sciences
• College of Business
• College of Engineering

When you reach your senior year and start looking for a post-graduation job, the Career Center will demonstrate job search techniques and resources, and will also help you sharpen your letter and résumé, hold mock interviews, discuss professional attire, and share other job search resources.

Make sure you connect with the:

• Kevin S. and Sandra E. Delbridge Career Center LinkedIn Page
• Western New England University Alumni LinkedIn Page

Did you land your first job or acceptance to graduate school? Email careercenter@wne.edu with the details.

Furthering your education in graduate school is a valuable investment in your career. The Career Center can provide help in all areas of graduate admissions from writing personal statements, researching graduate programs, and preparing for standardized testing and admission requirements. The process for preparing for graduate school should start before senior year.