Welcome to Stockton!  As a new student everything seems so fast but in no time at all you will be looking at college graduation.  There are many things you can begin now to set yourself up for career success.  The time to begin is NOW.  Career Education & Development stands ready to help you.  Visit our Appointment Scheduling Page to make an appointment with a career advisor or stop by our office today -- Campus Center, Suite 104.

Here are learning activities that you can engage in to begin to identify your career interests and options:

• Review the resources and suggestions on the Choosing Majors and Careers page.
• Talk to your preceptor about choosing a major and make an appointment with a career advisor in Career Education & Development to discuss your career interests.
• Take a self assessment to help narrow the field and identify work-related values, abilities and interests.
• Know what majors and minors are available at Stockton and what you can do with a major in....
• Login to Handshake so you can view all job and internship listings posted for Stockton students and access additional career resources.
• Join a Stockton career community then login to Handshake to select a community that best fits with your interests.
• Join clubs and activities on-campus.  This is especially helpful if a club relates to a specific occupation you may want to pursue.
• Learn what skills and abilities you must possess when you graduate from college to be successful.  All employers want certain skills from college graduates.  Find out what skills you need, no matter what the major.
• The time is NOW.  Career Education & Development stands ready to help you.  Come into our office (Campus Center, Suite 104) or visit our Appointment Scheduling Page to make an appointment with a career advisor.

During your second year of college you should be focused on declaring your major and exploring career options that fit with your interests, values, abilities and personality.

Here are learning activities that you can participate in that will serve you well as you develop your career:

• Cement your major and (possibly) a minor.
• Explore and research careers that might relate to your chosen major.
• Join a Stockton career community then login to Handshake to select a community that best fits with your interests.
• Talk to your preceptor about your major selection or make an appointment with a career advisor in Career Education & Development to formulate a career plan.
• Conduct informational interviews with employers in your fields of interest and identify an alumni mentor(s).
• Explore internship options via our Internship page and through your preceptor.
• Join clubs and activities on-campus.  This is especially helpful if a club relates to a specific occupation you want to pursue.
• Seek out volunteer work or consider engaging in a service-learning project or class.  It is a great way to gain career-related experience.
• Think about studying abroad in the next few semesters.  Only 3% of American students study abroad and doing so will really help you stand out from the crowd.
• Learn what skills and abilities you must possess when you graduate from college to be successful.  All employers want these from their employees, no matter what the major. 
• The time is NOW.  Career Education & Development stands ready to help you.  Come into our office (Campus Center, Suite 104) or visit our Appointment Scheduling Page to make an appointment with a career advisor.

Junior year is the time to seek out experience in your field/s of interest and confirm your career choice.

Here are learning activities to position yourself for your next career steps:

• Draft or update your resume.  Make an appointment to have it reviewed by a career advisor by visting our Appointment Scheduling Page.  You will need a resume to get an internship!
• If you haven't done so already, plan on securing an internship during this period.
• Join a Stockton career community and participate in a program specific to that community.
• Develop contacts through networking, career fairs and informational interviews.
• Select electives that will increase your marketability.
• Expand your involvement in clubs and activities on-campus.  Now is the time to think about rising to a leadership position.
• Seek out volunteer work or consider engaging in a service-learning project or class.  It is a great way to gain career-related experience.
• Planning on going to graduate school?  Become involved in undergraduate research to increase your chances of acceptance to really good schools.  Meet with a career advisor in Career Education & Development to plan out your timeline and process for applying.
• Secure a summer job that "counts," one that relates to your future career.  For a summer job think Nationwide!
• Think about studying abroad in the next few semesters.  A great way to make yourself stand out!  Think about interning abroad or volunteering overseas as well.
• Learn what skills and abilities you must possess when you graduate from college to be successful.  All employers want these from their employees, no matter what the major.  Do you have them?  How can you show it on your resume?
• The time is NOW.  Career Education & Development stands ready to help you.  Come into our office (Campus Center, Suite 104) or visit our Appointment Scheduling Page to make an appointment with a career advisor.

Senior year is the time to implement your career plan fully.

Here are learning activities that you must do as a senior to positively position yourself for launching your career:

• Polish your resume.  Make an appointment with a career advisor by visting our Appointment Scheduling Page to have your resume reviewed.  Review the skills and abilities employers covet.  Reflect those skills and abilities in your resume.
• If you haven't done so already, join a Stockton career community and participate in a program specific to that community.
• If you have not done so, secure an internship.
• Begin your job search.  It takes the average college graduate about 4-6 months to find a job.  Review our Your Job Search page for resources and strategy ideas.
• Collect references for jobs or graduate school applications.  Review our References and Recommendationshandout for tips on how to best manage your references.
• Attend Career Fairs on-campus to hunt for jobs and network.
• Use the StocktonWorks system as one tool for finding jobs.
• Review our Effective Interviewing handout.  Schedule an appointment with a counselor in Career Education & Development for a mock interview to gain experience in job interviewing.
• Network with Stockton alumni who have volunteered to be a career resource for you by using the Alumni Career Network.
• Planning on going to graduate school?  Take the required graduate school entrance test.  By December, select and apply to your chosen graduate schools.
• Not sure what to do?  Consider the Gap Year, a year after graduation where you do some of those things you meant to do - like travel, study abroad or an internship - but never got around to OR do a Gap Year because you're not sure what you want to do yet.
• The time is NOW.  Career Education & Development stands ready to help you.  Come into our office (Campus Center, Suite 104) or visit our Appointment Scheduling Page to make an appointment with a career advisor.