Career Handbook

Planning Your Career Future

You have selected the Carlson School of Management and some of you have selected a major such as accounting, marketing, or human resources. If you have chosen a major, you should start researching that area by examining industries, companies, career paths, and job-specific information. Resources include your network, faculty, alumni, libraries, websites, and the Business Career Center.

In this handbook, you will learn about:

If you haven't settled on your major, self-assessment will be a key factor in helping you make the best choice(s). You should examine your skills, abilities, likes, and dislikes to determine whether there is a "fit" for you with a particular career path. You will be most successful if there is a "fit" between you, your job, and your organization.

Your assessment will help you evaluate which career options are feasible now and what you will need to do to open up additional options. If you are lacking the skills and knowledge for an area of interest, you will need to devise a way to develop those abilities (e.g., an internship, part-time job, involvement in organizations, etc.).

Once you've assessed your abilities and interests, it is time to start researching career paths, industries, and the outlook for particular careers. You will also need to determine the skills and qualifications that specific careers require and whether your current skills and abilities are sufficient.

After arriving at some career possibilities, research job options in detail. You should attempt to know as much as possible about your potential career. This will pay off in the short-term during job interviews and in the long-term with career satisfaction.

The next phase will likely be an internship or permanent job search. You will plan how to conduct that search. Many students combine on-campus interviewing through the Business Career Center, with an "outside" search. For some students, however, the on-campus interviewing is not as beneficial or relevant and the whole search is done "outside."

Developing a personal timeline can smooth the process for you. Use the Business Career Center Timeline and the Decision-Making Timeline on the following pages to help you plan your job search calendar. Opening up opportunities often depends upon "doing the right thing at the right time!"

"I learned that the only way you are going to get anywhere in life is to work hard at it. Whether you're a musician, a writer, an athlete or a businessperson, there is no getting around it. If you do, you'll win--if you don't, you won't."

-Bruce Jenner