• First Year
• Sophomore Year
• Junior Year
• Senior Year

First Year - Inquiry and Awareness

• Visit the Cahill Center, Room C-209, to investigate programs and services. Talk to a career advisor.
• Visit our website for 24 hour assistance.
• Initiate career exploration through computerized career guidance programs - FOCUS and DISCOVER.
• Write a resume draft and inquire about developing a portfolio which you will expand and refine throughout your academic career.
• Begin choosing your academic program and courses either through College Seminar instruction or the Academic Advisement Center.
• Establish a sound grade point average as you begin your academic career. If you experience difficulty, immediately see an advisor in Career Services or Academic Advisement or seek tutoring through the Center for Academic Success.
• Inquire about the credit-bearing PLACE course, a pre-career development course, offered through the Cahill Center for first year or sophomore year participation.
• Inquire about experiential learning programs such as Cooperative Education, Internships, Service- Learning and the Student Literacy Corps for sophomore year participation.
• Enhance your personal development through participation in extracurricular activities. Join at least one student organization in a field of personal or career interest. Consider the Student Government Association, leadership weekends and athletic teams.
• Attend cultural events (film, theater, speakers) sponsored by the college.
• Volunteer to help with at least one activity or event on campus or in your community.
• Develop computer skills through course work and self-study.
• Attend special events such as Graduate and Professional School Day (fall) and Job Fair (fall and spring).
• If you are a student with a disability, inquire about special services or career resources offered by the Cahill Center and the Office of Specialized Services.

Summer Vacation: Find summer jobs and internships through the Online Job Bank - College Central Network: www.collegecentral.com/ramapo, Cooperative Education in Room C-209 and your own contacts. Earn money and get work experience. Develop interpersonal and job related skills. Evaluate your experience -- positively/negatively -- and reflect on the aspects of the work you liked and why.

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Sophomore Year - Assessment and Exploration

• Visit the Cahill Center in Room C-209 and begin to assess yourself in terms of your interests, strengths, abilities and values. Find out about workshops and classes offered to help you in this process.
• Visit our website for 24 hour assistance and to check dates for events and programs.
• Take advantage of career advisement - both group and individual - offered at the Cahill Center.
• Assess specific skills you have acquired to date and list specific examples of what you have done to develop these skills. Include teamwork, computer, communications, language and interpersonal skills.
• Continue to use the computerized career guidance systems FOCUS or Discover available at the Center.
• Consider utilizing career and skill assessment instruments offered in the Cahill Center including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the Self-Directed Search and the newly revised Strong Interest Inventory.
• Revise your resume. Include all relevant course work and experiences - both volunteer and paid - every semester. Update your portfolio.
• Before you have accumulated 45 credits, you are encouraged to choose your major. The Cahill Career Advisors are available to assist in the decision making process.
• Visit the Cahill Center and Advisement Center to review current literature and reference materials regarding potential career paths related to your major course of study.
• Consider registering for the PLACE Program, a 2 credit pre-career development course.
• Begin to take advantage of the experiential learning programs that are offered: Cooperative Education, International Cooperative Education, Internships, Service-Learning and Student Literacy Corps. Also, investigate field placements and courses with experiential education opportunities.
• Continue to participate in student organizations. Consider leadership positions and opportunities to develop teamwork skills. Seek out opportunities to work with others from backgrounds different than your own.
• Volunteer for at least one on-campus or community activity.
• Investigate Study Abroad programs. Seek out courses with a multicultural/international focus. Consider foreign language study.
• Continue to develop computer skills.
• Attend special events such as Graduate and Professional School Day (fall) and Job Fair (spring).
• If you are a student with a disability, inquire about special services or career resources offered by the Cahill Center and the Office of Specialized Services.
• Begin to network with academic and work-related professionals. Schedule informational interviews with professionals in career areas in which you have an interest. See the Cahill staff for contacts and guidelines.
• Summer Vacation: Start early to research summer jobs and internships through Online Job Bank - College Central Network: www.collegecentral.com/ramapo, Cooperative Education in Room C-209 and your own contacts. Secure a Cooperative Education position, job or internship. Develop skills while obtaining professional experience.

