The Career Cycle and the College Student Development Process

The pathway to good decision making and creating successful plans for your future are not linear stages,
instead it involves a circular process. During college it is likely that you will find yourself working on more than
one phase at any given time, as well as cycling through the phases long after you have graduated and entered
the workforce. Utilizing the academic and career services office in your college is strongly recommended, it
will help you think through your options thoroughly as well as learn about resources and tools to support your
success.

Goal Setting Self-Assessment

Connect your knowledge Identify your interests,
about yourself and the skills, values, and
world of work to formulate personality style.
career goals. Learn about Take a career assessment
job search strategies by to get started: Do What You
attending workshops on Are (DWYA) and/ or the
campus to improve your job Strong Interest Inventory
search skills. (SII). Discuss the results
with a career counselor in
your college’s career office.

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Experience Opportunities Explore Options

Test the waters and learn Learn about different education
through experience! Join a and career options. Consider
your “major” options within the
student organization,
U of M. Learn about careers
volunteer, intern or seek out
using the MCIS career
student employment.
database or ISEEK.org
Discuss your experiences
come highly recommended!
with a career counselor to
assess whether you are
heading in the right
direction!