Western Oregon University Career Guide - 2025 - Flipbook - Page 4
Four Year Career Action Plan
There are certain steps that you, as a college student, can and should take to help you explore various career options and be career
ready upon graduation. Just like a final exam, your job/internship search or program selection is not something you should ‘cram’
for at the last minute. It takes time, reflection, and different experiences that will help you define your own professional pathway.
Start exploring as early as your first year – be curious, talk to people, and try things. We are confident that you will be much more
prepared to find a career that suits your values, interests, and goals.
Year One: Awareness, Discover & Explore Get to Know Yourself and Settle in at WOU
☐ Explore the Center for Professional Pathways (CPP) and see what we have to offer
☐ Complete your Handshake account – WOU’s hub for jobs, internships, networking and career-related
events – access from your Portal
☐ Participate in a community service or volunteering activity and get actively involved on campus
☐ Try the career exploration resources on the CPP website: www.wou.edu/professional-pathways/
☐ Take a wide variety of classes to broaden your exposure to potential interests and careers
Year Two: Explore, Research and Prototype Options
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Meet with CPP staff to discuss your career ideas and drafts
Actively explore and research career fields of interest by talking to people, attending events and job shadowing
Begin to build your personal network and keep track of names and contact information of individuals you meet
Join a campus club or organization in an area of professional interest and attend meetings regularly
Pursue experience – part-time job, internship, or research position within your field of interest
Attend career fairs, networking events and career related presentations – listed on the CPP Calendar of Events
Year Three: Experience, Evaluate & Formulate Goals
for Career or Graduate School
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Meet with CPP staff to formulate job, internship or graduate school search timelines
Complete a practice/mock interview with a CPP staff member to receive immediate feedback
Research graduate or professional schools
Develop relationships with professors and department heads in your major
Complete an internship, and participate in research or volunteering opportunities
Consider running for office or pursuing leadership in a student organization
Attend both on-campus and off-campus career fairs and other networking and career information events
Continue to build your personal and professional network and keep track of your contacts
Year Four and Beyond: Plan Transitions, Apply & Achieve
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Meet with CPP staff to design your job search strategy or finalize graduate school plans
Consider plans A, B, C and D – have goals, but stay flexible
Research companies/organizations and the career opportunities they have to offer
Join a professional organization
Ask faculty, with whom you have relationship, for references
Attend both on-campus and off-campus career fairs and other networking and career information events
Create a complete LinkedIn profile and actively connect with professionals, classmates and professors you know