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Junior Year - Testing Career Decisions

• Visit the Cahill Center and utilize the resources available in the Cahill Resource Center.
• Continue to refine your resume and portfolio.
• Inquire about the credit bearing Career Achievement Program, CAP, offered through the Cahill Center.
• Continue to find mentors and contacts in your chosen field. Contact the Ramapo Alumni Network.
• Join career-related organizations in your chosen field. Professional associations often welcome student members. Investigate those available on campus. Read professional journals and trade magazines in your field. Discuss interests with professors who teach courses in fields in which you have an interest.
• Work closely with your faculty adviser to confirm that you are fulfilling all graduation requirements.
• Continue to obtain field experience. If you have not yet participated in any of the experiential learning programs - Cooperative Education, International Cooperative Education, Internships, Service-Learning and Student Literacy Corps - now is definitely the time to get started. Do not graduate without experience!
• Apply for leadership activities at Ramapo. Continue to attend cultural events.
• Volunteer to assist with on-campus and community activities.
• Consider a Study Abroad experience, international internships and/or International Cooperative Education. Continue language studies. Select courses every year which address global and multicultural issues.
• Continue to develop and enhance computer skills.
• If interested in attending graduate school:
  • Attend a graduate school information workshop by the Cahill Center offered in the fall and spring semesters.
  • Talk with graduate school representatives at Graduate & Professional School Day (fall). Gather admission packets from schools that interest you.
  • Research graduate programs at the Cahill Resource Center.
  • Confer with faculty in your field about graduate programs you are considering.
  • Pick up applications for graduate school tests: LSAT, GMAT, GRE, MCAT in the Cahill Center.
  • Complete applications as deadlines indicate.
  • Consider which faculty members know your work well enough to provide references for you.
  • Visit prospective graduate schools.
  • Attend special events: Graduate and Professional School Day, Job Fairs and Transitions programs.
• If you are a student with a disability, inquire about special services or career resources offered by the Cahill Center and the Office of Specialized Services.
• Summer Vacation: Search for summer jobs and internships through the Online Job Bank, College Central Network: www.collegecentral.com/ramapo, Cooperative Education Room C-209 and your own contacts. Work in your chosen field to test your career decisions; compile an inventory of interests and qualifications. Cooperative Education positions and unpaid internships in your field could lead to full-time employment offers. Continue to build your professional network.

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Senior Year - Job Search

• Visit the Cahill Center and inquire about the Alumni Network and other ways of starting your job search. Use the extensive materials available in the Cahill Resource Center. Consider career assessment instruments if not used previously.
• Continue to translate your course work and work experience into skills. What do you know and what can you do? Skill identification is essential for effective interviewing.
• Inquire about the credit bearing Career Achievement Program, CAP, offered through the Cahill Center for junior or senior year participation.
• Attend Cahill Center Transitions workshops on resumes, cover letters, interviews and job search techniques. Continue networking and researching graduate school programs.
• Continue to work very closely with your faculty advisor and file your application for graduation.
• If you do not have relevant work experience, see the Cooperative Education Program staff immediately. Also consider career-related volunteer work, internships and/or field placements.
• Consider Winter Session/Study Abroad. Take advantage of opportunities that encourage a global orientation: academic courses, cultural activities and teleconferences.
• Be certain you have sound computer skills: word processing, database, spreadsheet and Internet.
• Secure references from faculty, staff and employers who can speak specifically about your skills and abilities.
• Sign up for a mock interview session. Get feedback from the Career Services staff after interviewing to improve your interviewing style.
• Sign up for the Online Job Bank - College Central Network: www.collegecentral.com/ramapo. Learn how to use the internet and electronic "Job Banks" in your job search.
• Refine leadership skills.
• Be sure graduate school admissions tests are completed and applications submitted by appropriate deadlines.
• Attend the college Job Fair in the spring. Present your resume.
• If you are a student with a disability, work closely with the Cahill Center and a career adviser in the Office of Specialized Services as you prepare for post-graduation employment or studies.
• Continue to expand and use your professional network as you begin to seek employment.
• Inform the Cahill Center staff of your "after graduation" plans: career, graduate school or other pursuits.
• Remember that your education is truly just beginning.