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It Really Isn't As Difficult As It Seems!

Adult Student Profile

Step 1: Apply

Step 2: Financial Aid

Step 3: Plan & Prepare

Step 4: Advisement & Registration

Step 5: To Do List

Step 6: Be the Best Student You Can Be!

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Career Center

Are you a career seeker, career starter, or career changer? Do you need major or occupational information, career counseling, job search advice? The Career Center is on campus to serve you. Their services are designed to support students, make it easier for students to create the educational experience they want and to prepare them for meaningful work when they graduate. Wherever you are in your classes or vocational development they can assist you in planning the “next steps” for career success. Here’s a quick list of our services:

• Career assessment and counseling
• What can I do with a major in…?
• Employer and Occupational research
• Internship and full time job search
• Informational interviews and job shadowing
• Online database for jobs and internships
• Resume writing, cover letter, curricula vitas
• Practice interviews
• Graduate school preparation
• IDS 12 career development class
• Career Fairs
• Career workshops
• Website with helpful career links

How can we help you? Call the Career Center (417-836-5636) or check out our website at http://www.careercenter.missouristate.edu.

“There is no future in any job. The future is in the man who holds the job.” - Unknown

Career Preparation Checklist

Following is a recommended timeline for students to follow. Following a timeline such as this usually helps prevent the panic attack of not knowing what to do after graduation.

Are you a Freshman?

  1. Start by visiting the Career Center office.
  2. Make an appointment with a career counselor to talk over career needs and schedule self-assessments of your personality, interests, abilities, etc.
  3. Research majors and occupations; find out which careers are best suited for you; talk to people who work in occupations that interest you; consider enrolling in a career development class-IDS 120- a course on “Approaches to Career Life Planning.”

Are you a Sophomore?

  1. Narrow your career options; find out which jobs fit your major and collect information about the careers that interest you.
  2. Put together a draft of your resume and make an appointment for a resume critique with a staff member from the Career Planning and Placement Center.
  3. Practice your compute skills and other job-related skills.
  4. Explore internship possibilities with Cooperative Education as a way of gaining relevant experience while earning credit hours.

Are you a Junior?

  1. Compile information on employers who hire in your field.
  2. Join and be active in clubs, professional organizations and associations related to your field.
  3. Practice your interviewing skills; learn the characteristics that result in successful interviews.
  4. Learn how to write cover letters.
  5. Gain experience in your field through Cooperative Education, internships, part-time work, summer employment, volunteer work, etc.
  6. Schedule information interviews with employers and/or alumna to learn specific information about the field you want to enter.

Are you a Senior?

  1. Register with the Career Planning and Placement Center early in the academic year in which you plan to graduate.
  2. Learn how to conduct a thorough job search.
  3. Revise/update your resume.
  4. Familiarize yourself with the variety of publications: job listings, business newspapers, journals in your field, etc.
  5. Continue practicing your interview skills.
  6. Keep good records of employers you contact, date of contact, and method of contact.

Career Development Step-by-Step Process

1. Make an appointment with a career counselor to discuss your action plan.

2. Work with a career counselor to identify interests, abilities, and values or register in the fall or spring for IDS 120 (approaches to career and life planning).

3. Participate in various career and self-assessment exercises to help gain information about self and narrow down and identify possible majors/careers.

  • Meyers Briggs Type Indicator
  • Self-Directed Search
  • Focus II
  • Multiple Intelligences Checklist
  • My Vocational Situation
  • OOH Survey
  • Review of Work Values

4. Identify potential majors/careers that relate to interests and abilities.

5. Research various occupations through career publications and various Internet sources.

6. Participate in Job Shadowing and conduct professional and information interviews.

7. Make an appointment with a career coordinator to discuss various experiential
learning opportunities.

  • Cooperative Education
  • Internship
  • Practicum
  • Volunteer Experience

8. Investigate work experience opportunities that coincide with major area of study and future career plans.

9. Prepare a resume, cover letter, and references.

10. Participate in practice interviews.

11. Develop a career portfolio.

12. Take advantage of career workshops and events such as Resume Writing,
Interviewing Tips, Portfolio Development, etc.

13. Obtain relevant work opportunities through an internship, cooperative education, practicum, or volunteering.