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ABOUTACADEMICSADMISSIONSSTUDENT LIFEATHLETICSALUMNAERIDINGNEWSGIVING 
 

The Four Year Plan

The comprehensive program of career planning and placement at Sweet Briar, available to all students and alumnae, is based on the premise that career planning for women studying liberal arts and sciences is a highly individual and life-long process. Career Services staff help you formulate your plans for future study, careers, or both.

A four-year plan introduces you to the concept of career services. First-year students and sophomores engage in a self-assessment and exploration process. Juniors and seniors focus on gaining experience and planning for life after college. Sweet Briar's career planning program is designed to help you identify and attain your professional goals at each level of your life and career.

First Year - Foundation

Academic Goals

  • Talk with peers and faculty in academic and co-curricular areas of interest.
  • Identify skills, values, and interests developed through academic courses and co-curricular activities (high school to Sweet Briar)
  • Research majors/minors.


Career Goals and Self Assessment

  • Complete the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory.
  • Identify a summer job or internship.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values from work/volunteer history.
  • Begin creating a co-curricular web portfolio.


Personal/Social Goals

  • Join student organizations.
  • Volunteer in the community.
  • Participate in athletics or other physical fitness programs.
  • Develop new or continue extracurricular activities.
  • Develop a personal support group.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values through personal/social activities.

Second Year - Involvement

Academic Goals

  • Decide on majors/minors.
  • Talk with faculty and upper-class students in major.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values developed in academic courses.


Career Goals and Self Assessment

  • Explore and research career fields.
  • Attend Career Management Series programs.
  • Conduct informational interviews.
  • Explore internship/externship possibilities for your career field.
  • Pursue summer job(s) in your field of interest.
  • CREATE RESUME!
  • Identify skills, interests, and values (compare skills needed in careers with current skills).


Personal/Social Goals

  • Participate in/lead student organizations.
  • Participate in career related organizations.
  • Join student affiliation of professional organizations.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values developed through personal/social activities.

 

Third Year - Preparation

Academic Goals

  • Consider/research minors.
  • Consider/research graduate school.
  • Check with registrar about graduation requirements/status.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values developed through academic courses.


Career Goals and Self Assessment

  • Attend Field/Major Specific Career Events.
  • Attend Career Management Series programs.
  • Attend graduate school seminars/programs.
  • Attend any alumnae networking events.
  • Complete an internship in your career field and/or pursue a summer job in your field.
  • Update resume.
  • Develop a mentor relationship with professionals in your chosen field.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values developed through internships/summer jobs/other employment.


Personal/Social Goals

  • Assume leadership position(s).
  • Continue or begin student membership in professional organizations.
  • Identify skills, interests, and values developed through leadership activities.

 

Fourth Year - Implementation

Academic Goals

  • Prepare for graduation.
  • Summarize skills developed through academic courses, including Senior Seminar.


Career Goals and Self Assessment

  • Participate in Field/Major Specific Career Events.
  • Prepare applications for graduate school.
  • Schedule mock interviews with Career Services as needed.
  • Attend graduate school fairs/forums.
  • Finalize credentials (e.g., resume, cover letter, essay, recommendations, goal statement).
  • Develop a list of contacts/potential employers.
  • Make use of all Career Services job search/graduate school services and resources.


Personal/Social Goals

  • Continue involvement in leadership positions, professional organizations, etc.
  • Attend Career Management Series program on transferring from college to the workplace.
  • Discuss plans with family, friends, and significant others.