5-Step Career Development Model
The Career Coaching team will work closely with you using our comprehensive 5-step Career Development model. This model provides you and your coach with a framework for assessing yourself, exploring career paths, and setting you up for success in both academic and co-curricular opportunities to ultimately develop lifelong career management skills. Career decision making is a process and we are here to support you every step of the way from your first day on campus, through graduation and beyond.
First-Years | STEP 1: ASSESSMENT
Get to know yourself
Begin to identify your values, interests, skills, personality traits and career satisfiers in order to identify the ingredients of a good career “fit”:
- Review the First-Year Career Booklet
- Take self and personality assessments (Clifton Strengths Finder and CEC Assessments)
- Meet with a career coach to review assessments and early career planning
- Begin to identify career fields and/or academic programs that fit your interests and abilities
- Create a draft resume
- Complete your Handshake profile
Sophomores | STEP 2: EXPLORATION
Explore and research career possibilities
Learn the connections between academic programs, experiential learning, previous professional experiences, and careers:
- Conduct career research and gather information from valuable online resources. Gather information on different fields, industries and companies
- Decide on a major and learn what career paths a major can offer
- Conduct informational interviews with people in fields that interest you
- Explore opportunities to gain relevant work experience, such as internships, summer jobs, or volunteer work
- Attend career and networking events
Juniors | STEP 3: PREPARATION
Develop your resume and cover letter writing skills; refine your career goals and strategy
- Through informational interviewing, internships, and relevant part-time and summer jobs, “test the waters” and determine a potential career direction:
- Update and tailor your resume and cover letter
- Research graduate schools and visit campuses
- Learn to present your strengths and goals in an elevator pitch
- Conduct informational interviews and build your network
- Develop and practice your interview skills
- Obtain an Internship
Seniors | STEP 4: IMPLEMENTATION
Develop and implement your job search or graduate school strategy
Develop the skills you need to accomplish your goals:
- Sharpen your job search skills and develop a list of potential employers
- Explore relevant job boards and begin to apply for jobs
- Prepare for interviews and practice interviewing skills with a mock interview
- Network with friends, parents, faculty, alumnx and others
- Gather graduate school application materials and write a personal statement
- Attend events such as career fairs, company presentations and career-related forums with alumnx
Seniors | STEP 5: DECISION MAKING
Make an informed and meaningful career decision
Gain insight into necessary professional development skills to be successful:
- Refer back to your career goals, interests, strengths, and values for guidance
- Analyze job offers/graduate school admissions and weigh your options.
- Meet with a career coach to walk through your decision-making process
- Consider the practical aspects of life after Simmons, by reviewing the Life After College career guide to help make a successful transition
- Join the Simmons alumnx network Simmons Network, and check out Simmons Alumnx on Simmons University’s LinkedIn page
- Learn and practice the basics of negotiating
The Career Education Center
The Career Education Center is here to empower all Simmons students and alums with the expertise, skills, and resources to engage in, access, and explore diverse opportunities for their life’s work, integrating their passion with their purpose in meaningful careers.