Student Four Year Calendar

Center for Work and Service Four Year Calendar

Career development may be conceptualized as a four-step cycle, beginning with an exploration of the self, moving next to researching career fields and professions, then on to launching an effective job search, and finally to developing and managing one’s career. Students will experience the cycle many times during their work lives.

First Year—Orientation

Once you have settled in, stop by the Center for Work and Service (CWS). Familiarize yourself with the friendly CWS staff and environment. We are located on the 4th floor of Green Hall.

Meet with a counselor to learn about CWS resources. Begin by coming to drop-ins, offered every weekday at lunch time and Tuesday evenings when classes are in session.
Visit the CWS Web site, which offers helpful information and links to external sites of interest: www.wellesley.edu/CWS.
Register with us on monsterTRAK to receive targeted e-mails based on your areas of interest.
Read the internships section of the Web page. Go to CLOE, our Career and Life Online Exploration gateway to databases and resources for career information, the W Network, and monsterTRAK and Liberal Arts Career Network (LACN) internship listings.
Explore the CWS Library, 442 Green Hall, and familiarize yourself with its resources.
Volunteer for your favorite organization. Read the Community Service pages on the CWS Web site.

During your second semester, you may want to begin the self-exploration process.

Start thinking about interests, skills, achievements, and values by viewing the CWS Web page on self-assessment.
Use the Center’s resources such as checklists, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, or Focus, an easy to use computerized guidance system. Attend a workshop on career planning.
Browse the self-assessment books available in the CWS Library, 442 Green Hall.
Talk with a counselor during a drop-in session about what’s available and where to begin.

Sophomore Year—Career Exploration

Begin self-assessment activities listed above, if you have not already, to help generate possible career fields or areas of interest. The next step is to start exploring career fields to see if they are paths you might want to consider.

Browse the CWS Web site for online workshops, CWS events, CLOE, and CWS Library literature.
Use the external links from our Web site to access other research sites like the Vault libraries.
View career tapes or DVDs in CWS Library.
Attend career programs (workshops, panels, company information meetings). See the calendar on the CWS Web site for dates and times, http://www.localendar.com/public/cwscalendar.
Find or create an internship with a potential company or organization within one of your areas of interest. Access LACN, monsterTRAK, or other online internship databases.
Apply for funded internship opportunities or a summer stipend. Information about the application process may be found on our Web site.
Volunteer at a company or organization within an area of interest.
Work a summer job to develop or further a skill set.
Register with the W Network and connect with alumnae for informational interviews or shadow opportunities.

If you are going abroad during all or part of your junior year, meet with a CWS counselor before you leave to ensure your best use of CWS resources while you are away.

Junior Year—Further Exploration

Junior year is a good time to continue self-assessment and career exploration activities begun in sophomore year. A strong internship during the summer following your junior year can be very helpful to the senior year job search.

Investigate graduate schools, if relevant, necessary, and timely for your career goal; attend graduate school information meetings; talk with faculty; use the CWS External Links; review catalogues and directories in the CWS Library; determine what tests are required (e.g., GRE, LSAT, GMAT, MCAT).
Discuss feasibility and timing of graduate application with a CWS counselor.
Attend the spring information meeting on major fellowships and talk with the CWS fellowships advisor about graduate fellowships, including the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, and Watson.
Obtain an internship through the internship recruiting program or on your own.
Apply for funded internship or summer stipend opportunities.
Arrange summer job interviews. Use the CWS Online Interview Workshop on the CWS Web site.

Senior Year—Putting It All Together

You have arrived. This is the year in which you will be making the first in a series of career choices. Begin self-assessment and career exploration activities if you have not done so already. CWS staff members are here to help you along the way.

First Semester
Self-Assessment and Career Exploration

Visit the CWS Library and Web site to become familiar with all resources, including CLOE.
See counselors during drop-in times or scheduled appointments.
Plan additional internship and shadow opportunities.
View the CWS Web pages on self-assessment, take interest inventories, or use Focus, an online program.
Attend career programs (workshops, panels, company information meetings). See the calendar on the CWS home page for dates and times, http://www.localendar.com/public/cwscalendar.
View tapes or DVDs of career panels and presentations.
Identify possible career fields of interest.
Use the W Network for information interviews.

Graduate School Applications

Use directories and catalogs and consult with faculty to identify programs.
Attend graduate school information meetings and workshops.
Register for required tests if you have not already taken them or if you are considering graduate school in the near future.
Relate programs to career goals (see career counselor for assistance).
Talk with the CWS fellowships advisor about the Rhodes, Marshall, Mitchell, Watson, and other fellowships.
Investigate financial aid resources for graduate school.
Request letters of reference.

Job Search

Begin identifying potential employers by field and geographic location.
Review the specialized online resources to which we subscribe for jobs in targeted fields and general areas of interest. Access information and passwords by clicking the "CLOE" button www.wellesley.edu/CWS. Use the CWS External Links for additional resources.
Prepare and update your resume.
Attend workshops on resume and cover letter writing, and interviewing. Schedule a mock interview.
Participate in the on-campus recruiting and/or the not-for-profit and public service programs.
Conduct information or employment interviews. Use the CWS Online Interview Workshop on the CWS Web site.
Write thank you notes to on- and off-campus interviewers.

Second Semester
Career Exploration/Job Search

Continue research on career fields and organizations including not-for-profits, which generally do not recruit on campus.
Go to company information meetings and interview with on-campus recruiters.
Attend Wellesley’s Not-for-Profit Career Fair.
Attend the Wellesley Women in Science Job Fair.
Set up interviews for spring break with organizations not recruiting on campus.
Write thank you notes to on- and off-campus interviewers.
Write job search letters and prepare for interviews.
Follow up with contacts.

As an Alumna

Remember that the Center for Work and Service is here for you as a lifelong resource.