Your
Career Action Plan is a roadmap that will
offer you guidance starting in your
Freshman year and taking you on a journey to your Senior year and beyond.
The Career Action Plan is a checklist of activities and
strategies that will empower you to achieve your career goals. You can use
this four-part outline as a guide for managing your own personal life plan.
And feel free to adapt it to your unique situation.
1 EXPLORE
| Freshman Year - Discovering your options and choosing a career path
2 EXAMINE
| Sophomore Year -
Researching your options and finalizing
your career path
3 ENGAGE | Junior Year -
Getting involved and gaining experience in your chosen career
4 EXECUTE
| Senior Year - Pursuing and obtaining a meaningful career opportunity
Millennials in the Workplace
Stop Wishing, Start Doing
How Successful People Think
What Should I Do
With My Life?
Corporate Nightmare
"Begin
with the end in mind. Start with a clear understanding of your
destination. Know where you are going so that you better understand where
you are now, and so that the steps you take are always in the right
direction."
-STEPHEN COVEY

1 | EXPLORE
Freshman
This is
the exploration or discovery phase in which you assess your personality
and explore your options. Your objective during this first stage is to
expose yourself to new experiences and meet new people. It is time to
learn more about yourself and study the world around you. You should
engage in tasks that help you identify your talents, passions, and values
and begin the process of discovering your purpose or mission. It is time
to learn more about potential paths. You should engage in tasks that help
you gather information and investigate a variety of possible directions.
Your goal at the end of this stage is to discern your calling and develop
your sense of direction.
--Meet with your professor or academic advisor to discuss your overall
college experience
--Learn about campus services, resources, and activities
--Talk to upperclassmen and gain their advice about campus activities
--Meet with your career counselor to discuss your personality, interests,
skills, needs, and values
--Take a career test to assess your personality traits
--Explore extracurricular activities that are of interest to you
--Attend various social, cultural, and recreational events
--Meet with your professor or academic advisor to discuss your coursework
--Consider taking elective coursework to expand or enrich your academic
experience
--Engage in activities that foster self-discovery and allow you to meet
new people
--Meet with your career counselor to discuss your ambitions and ideas
--Investigate campus clubs or organizations that are of interest to you
--Engage in activities that expose you to new ideas and unfamiliar
territories
--Engage in activities that allow you to explore a wide variety of career
options
Career Planning Resources
Career Exploration Information
Extracurricular Activities
Your College Experience:
Extracurricular Activities
How to Find
Your Passion
Careers by Major
Purpose and Passion
What Can I do With This Major?
Career Ship: Mapping Your Future
Occupational Outlook
Handbook
Academic Invest: Discover
Careers
How to Know Your Life
Purpose
Guide to Goal
Setting
Call to Schedule an Appointment
205-665-6262
Send an
E-Mail Message

2 | EXAMINE
Sophomore
This is the examination or investigation phase in which you begin
researching your field of interest and gaining initial experience. Your
objective during this stage is to increase your sense of focus and
solidify your career direction. It is time to gather information and
expand your knowledge. You should participate in activities that validate
and support your career goal. Your goal at the end of this stage is
confirm your career goal.
--Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your major, minor and
elective coursework
--Meet with your professor to discuss field-specific issues
--Meet with your career counselor to discuss your options, goals, and
plans
--Attend career events, info sessions, fairs, and expos to gather
information
--Learn about various occupations through books, publications, libraries,
and websites
--Find a mentor, talk to people who work in fields you are interested in,
and solicit their insight
--Engage in job shadowing of people and work settings you are interested
in
--Learn how to write an effective resume and cover letter
--Get involved in extracurricular activities to build your experience and
make contacts
--Join campus clubs or organizations that relate to your career path
--Participate in a volunteer community service project relevant to your
interests or skills
--Engage in activities that test your skills and abilities
--Obtain an internship to further explore and research your career options
--Engage in activities that enhance your sense of focus and confirm your
career path
Career Planning Resources
Career Exploration Information
Extracurricular Activities
Occupational Outlook
Handbook
What Can I do With This Major?
Careers by Major
Academic Invest: Discover Careers
Career Ship: Mapping Your Future
"First, you have to have a goal. For, if you don't know where you are
going, then any road will take you there -- and it won't really matter
what you do with your life. In fact, if you don't clearly know where you
are going in your life, you probably won't recognize it when you get
there."
-WAITLEY & WITT


