1.) Where am I on the road to my career? Not sure? Check out the 4 Year Roadmap!
The roadmap provides you with suggestions about how to make the most of your four years here at St. Lawrence. Use the timetable as a guideline for making decisions about your future career and review it at least once a semester to make sure you are mapping everything out according to your plan. Every student has a unique set of career goals and considerations so your journey may be different than that of your friends or others that you know. Don’t be afraid to stop and ask for directions along the way. The Career Services office is available for any questions that you may have. Your destination is what you make of it; let’s make sure you are off on the right foot!
Remember, these are just guidelines. There is more than one way to get to any particular destination…and you never know what you could discover if you take the road less traveled or let yourself get lost for a while. Be open to exploring new things…you just want to make sure that you are getting there on time. Are you a lead-foot and already surpassed this years’ set of recommendations? GOOD FOR YOU! Are you dragging behind and allowing others to pass you by? PICK UP THE PACE and meet with a professional in Career Services to accelerate your progress!
2.) Am I fully aware of my interests, abilities, values and goals?
If YES, write them down, bring the list into Career Services and meet with an advisor to explore what major and career paths would be a good fit for you.
If NO, come in to the Career Services office to meet with an advisor who can help you discover your interests, abilities, values and goals and talk about taking a career assessment test. The Career Services office has a number of assessments that are simple and easy to take which can help you:
- Figure out the relationship between your strengths, weaknesses, interests, values, and goals and identify corresponding majors and careers you might be skilled at and/or enjoy
- Get ideas for careers that might be a good fit for you, some you may have already thought of, maybe some you had never thought of before
- Match your personality type with professionals already in the field that are happy and successful in their career choices
3.) Am I aware of all of the career possibilities for each major at St. Lawrence?
Learn more about each major; corresponding career areas, employers and job titles, the skills that are necessary for success, where you can get more information and how you can get involved now to be more marketable for the jobs you want in the future.
WHAT CAN I DO WITH A MAJOR IN…
For a list of all majors, minors, combined and interdisciplinary majors at SLU click HERE
4.) Where can I get more information to assist me in the career planning process?
Career Mentor Network: This network, a part of SAINTSLink, connects you to about 2,000 SLU alumni who volunteer to give career advice to current students at St. Lawrence. Feel free to get in contact with them and ask any questions you may have about what they do, the organization they work for, and how they got there. Not sure how to go about this? Come into career services and we can help you out. Click here for a PDF on SAINTSLink.
Spotlight on Careers: An introduction to more than 25 industries preferred by liberal arts students. This ever growing library of web links helps facilitate the important exploration stage of one’s search.
Shadow-a-Saint: This program, which takes place over winter and spring breaks, involves getting connected with one of over 125 alumni sponsors to shadow for a day in their place of employment. This is a great opportunity to get an inside look at a particular profession, and make valuable networking contacts. For a list of alumni sponsors apply online. Questions? Call x5906.
Internships: Internships are a great way to learn more about an industry that you might be interested in. They place you right in the drivers seat so you can experience the ins and outs of different kinds of jobs. For more information click here or meet one on one with a career advisor to discuss internship possibilities and how to apply.
Charting Your Career Path: This Sophomore class, offered by Career Services, is held once every semester. The class is free to interested sophomores but is limited to 15 students so you better sign up fast! Although it offers no credit, you will receive a free book, a free dinner each time it meets and great information to assist you in the career exploration process. This class meets once a week for six consecutive weeks. For more information call x5906.
Laurentians-In-Residence: This program is a panel of SLU alumni who come back to campus to discuss and answer questions about their career path and choices. There is one panel held every semester on varying topics. For information on this semester’s panel, check out our calendar or call x5906.
Career Resource Library: Flip through over 1,500 books on topics from accounting to zoology. Explore our “Great Jobs for … Majors” series, “Opportunities in … “ series and “Careers in …” series along with many other titles that can assist you with career and industry information. Located in the Career Services office.
Career Insider on-campus access: Download over 70 guides for FREE offering information on career industries, employers and career topics. Also, read career profiles and “a day in the life” editorials from professionals in the field.
The Occupational Outlook Handbook and O*NET: Describe what professionals do on the job, working conditions, required education and training, salary, and expected job outlooks for a wide variety of occupational titles.
NY CareerZone: Developed by the NY Department of Labor this website offers information on hundreds of careers and includes short videos for most of them offering information on what someone in that career would do and how to get there. This website also includes short self-assessments to help you figure out which career areas fit you best.
The Princeton Review has a career exploration website with "A Day In The Life Of..." descriptions of hundreds of occupations
University of Tennessee put together a great resource with tables including possible career areas, work environments and strategies for employment for a number of majors, including some that are not offered here at St. Lawrence.
Click here for more information on Choosing a Major.
