The Four Year Plan

The Four-Year Plan for Career Development Success

"We consider this program a 'road map' for success, both personal and professional.  Combined with our curriculum, which teaches students how to think analytically and critically and problem-solve creatively, this initiative will make a Randolph-Macon College education even more valuable and prepare students to excel in a competitive and changing society," says President Lindgren.

First-Year:

• Acquaint yourself with the Career Services Four Year Plan and begin to develop a personal plan for success.
  
• Attend the “First-Year 101 Program: Incorporating Career Services in Your Pathway to Success” to familiarize yourself with the services and resources the Career Services Office has to offer.
  
• Attend the Majors (& Minors) Fair to help explore potential majors and minors.
  
• Explore potential career options by participating in career-related workshops and events, taking an assessment (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and/or the Strong Interest Inventory), and/or speaking with an advisor or career counselor.
  
• Explore and engage in campus activities and organizations relating to your interests and career goals.
  
• Develop a resume with the help of Career Services.
  
• Save noteworthy projects, papers, and assignments to include in a portfolio.

Second-Year :

• Attend an internship information session to learn about the various kinds of internships available to Randolph-Macon College students and how to apply.
  
• Consider engaging in a summer internship or employment relating to your career interests.
  
• Become familiar with R-MC’s web-based job and internship database, Jobs4YellowJackets.
  
• Explore various career options by attending a variety of Career Services events including on-campus recruitment activities.
  
• Utilize the Alumni Career Network to obtain contact information of alumni in career fields in which you have interest in order to begin conducting informational interviews.
  
• Begin to explore and pursue leadership opportunities on- and off-campus.

• Update your resume and begin working on cover letters.
  
• Continue to save noteworthy projects, papers, and assignments to include in a portfolio.

Third-Year :

• Complete an internship relating to your career interests.
  
• Complete a mock interview with a member of the Career Services staff or participate in the annual mock interview program.
  
• Participate in the Etiquette and Networking Dinner to learn proper dining etiquette in business settings.

• Continue to expand your network through use of the Alumni Career Network and various other networking functions.
  
• If you are considering graduate schools, research graduate programs and prepare for and take the necessary entrance exam.
  
• Continue to update your resume to include new activity involvement, leadership roles, and work and internship experience.
  
• Identify and contact potential reference providers and develop a reference page.
  
• Organize and assemble noteworthy projects, papers, and assignments in a portfolio along with your resume and reference page.

Fourth-Year :

• Engage in a culminating internship experience.
  
• Network with college alumni in your field of interest.
  
• Research potential employer and job opportunities; begin to submit cover letters and resumes as soon as the fall semester. If you plan to attend graduate school, complete and submit applications and other required materials as deadlines dictate.
• Continue to participate in Career Services events and engage with employers participating in on-campus recruitment.
• Utilize Career Services resources to assist with the job search and interview process.
• Update resume to reflect all activity through senior year.
• Update and prepare to incorporate portfolio in job or graduate school search/interviews.