Career Foundations
The first part of your journey involves defining who you are and what you want to do.
You Will…
- Explore your values, interests, and preferences to see how it aligns with a career and academic major.
- Learn to leverage Career Center resources available such as Handshake (PNW’s job portal).
- Develop your application documents such as a resume and cover letter.
Start by accessing What Can I Do With This Major?, a resource that will provide you with a comprehensive list of the types of occupational opportunities that could be sought based on the top 90 undergraduate majors in the U.S. annually.
MyNext Move is a web-based interactive tool for job seekers, students, and other career explorers to learn more about their career options and interests.
Use Occupational Outlook to learn about employment trends, industry trends, and topics in your field/major.
See how your interests align with academic majors at Purdue Northwest. Find out how PNW can help you choose an academic major to find a career path!
- Find careers through a keyword search; by browsing industries; or through the O*NET Interest Profiler, a tool that offers customized career suggestions based on a person’s interests and level of education and work experience.
- The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator provides insight on how you perceive things, reach conclusions and make decisions and how those all may play into your career path. By appointment only.
- The Strong Interest Inventory provides insight on your interests based off of six different career themes that were part of a theory developed by Dr. John Holland. By appointment only.
- Assess your Career Skills with this Inventory as it relates to your: career planning, market research, networking, professional documents, online presence, interviewing.
- Handshake is the #1 way college students find jobs. Activate today (free to students) to explore career options, find jobs and internships for students, and connect with employers. All degree-seeking students have access to Handshake starting the first day of the first term you are enrolled.
- Complete your profile up to at least 80% so employers know you are actively looking for internships and full-time positions.
Utilize the Online Career Center in Brightspace’s Non-Academic courses for best practices.
Learn how to craft your resume and cover letter and personalize it to the exact job/internship you are applying for. Utilize the Online Career Center for a video presentation, resume guidance, example resumes per major, and a critique.
Here are your takeaways:
- Resume
- Cover letter
- Career Skills Inventory
- Complete a career assessment
- Complete Handshake profile