Four Year Plan

First Year - Inquiry

Create your profile on Handshake to find internships/jobs, register for events/workshops, and schedule appointments with your career advisor (ramapo.joinhandshake.com)
Schedule a meeting with your Career Advisor
Register for your first Pathways course (ramapo.edu/pathways)
Develop your first-year resume to apply to on-campus jobs (www.ramapo.edu/careercenter/first-year-resume/)
Get involved! There are more than 100 groups including cultural, academic, religious, recreational, entertainment, political, social, and special interest groups (https://www.ramapo.edu/clubs/)
Participate in events on campus (archway.ramapo.edu/home_login)
Attend the Spring Career and Internship Fair
Ask a faculty or staff member to mentor you

Sophomore Year - Exploration

Register for your second and third Pathways courses (ramapo.edu/pathways)
Update your resume and profile on Handshake
Attend career panels, workshops, and career fairs (ramapo.joinhandshake.com)
Explore service-learning and volunteer learning opportunities (ramapo.edu/ccec)
Investigate careers and specific jobs of interest using available resources
Update your career planning map
Connect with and learn about professionals in your prospective career through informational interviews and career programs
Participate in a job shadowing program or employer information session
Seek projects, E-boards, or opportunities to build leadership skills
Investigate international experiences such as study abroad or alternative spring break (ramapo.edu/study-abroad/ or ramapo.edu/ccec/alternative/)
Find a summer internship (ramapo.joinhandshake.com)
Meet with fellowships and scholarships advisor if you are thinking about graduate school (ramapo.edu/prestigious-fellowships-and-scholarships/)

Junior Year - Prototyping

Make a list of companies, agencies, or firms and research each to learn more about the culture, employment opportunities, and for people with whom you can connect
Make an appointment with your career advisor to target your resume and include industry/job-specific keywords
Update your resume and profile with internships and activities on Handshake
Clean up your social media, monitor your online identity, and ensure social networking settings are private
Practice your elevator pitch for use ad career fairs and in interviews
Join professional associations/organizations
Attend career panels, workshops, and career fairs (ramapo.joinhandshake.com)
Explore graduate and professional school programs, attend workshops, write personal statements, and take all required admission tests
Identify a mentor in your chosen field
Use Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed, and other job search sites to find your next internship
Prepare fellowship and scholarship applications
Attend career skills workshops offered throughout the year
Network, network, network!

Senior Year - Career Search

Contact professionals to ask for assistance and guidance in your search design and share your job search strategy with your Career Advisor
Secure references from faculty, staff, and employers who can speak specifically about your skills and abilities
Join and attend appropriate professional association
Familiarize yourself with RCNJ alumni networks
Consider obtaining professional certifications
Fine-tune your resume and post an updated version on Handshake
Google yourself, monitor, and clean up your online identity
Network – tell everyone you know you are looking for a job
Identify employment opportunities and familiarize yourself with employer websites
Update elevator pitch and ensure it contains “key-words”
Use Big Interview to practice commonly asked questions
Attend career fairs (internal and external) and career events
Participate in on-campus interviews (with employers)
Finalize and send graduate school applications by deadlines
Learn about the benefits of registering with a temporary employment agency

Ramapo College of New Jersey

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