Finding the job you want takes many steps and involves just as many decisions. This checklist is designed to help you along the way and guide you to the appropriate sources. Be sure to discuss your progress with you career advisor.

 Knowing what you Want
 ï Choose your ideal work environment - large corporation, small business,   government agency or non-profit organization.
 ï Choose your ideal location - urban, suburban, rural..
 ï List your 3 most useful job skills and know which is your strongest.
 ï Know whether you want to work with other or work alone.
 ï Know whether you enjoy new projects or prefer following a regular    routine.
 ï List some of the main career areas which might interest you.
 ï List your favorite leisure time activities.
 ï Know what kind of reward is most important to you in a job - money, security, creative authority, etc.

 Researching Career Options
 ï Develop a list of career possibilities to research.
 ï Visit your career services library to learn about various career. The    Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook    (On the CATS Web page) are valuable resources.
 ï Consider whether your desired career requires an advanced degree.
 ï Keep up with current trends in you field through trade publications and    news/business magazines and newspapers.
 ï Identify employers interested in interviewing someone with your academic background and experience; create a list of three or more    employers in the field you are considering.
 ï Make at least three professional contacts through friends, relatives or professors to learn more about your field of interest.
 ï Meet with faculty and alumni who work or who have worked in your field to talk about available jobs and the outlook for your field.

 Getting Experience
 ï Narrow down the career options you are considering through course work and personal research.
 ï Participate in a work experience or internship program in your chosen field to learn of the daily requirements of the careers you are considering.   Such assignments sometimes lead to permanent job offers following    graduation.
 ï Become an active member in one of more professional associations - consult the Encyclopedia of Associations  for organizations in your field.
 ï Volunteer for a community or charitable organization to gain further work    experience. Volunteer positions can and should be included on your resume.

 Creating a Resume
 ï Form a clear job objective.
 ï Know how your skills and experience support your objective.
 ï Use action verbs to highlight your accomplishments.
 ï Limit your resume to one page and make sure it is free of misspelled    works and grammatical errors.
 ï Create your resume on a word processing program and have it     professionally duplicated on nuetral-colored paper, preferably white, light   gray or beige.
 ï Compose a separate cover letter to accompany each resume and     address the letter to a specific person. Avoid sending a letter which    begins ìDear Sir/Madam.

 Preparing For the Interview
 ï Arrange informational interviews with employees from companies with which you might want to interview. Use your network of acquaintances to    schedule these meetings.
 ï Thoroughly research each employer with whom you have an interview - be familiar with product lines, services offered, growth prospects etc.
 ï Practice your interviewing technique with friends to help prepare for the actual interview.
 ï Using the information you have gathered, formulate questions to ask the employer during the interview.
 ï Arrive on time in professional business attire..
 ï Collect the needed information to write a thank you letter after each interview.

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