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Exploring Careers

Consider college as your preparation for the future.

Four Year Plan

The things you study, the activities you choose to explore your interests, and pre-professional experiences all help to make career plans clearer. The following suggests a timeframe for your college experience and career development. This is meant to be a general timeline; individuals will vary in their progress. We encourage you to check in with a career counselor at any point in the process as you develop ideas for the future.

  • Navigate the academic system and learn how to manage time as a college student
  • Get to know your faculty and advisors, and make a point to meet them outside of class time
  • Join student groups that match your interests, both personal and professional
  • Earn good grades to set you up well for the future

With the Career Center…

  • Meet with a career counselor
  • Begin exploring what careers might match up with majors you’re considering
  • Take an interest inventory if you want help brainstorming major & career ideas
  • Select or reevaluate your choice of major
  • Consider a minor that fulfills another interest
  • Learn about the local community, in and out of Villanova
  • Attend events off campus and learn about the greater Philadelphia region
  • Maintain involvement on campus and consider leadership positions in your student group  

With the Career Center…

  • Attend career fairs and Career Center programs
  • Explore Handshake – consider part-time jobs and internships in your field of interest
  • Complete or polish your resume and make it employer-ready
  • Talk with a career counselor about how your major may connect with careers
  • Strengthen relationships with faculty members and begin to consider them as references for future employment or school
  • Mentor and tutor other students, especially new students who are finding their way
  • Take the lead in a leadership position of one of your student groups
  • Consider studying abroad as an option to expand your world view    

With the Career Center…

  • Apply for and obtain an internship in a field of interest
  • Master interviewing skills for your meetings with employers
  • Research graduate school options and consider if this is a possible next step in your career
  • Open a credential file at the Career Center if necessary
  • Finish academic requirements and become an expert on a focus area in your major
  • Take a class just for fun to explore an interest one more time
  • Leave a positive legacy at Villanova and pave the way for the next generation to follow your lead

With the Career Center…

  • Utilize the Career Center’s job search resources and seek full-time employment
  • Access Villanova’s NovaNetwork, our alumni directory, to make professional contacts
  • Schedule a practice interview at the Career Center
  • Study for and take graduate school entrance exams