Four Year Career Plan

The four year career plan can help you stay on track while here at ACU. Whether you have dreams of going to graduate school or finding a great job after you graduate, the following outline can help you achieve your goals.  

• Freshman Year
• Sophomore Year
• Junior Year
• Senior Year 

Contact the Career Center at 325-674-2473 or careers@acu.edu to get started.

FRESHMAN YEAR  

    First Semester

• Complete the D!scovery Program. This program will which will assist you in discovering your interests, abilities, values, and personality type through assessments and research. 
• Explore majors and potential career paths.
• Talk with people in each major area in which you have an interest: professors, advisers, professionals, etc.

   Second Semester

• Conduct informational interviews - talk with family members, friends, and acquaintances about their careers.
• Continue to research career fields using resources like O*NET OnLine and Vault's Career Insider.
• Attend Career Center events like "Careers In".
• Begin developing a resume to update each year.
• Consider a summer job to begin acquiring work experience in your area of interest.

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SOPHOMORE YEAR  

   First Semester

• Meet with your career advisor.
• Decide on a major and career path.
• Shadow a professional who is working in your area of interest.

   Second Semester

• Research organizations and companies that offer internships related to your career interests.  Be prepared to apply, because in some fields deadlines for summer internships are in the fall.
• Update your resume and cover letter for your summer job/internship/part-time job search.
• Begin building your networking contacts for references (professors, advisers, and supervisors). Read tips about securing references. Review sample reference sheets.
• Take on leadership roles in activities like being a Group Leader during Welcome Week or leading a volunteer project. Think about how those roles are transferable to your desired career field.
• Consider working part-time in a job relevant to your career interests.
• Create an ACU CareerLink account.

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JUNIOR YEAR  

   First Semester

• Meet with a Career Center advisor to develop a specific plan of action outlining post-graduation plans.
• Continue informational interviews.
• Attend a career fair.  Use the opportunity to learn about employers, and practice your "elevator speech".
• Are you considering attending graduate school? Conduct research to determine if it is necessary to achieve your career goals.  
• Update your ACU CareerLink account.

   Second Semester

• Attend career fair and participate in relevant on campus interviewing opportunities.
• Develop your job search plan.
• Schedule a mock interview session.
• Take another summer internship/job.

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SENIOR YEAR  

   First Semester

• Attend career fair and participate in relevant on campus interviewing opportunities.
• Continue to network
• Complete your job search plan

   Second Semester

• Attend career fair and participate in relevant on campus interviewing opportunities.
• Interview for jobs.
• If applicable, narrow your graduate school choices, complete entrance exams, and complete application materials.

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