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Career Development Center
University of Montevallo
Station 6262 | Montevallo, Alabama 35115
Farmer Hall, Second Floor
205-665-6262 | career@montevallo.edu
UM Career Dev Center
You Belong at
Montevallo: Campus Tour
The Montevallo Experience
Univ of Montevallo:
Campus Life
UM Flacon Athletics

3 | ENGAGE
Junior
This is the engagement or experiential
phase in which you begin creating your collection of professional tools.
Your objective during this stage is to finalize your plan and develop your
campaign. It is time to gather the necessary resources and begin equipping
yourself for professional activity. This stage should be devoted to
professional development and building your credibility through direct
experience. Your goal at the end of this stage is to be professionally
prepared.
--Meet with your academic advisor to discuss how your major relates to
your career path
--Meet with your professor to discuss special field-specific projects and
activities
--Meet with your career counselor to create and organize your plans,
tools, and strategies
--Obtain interview coaching and participate in a mock interview session to
learn how to prepare for a job interview
--Attend career workshops to enhance career preparation and research
career opportunities
--Serve in a leadership role or in some capacity as an organizer,
coordinator, or facilitator
--Continue to establish and build mentor relationships with key people in
your field
--Obtain an internship to gain relevant experience in your field
--Conduct general job market research to learn about your field of
interest
--Attend career events, workshops, info sessions, fairs and expos to
pursue opportunities
--Join a professional organization or group related to your career path
--Attend panels and other events to hear guest speakers discuss critical
issues
--Engage in a special research project or practicum/clinical experience
--Build a prospect list of the companies and organizations you’d like to
intern with
--Learn effective networking, prospecting and follow-up techniques
--Research your graduate and professional school options
--Engage in activities that enhance your professionalism and build your
experience
Job Market Tools
Resume
Writing Resources
Skills
Employers Value
Examples of Good Interview Answers
Job Interview as a
Performance
Interview Questions: Tell Me About Yourself
Interview Tips: Tell Me About Yourself
Answering Interview Questions
Interview Preparation
Job Interview
Questions and Answers
Tell
Me About Yourself
Interview Do's and Don'ts
Interview Tips: How to Impress the Interviewer
Communicate Your Strengths
Special Issues
Graduate School
Preparation

4 |
EXECUTE
Senior
This is the execution or implementation phase in which you organize your
resources, apply strategy, and initiate your plan. Your objective during
this stage is to launch your campaign. It is time to equip yourself for
entry into the job market. In this stage you are encouraged to assume
responsibility, take control and initiate action. You should utilize
strategies, techniques, and tools that will allow you to effectively
manage your campaign and negotiate opportunities. Your goal at the end of
this final stage is to be confident and empowered so that you can pursue
and obtain your goal.
--Meet with your academic advisor to ensure that you are on track to
graduate
--Meet with your professor to discuss key field-specific contacts
--Meet with your career counselor to refine and apply your plans, tools,
and strategies
--Attend career events, workshops, info sessions, fairs and expos to
pursue opportunities
--Join a professional organization or group related to your career path
--Attend professional meetings, conferences or conventions
--Engage in a special research project or practicum/clinical experience
--Obtain an internship to gain experience directly relevant to your career
path
--Conduct detailed job market research to learn about specific employers
in your field
--Build a prospect list of the companies and organizations you’d like to
work for
--Utilize effective networking, prospecting and follow-up techniques
--Learn how to effectively manage a job search campaign
--Begin the graduate and professional school application process
--Learn about professional behavior, professional attire, etiquette,
protocol and workplace issues
--Engage in activities that empower you to have more control and choice in
the job market
--Engage in activities that propel you towards your professional life
Job Market Tools
Resume
Writing Resources
Skills
Employers Value
Make the Most of Your
Career
Zip Recruiter: Job Market Trends
How to
Master Your Job Search
Six Ways
to Crack the Hidden Job Market
Ten
Things Employers Want From a New Hire
Glassdoor: Job Market Trends
Tech Republic: Job Market Trends
Vault: Job Market Trends
US News: Tips for the Hidden Job Market
The Balance|Careers
Graduate School
Preparation
The Real World
Call to Schedule an Appointment
205-665-6262
Send an
E-Mail Message
Mission/Vision Statement
Student/Alumni
Policy Statement
Employer/Recruiter
Policy Statement

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