It’s not too long before you’ll be leaving Mizzou to pursue your career plans. Explore the resources and referrals highlighted below to help you maximize your final year and make a successful transition to the professional world. Begin by reviewing the Senior Career Readiness Guide.
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+ SUPPORT & WELLNESS
- Career Counseling provides students the opportunity to discuss career, academic, and personal/social concerns.
- Counseling Center offers individual and group counseling as well as crisis services available 24/7.
- Student Health & Well-Being provides self-care resources and programs (like meditation) to help you stay balanced.
- Learning Center offers academic help at no cost to students through The Writing Center, Tiger Tutors and Study Plan Consultants.
- Office for Financial Success provides free consultations about financial matters such as loans, credit cards, credit scores, budgeting, saving, debt management and more.
- Tiger Pantry allows students to receive non-perishable food and household items monthly as well as eggs, produce, and bread each week.
- Truman’s Closet enables MU students to borrow business attire in an array of sizes free of charge.
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+ LEVERAGE YOUR INVOLVEMENT
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- Reflect on your campus involvement and assess the skills and knowledge you have acquired both in and out of the classroom.
- Conduct a mock interview and seek career advisement from professionals in your chosen profession.
- Seek out positive references from professors, employment supervisors and club advisors.
- Engage with local chapters of national organizations by going to local meetings, attending national conferences and adding professional contacts to LinkedIn.
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+ ASSESS YOUR SKILLS & CAREER READINESS
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- Assess your career readiness by taking the Am I Career Ready? assessment on Focus 2. Discuss the results with a Career Specialist or advisor to determine how you can enhance any areas that need further development.
- Be prepared to communicate your career readiness with employers and determine the areas where you excel.
- Reflect on how your coursework and extracurriculars have contributed to your career readiness and skill development.
- Evaluate whether your resume, cover letter and work samples reflect your career readiness and transferable skills.
- Participate in professional development workshops sponsored by career services and employers.
- Review your personal brand and online image so that it reflects your career interests, personality and professionalism.
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+ PURSUE CAREER OPTIONS
- Maximize Handshake: Update your profile and career interests, set up job alerts, apply for full-time positions and reach out to employers and former interns (other students) about career opportunities.
- Take advantage of career fairs, company information sessions and employer interviews (virtual or on-campus) all accessed on Handshake.
- Draft unique cover letters for each position you apply to and be prepared for all employer communications.
- Have your resume reviewed by career services and make sure it will be accepted by a company’s applicant tracking system.
- Be ready to accept and negotiate job offers and feel confident in how to research salaries.
- Prepare graduate school applications: seek letters of recommendation, request transcripts, take entrance exams and write personal statements.
- Consider gap year programs if you are unsure of your long-term plans, want to develop skills or want a break before pursuing graduate school or a permanent job.
- Be proactive! Follow-up on each job or graduate school application you submit.
- Recent grads and alumni can learn more about our online resources and services.
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+ BUILD YOUR NETWORK
- Update your LinkedIn profile: create a strong summary indicating you are job seeking, request recommendations, seek endorsements and make career-related posts on your feed and in groups.
- Follow and engage employers of interest on LinkedIn and social media.
- Be prepared to give your elevator speech, briefly explaining to contacts and recruiters who you are and what you are hoping to do. This is an introduction to start a conversation at a career fair, networking event or in any setting.
- Get familiar with networking and visit MangoConnect, a free tool that coaches you through how to craft your first networking messages.
- Seek advice and perspective from mentors by forging relationships with other peers, faculty, staff, work contacts or alumni.
