Career Readiness Tips & Suggested Action Checklists

Use these suggestions for choosing and affirming a career path, and preparing for your job search.

Self-Knowledge

• Start to think about what you are interested in learning, doing, and experiencing while at Miami University, to prepare you for your future career and other pursuits upon graduation.
• Make a tentative selection of a major field of study.
• Explore majors. Schedule an appointment with an advisor from Academic Advising, enroll in EDL 100 “Career Development for the College Student,” or meet with members of academic departments.
• Take FOCUS 2 or other career assessments to identify occupations that match your interests, skills, values, personality and potential majors. Check out FOCUS 2 Career, an online free tool for career decision making. Note: redhawks is the access code.
• Familiarize yourself with Career Services & Professional Development in 122 Rentschler Hall, MUH and 105 Johnston Hall, MUM. 
• Explore careers. Utilize career planning tools on this site.
• Seek career advice from faculty, staff, advisors, and friends. Learn how to meet and get to know faculty and staff. It’s never to early to begin networking.

Action Checklist

• I have considered what is important to me in my career and life.
• I recognize I am my own best resource in my career & life planning process, but I have identified resources to aid in my development.
• I have identified my strongest abilities and skills.
• I have identified the personal values that are important as I make a major and career decisions.
• I have identified my interests.
• I can articulate experiences and achievements that clarify a pattern of interests and abilities that are relevant to my major and career.

Knowledge of Employers and Careers

• Schedule an appointment with Career Services & Professional Development.
• Connect with the Center for Career Exploration & Success (Oxford) through Handshake.
• Explore the Regional and Oxford career websites for additional career resources and job information.
• Declare a major that is complimentary to your career field.
• Begin to work on your initial resume and cover letter. For assistance, visit Career Services & Professional Development at (MUH) 122 REN and (MUM) 105 JHN.
• Participate in volunteer activities, contact (MUM) Office of Community Engagement & Service, Verity Lodge, 513.727.3339 or (MUH) Center for Civic Engagement, Mosler Hall, 105, 513.785.3005.
• Join student organizations to help build communication, teamwork and critical thinking.
• Begin thinking about gaining professional experience. Plan on doing a co-op or internship. Visit: (MUH) 122 REN and (MUM) 105 JHN.
• Attend the Fall Career Fair (September) and Spring Internship & Career Expo (Spring ICE - February) on the Oxford Campus; and Job Fair on the Hamilton Campus (spring).
• Attend a workshop or information session about majors, careers, and service.
• Learn more about various occupations, including future trends, by searching the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
• Solicit ideas and feedback from advisors, counselors, mentors, faculty, administrators, parents, and former employers. These individuals can be good sources for identifying career options.
• Consider how friendships with fellow students through studying, projects, and extra-curricular activities/organizations can be influential in helping you to better define your career preferences.

Action Checklist

• I have decided on a career field and have declared a major that is complimentary.
• I have written an effective resume for gaining an internship or co-op.
• I have participated in internships, extracurricular, work, and volunteer activities that relate to my chosen career.
• I have started to develop a broad list of industries, job titles, and employers to research.
• I have begun to focus my career choice and I am researching this field using a variety of current career/employer information.
• I have identified employers, faculty, alumni, or others to interview who are relevant to my career field.
• I have conducted more than one informational interview in the career field I am considering.

Knowledge of Job Search Strategies

• Acknowledge your well-defined career objective, which focuses your job search on particular organizations and employers.
• Regularly explore the Regional and Oxford career websites for additional career resources and job information.
• Create/Edit a professional resume and cover letter. For assistance, visit Career Services & Professional Development at (MUH) 122 REN and (MUM) 105 JHN, or schedule an appointment with us.
• Develop good rapport with faculty, administrators, and supervisors for positive references.
• Contact Career Services & Professional Development staff for interview help and to learn more about conducting a job search. Conduct a mock interview utilizing the Optimal Resume site.
• Learn the importance of a thank you note, and how to write one effectively; as well as how to professionally follow-up after an interview.
• Create a professional and effective Elevator Pitch, an extremely effective tool that can be utilized at a Career Fair, in your cover letter, and during an interview.
• Continue to attend the Fall Career Fair (September) and Spring Internship & Career Expo (February) on the Oxford Campus; and Job Fair on the Hamilton Campus (spring).
• Satisfy all graduation requirements.
• NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!
• Create or expand your network. To learn more about the type of position(s) you are seeking, to keep abreast of current job/internship openings, and to gain introductions to people with the authority to make hiring decisions or further referrals.
• Create a LinkedIn professional profile. Social media is important in the networking process. Make sure your profile is professional.

Action Checklist

• I have taken advantage of the Career Services & Professional Development and / or Career Services, Oxford resources.
• I know where to search for jobs targeted to my specific field of interest.
• I have written an effective resume and cover letter and asked an expert for feedback.
• I have asked individuals to serve as professional references.
• I have prepared for job interviews and completed a mock interview.
• I have created a professional and effective Elevator Pitch.
• I know how to write a thank you letter.
• I know how to follow up after a job interview.
• I know how to network effectively.
• I have established a professional online presence through LinkedIn and other social media.

Consider adding your OWN Action Checklist items to create YOUR Career Plan