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Four Year Plan

No matter where you are in the process of exploring majors, thinking about internships, looking for jobs, or applying to graduate school, the School of Chemical Sciences Career Counseling and Placement Services (CCPS) has programs and resources to assist you along the way. To schedule an appointment at any time to meet with a counselor, call our office at (217) 333-1051.

Here is a suggested timeline for undergraduate students, for keeping the pressure low and the potential for career success high.

Freshman Year

We know freshmen have lots to do…classes to find, friends to make, a campus to explore. The School of Chemical Sciences Career Counseling and Placement Services (CCPS) has something for you too! CCPS is here when you are ready to start looking for summer jobs and internships. In addition to summer opportunities, we also have a number of resources to help you explore how your interests relate to academic concentrations and potential career paths. Here are just a few things to think about doing during your first year at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:

• As you become involved in extracurricular and volunteer activities, be aware that you are gaining skills and experience that will be useful as you consider summer jobs and internships.
• Identify at least four skills employers look for and determine how you will acquire them.
• Join other students on SCS Symplicity, our online system containing thousands of summer job and internship listings. You can search for internships from a range of industries and geographic locations. Start looking early, as some internships have late fall deadlines.
• Attend our workshops during the fall and spring semesters. Once you log in to SCS Symplicity, you can view a complete list of workshops that will help you in your job search.
• Talk to faculty members, upperclassmen, and career counselors about possible career options.
• Begin putting together your résumé and meet with a career counselor to get feedback. You may also discuss your interests and the types of summer job or internships that are available.

Sophomore Year

Sophomore year is an interesting time—you know the campus and University of Illinois environment pretty well after a full year here and yet now you are faced with some big decisions. As you know, one main focus of this year is choosing a major.

There are many resources on campus to help guide you through the process of choosing a major and, then, learning more about opportunities that will be available to you with the field that you have chosen.

• Talk to academic advisors, upper-class students, and faculty members.
• Attend a “Finding a Major that Fits” workshop sponsored by The Career Center.
• Ask yourself what you like most about your classes, what activities outside of class you enjoy the most, and what types of things are important for you to learn about. This information can be used to help make decisions about majors and internships you might like to explore.
• Meet with a career counselor to talk about different options for majors and careers.

• Get involved in volunteer work and extracurricular activities. These help build skills that future employers or graduate admissions committees find valuable when considering applications. Consider taking on a leadership position.
• Look for internships beginning in September, as some have late fall deadlines. Use SCS Symplicity and resources in the CCPS Library.
• Keep your résumé updated—get cover letters and résumés critiqued by a career counselor.
• Talk to people about their jobs and what they do on a daily basis to discover more about your future options.
• Attend workshops throughout the year, to hear what it is like to intern and work in a wide range of career fields.
• Make a special effort to get to know some professors (who might later serve as references for you) on a personal basis.

Junior Year

Your junior year is a great time to begin focusing on your career goals as well as preparing for the upcoming job/graduate school search. Although graduation seems far away, the time will fly by. So, we have some ideas of things you should be doing this year to get ready.

• Obtain/continue leadership positions in extracurricular and volunteer organizations.
• Assess your career values, goals, geographic preferences, etc. and create a list of potential employers and/or graduate schools.
• Review your progress in learning four (or more) skills relevant to your career field.
• Join at least one professional association related to your field.

• Have your résumé updated, reviewed, and ready to go at the beginning of the fall semester!
• Begin investigating internship options EARLY in the fall semester so you don’t miss opportunities with early applications.
• Learn how to ace the interview! Attend an interviewing workshop, and then meet with a counselor for a mock interview.
• Attend the Engineering Expo, the Engineering Career Fairs, the Research-Oriented Science Fair, and the Research Park Career Fair to learn about employers and their internship opportunities.

• Thinking about graduate, law, medical, or business school? Don’t miss the “Finding and Evaluating Grad School Options” workshop sponsored by The Career Center.
• Review the exam schedules (GRE, LSAT, MCAT) and be sure to familiarize yourself with the test and course requirements necessary for admission to your graduate program of choice.
• Investigate deadlines for graduate fellowships and scholarships. Begin preparing your materials the summer after your junior year.
• Begin to request letters of recommendation from faculty members.

Senior Year

This year will be a time for finalizing your post-graduation plans. You may be planning on applying to graduate or professional school or planning to land that first job. You may be undecided about what you want to do! CCPS will support you in making those plans or decisions. Below, we have listed some important action items to assist you.

• Finalize your course selections and ensure you meet graduation requirements.
• Summarize and analyze your skills and experiences from your undergraduate education.
• Attend local meetings and read professional/trade publications from your field regularly.

• Discuss your application strategy and review your essays and personal statements with a Career Services counselor.
• Check deadlines, prepare applications, and have letters of recommendation ready to be sent.
• Research faculty members from each institution, learn about their research, and read papers they have published.
• Search for sources of funding.
• Follow-up on applications and keep a record of the status of each. Occasionally, materials are misplaced so follow-up by telephone to ensure all documents are in your file prior to deadlines.
• Interview for admission and/or TA positions as appropriate.
• Visit campuses, select an institution, and make final arrangements.
• Check out The Career Center’s Graduate School Online Resources.

• Purchase an interviewing suit and leather portfolio
• Use SCS Symplicity, and begin applying for on-campus interviews at the beginning of the Fall semester.
• Prepare your final résumé and cover letter and have it reviewed by a Career Services counselor. Meet with a career counselor to strategize your job search and options.
• Attend the Engineering EXPO, the Engineering Career Services Career Fairs, the Research-Oriented Science Fair, and the Research Park Career Fair to learn about companies and their opportunities.
• Attend workshops throughout the year and write and memorize your “60-second spiel”.

• Schedule an appointment with a counselor to clarify your interests and develop a plan of action to pursue your goals.

Post-Graduation

• Alumni are eligible for all the services at CCPS for one year following graduation.

How SCS Career Counseling and Placement Services (CCPS) Can Help You

Join other students on SCS Symplicity. SCS Symplicity is part of the Illini NACElink Network and the online job system that allow employers to communicate with you about job opportunities and when they will visit campus for recruiting activities. The system is only accessible to those who have registered and been approved by CCPS.

Whatever your career needs, CCPS can support you throughout your undergraduate career, from your first year to your last. We can help you to assess your skills, interests, values, and experiences as they relate to your long-range career goals, and support you in your search. Being able to talk about yourself and about your strengths can be essential in networking, interviewing, and successfully landing the opportunity that matches your long-term goals. We can support you in your search and help you to prepare your résumé, practice your interview skills, and assist you in negotiating your offer. Visit the CCPS Services page for a list of our services.

CCPS is dedicated to you. Schedule an appointment with Patricia Simpson to help you with your needs. Call (217) 333-1051 to set up an appointment.