The staff of the Career Services Center recommends starting your career planning early in your college life, and we invite you to use our office throughout your entire stay at Cleveland State University. Below you will find a recommended "action plan" that will help you to incorporate career planning into each of your four years at the University.

Freshman Year

• Meet your Career Coordinator to explore and/or confirm your choice of major. Schedule an appointment by calling 216.687.2233.
• Take a CSC Class:
  • CSC 121 Career Orientation (1 CR). Career decision making, self-assessment, and job search techniques. Serves as a prerequisite for the Cooperative Education program.
  • CSC 224 Career Exploration (3 CR). In depth self-assessment, career decision making and professional, portfolio development. Serves as a prerequisite for the Cooperative Education program
• Visit the Career Services Center webpage: www.csuohio.edu/career
• Register on CSUcareerline. This is our on-line service for students and alumni of CSU. You may use it to post your resume, participate in on-campus recruiting, and view job postings.
• Develop a resume to record your accomplishments throughout your college career.
• Participate in Career Services Center workshops and career fairs.
• Take advantage of other organizations one campus. For a list of organizations go to the Department of Student Life's website.
• The Link Program: The Link Program "links" minority students to career mentorship and cooperative education opportunties.
• Utilize career exploration tools available in the Career Services Center—MBTI & ChoicesPlanner Program: An online self-assessment tool that will help you with career decision making and research on various career fields.
• Meet your faculty advisor to discuss the best semester(s) for your intern/coop experience.
  

Sophomore Year

• Continue to meet with your Career Coordinator to learn about career related events and activities.
• Take a CSC Class: If you didn't take one your Freshman year, be sure to sign up for your sophomore year.
• Continue to update your resume.
• Participate in the Mock Interview Program to practice your interview skills for Intern and co-op interviews.
• Attend workshops, career fairs and on-campus recruiting.
• Make or confirm your choice of major and explore double majors and/or minors.
• On-Campus Student Employment: Working on-campus as a student employee provides great experience as well as flexibility of scheduling, convenience, and a paycheck!
• Begin your Internship/Co-op search. Internships and co-ops allow you to work in an area related to your field of study. You gain the practical, hands-on, real world work experience that employers seek in job candidates.
• Attend Career Fairs: We offer a Fall Career Fair and a Spring Career Fair which attract over 100 employers. These fairs are your opportunity to meet one-one-one with recruiters and learn more about your profession.

Junior Year

• Continue to meet with your Career Coordinator to learn about career related events and activities and update your career plan.
• Take CSC 321 Class (1CR): Job Search Strategies, including resumes, interviewing, networking, tapping into the hidden job market, informational interviewing, and much more.
• Continue your search for Internship/Co-op experiences. Communicate with your Career Coordinator throughout your intern/co-op experiences.
• Participate in the Mock Interview Program to practice your interview skills
• Explore your options to attend graduate school or professional school.
• Prepare for graduate of professional school entrance exams.
• Attend Career Fairs: We offer a Fall Career Fair and a Spring Career Fair which attract over 100 employers. These fairs are your opportunity to meet one-one-one with recruiters and learn more about your profession.

Senior Year

• Visit your Career Coordinator early to continue implementation of your career/job search plan.
• Take CSC 321 Class (1CR): If you didn't take it your Junior year, sign up for CSC 321 for your Senior year. This class focuses on job search strategies, including resumes, interviewing, networking, tapping into the hidden job market, informational interviewing, and much more.
• Continue to work with your Career Coordinator, updating your resume for your full-time job search.
• Participate in On-Campus Recruiting: Use CSUcareerline.com to look at the schedule of the employers coming to campus to interview CSU students. You will also use CSUcareerline.com to sign up for on-campus interviews. For more information, contact your career advisor.
• Attend Career Fairs: We offer a Fall Career Fair and a Spring Career Fair which attract over 100 employers. These fairs are your opportunity to meet one-one-one with recruiters, to get your resume out to them, and to participate in important networking.
• Participate in the Mock Interview Program to practice your interview skills.
• If you're planning to go attend graduate school or professional school, take the GRE exam.
  

Graduate Students

• Students pursue advanced degrees for many reasons, but oftern career advancement is a primary motivation.
• Graduate students may wish to work with a career coordinator to find internships in their field and to prepare for a job search as they finish their programs.
• Register for CSUcareerline. when you begin your advanced degree program, and meet with a career coordinator to discuss career options in your field.