Student Yearly Career Planner

Climb higher, get hired! At Kean, we believe in equipping students and alumni alike with the skills they need to be successful in their career journey while empowering them to find an internship or job to launch their careers. While we don’t provide direct job or internship placements, our Career Services team is here to support you in identifying your career goals, developing career plans and securing opportunities that fulfill you.

Whether you may need help with Career Exploration, Career Planning, Career Readiness or Career Success, our Career Services team can help you take the next step in your #CougarCareerJourney. Schedule an appointment with your Career Advisor, attend our weekly drop-in hours across campus, visit us in CAS 201 or GATE 313, or email us at career@kean.edu to learn more.

Keep climbing higher! We’re with you every step of the way no matter what career path you may choose.

                                                               How to Navigate Your #CougarCareerJourney Year-by-Year

Freshman Year 

• Explore Interests: Take time to explore different career paths by attending workshops, career fairs, and informational interviews. Reviewing your Focus2Career results with your Career Advisor or accessing Forage’s job simulations through the Navigate 360 app can help too.
• Build Skills: Focus on developing soft skills like communication, teamwork, and leadership. Attend career workshops, join student organizations or volunteer. Learn more on CougarLink.
• Create a Resume: Start building a basic resume, even if it’s just with volunteer work, extracurriculars, or part-time jobs. Download your copy of the Kean Career Resource Guide to get started and then upload your new resume to VMock, the most advanced AI-driven career assistant, to make sure it's as optimized as it can be!
• Foster Relationships: Start connecting with professors, advisors, and peers who can offer guidance and support throughout your time at Kean.
• Engage on LinkedIn & Handshake: Set up a LinkedIn profile and start connecting with peers, professors, and professionals in your fields of interest. Activate your Handshake account.
• Seek Advisement: Start developing your long-term career plan by meeting with your Career Advisor. Learn more about our Career Advising team.

Sophomore Year

• Identify Internships: Activate your Handshake account and begin looking for future internship opportunities. Research companies and industries you’re interested in. 
  
• Attend Career and Networking Events: Participate in career fairs, networking events, panels and employer engagement sessions to start making industry contacts. Check out our latest events on CougarLink now.
• Refine Your Resume: Update your resume with any new experiences, and tailor it to specific industries or roles. Use your copy of the Kean Career Resource Guide for help making a draft and then make sure you upload your new resume to VMock, the most advanced AI-driven career assistant, to make sure it's as optimized as it can be.
• Develop Technical Skills: Take advantage of online courses like LinkedIn Learning to learn technical skills relevant to your field or enhance your career readiness. Access Forage’s job simulations through the Navigate 360 app.
• Conduct Informational Interviews: Reach out to professionals in your areas of interest to learn more about potential career paths and schedule a time to speak with them.

Junior Year 

• Secure Internships: Apply for internships related to your field on Handshake to gain valuable, hands-on experience and make connections in the industry.
• Tailor Your Resume and Cover Letter: Customize your resume and cover letter for specific job or internship applications. Use your copy of the Kean Career Resource Guide for help and make sure you check your resume in VMock, the most advanced AI-driven career assistant, to make sure it's as optimized as it can be.
• Network Strategically: Build stronger relationships with professors, career advisors, and alumni in your field. Use LinkedIn actively.
• Prepare for Interviews: Use VMock, the most advanced AI-driven career assistant, to participate in mock interviews and improve your interviewing skills so you're ready to discuss your experiences and skills. 
• Research Graduate Programs: If considering graduate school, start researching programs and entrance requirements.

Senior Year

• Apply for Full-Time Jobs: Start applying for jobs now if you plan to work after graduation. Use Handshake, job boards, your network and our Office for help.
• Polish Your Online Presence: Make sure your LinkedIn profile and any other professional social media accounts are up-to-date and reflect your qualifications.
• Attend Career Fairs: Actively participate in job fairs and recruitment events. Be prepared with a professional pitch and resume.
• Practice Interviewing: Continue refining your interviewing skills. Practice common questions and prepare for behavioral interviews. A great tool for this? Use VMock, the most advanced AI-driven career assistant.
• Prepare for Transition: Develop a plan for post-graduation, whether it’s entering the workforce, pursuing grad school, or other paths.

After graduation, some students may immediately enter the workforce and start their careers while others may elect to further their education instead. Additionally, it may take other students some time to find their first job or decide whether or not to pursue additional learning opportunities like graduate school or law school; and that's ok!

Need help figuring out what the next steps in your #CougarCareerJourney look like for you? Please schedule an appointment with your Career Advisor, attend our weekly drop-in hours across campus, visit us in CAS 201 or GATE 313, or email us at career@kean.edu. For alumni, please click here.