10 Steps to Career Success

Your job search may require at least six months and a significant commitment of time and energy. You may decide to conduct your entire job search during your final year of school; however, the most effective job searches are those developed over the course of your college career. Take steps now to guarantee your career success.

1. Learn More About Yourself:
   Identify your accomplishments, values, goals, strengths, and weaknesses. Recognize the qualities and skills that employers will seek.
2. Start a Career Folder
   Include articles, clippings, notes, suggestions from others, goals, etc.
3. Identify Your Career Resources
   The Career Services office is located in the Human Sciences Building, room 172, where career counselors are available as resources. You can visit the TTU Career Center for additional resources.
4. Develop Communication Skills
   Take advantage of opportunities to develop your written and oral communication skills both in class and through extracurricular activities. Joining student organizations, holding leadership roles, and developing your public speaking skills through student organizations are all practical ways to develop these skills.
5. Develop Leadership & Teamwork Skills
   Join professional organizations and take an active role in leading extracurricular or volunteer activities. Be a mentor.
6. Build Your Professional Network
   Professors, alumni, mentors, classmates, Career Fair contacts, speakers at seminars, and people you meet along the way can all become a part of your network. Keep records of all contacts and stay in touch with people in your network. Always look for additional opportunities to get to know people in your field of study.
7. Attend Career Fairs
   Introduce yourself to the recruiters, collect business cards and company literature; furthermore, have a business card of your own to exchange with the recruiters.
8. Get Job Experience Before You Graduate
   Make a conscious effort to obtain meaningful experiences by finding internships, co-ops, summer jobs, part-time jobs, and volunteer work to prepare you for life after college. Any experience can be valuable; however, experience related to your major is a better indicator of early success.
9. Prepare for the Job Search Now
   Write your résumé and have it critiqued by your career counselors. Remember to update it continuously. Develop a plan of how you will gain experience in areas needing growth. Assemble a list of references. Utilize the resources available through Career Services. Begin interviewing well ahead of graduation – the practice will pay off when the right opportunity comes along.
10. Believe in Yourself
    Realize that you are a valuable asset to any organization. Don’t underestimate your knowledge and talents by overestimating those of someone else.