The Journey to Your Career Starts Here.
Building a career in today’s job market can be challenging—but you don’t have to do it alone. As a Monmouth student or one of our alumni, you have access to tools, resources, and a dedicated team to help make your career goals a reality. Our Career Development office helps you seek out potential employers based on your skills and interests, assists in refining your interview skills and enhancing your résumé, and teaches you how to succeed in a professional environment.
By taking advantage of our exclusive internship fair, career days, and online job board, Monmouth students are well-positioned to achieve their career goals. Career Development counselors are available for individual meetings daily, and will work with you to develop a personalized job search based on your strengths and interests.
Don’t wait until graduation—start your professional journey early by following Career Development’s four-year strategy for success. Throughout each phase of your undergraduate education, Career Development will take steps to identify your strengths, explore your opportunities, and help you achieve your career goals.
Get Started:
As a first-year student, you have the freedom and flexibility to discover new things. Lay the foundation for your career by becoming familiar with your resources and exploring your options. If you are undeclared, learn about which majors and minors might be a good fit by speaking to a counselor.
Prepare for your professional life by updating your social media accounts to present your best self-image to potential employers. Career Development can assist you in beginning your networking by creating a LinkedIn profile that highlights your experience and strengths.
Steps:
• Register with Handshake, Monmouth University’s online job board.
• Visit Career Development, meet the staff, and begin to develop your résumé.
• Take self-assessment tools such as FOCUS 2 CAREER and learn to use your interests, skills, and abilities when choosing a career.
• Meet with your faculty advisor to discuss your academic plan and your potential major.
• Participate in events on campus including Career Days.
• Pursue a summer or part-time job, preferably within your field of interest, by utilizing Handshake.
• Check and read emails from Career Development.
Build upon your first year by exploring educational and professional opportunities related to your interests. Learn about ways to fulfill your Experiential Education requirement within your major, such as internships, a study abroad trip, or courses that include an outside-the-classroom component. With more than 100 student organizations to choose from, you can develop leadership skills and boost your résumé while growing your network on campus.
Steps:
• Update your résumé and your profile on Handshake.
• Continue to build your network by attending our Career Days.
• Talk to faculty about career options available to you through your major.
• Declare a major, if you have not already, and focus on attaining a strong GPA. Study hard!
• Grow your network through personal connections and utilize LinkedIn to connect with alumni.
• Explore Study Abroad options through the Global Education Office.
As you begin to narrow down your career goals, use your third year to test your ambitions in a real-world setting. Attend Career Development’s events on campus to network with recruiters and put your résumé into the hands of potential employers. Complete an internship to experience what it’s like working in your field of interest. Career Development and faculty within your major can help identify ways to experience your profession outside of the classroom.
Steps:
• Utilize Handshake to search for internships or part-time jobs in your field of interest.
• Make an appointment with Career Development to discuss your career goals and to start building your job search strategy.
• Consider taking LC300 – Career Search, a one-credit class that teaches job search skills.
• Make an appointment to discuss interview skills with the staff of Career Development and utilize Big Interview to practice and build your confidence.
• If you are planning to attend graduate school, sign up for standardized practice tests (GRE, GMAT, etc.); meet with faculty regarding letters of recommendation and graduate school applications.
• Join professional associations related to your major at less-expensive student rates.
• Attend career-related events on campus to talk with recruiters and employer representatives about available career opportunities.
• Ask faculty members about future career options for your major; make sure that graduation course requirements are being met.
• Complete internship forms with your academic advisor if you are eligible to receive course credit.
• Attend Fall and Spring Career Days.
While you prepare for graduation, take advantage of Handshake, Career Development’s online job portal to search for opportunities and submit your résumé to a variety of employers. Connect with professors and others to request letters of recommendation as you apply to jobs or to graduate school.
Steps:
• Visit the Career Development homepage to keep up-to-date with programs and career-related events.
• Search career opportunities through Handshake, LinkedIn, Indeed.com, and other online job sites.
• Be aware of all graduate school application deadlines, if necessary.
• Continue to develop your network of professional contacts by joining a professional association connected with your career interests.
• Google yourself to monitor and polish your online presence.
• Identify employment references for use in job applications.
• Attend Fall and Spring Career Days.
Contact the Office of Career Development at careerdevelopment@monmouth.edu.