Career Planning: A Lifelong Process

This six step model is designed to help you make career decisions not only as you begin your career search but also throughout your lifelong career path.

Self Exploration

The first step in the Career Planning model is to examine who you are and what you like to do. With Assessments you will learn to identify professions that may be satisfying to you. Assessments do not tell you what you should do or should be.

Get Started

• Participate in an Assessment Workshop to learn more about yourself and your potential career interests. Check out upcoming assessment workshops, here.
  • Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)
    May help you determine a major or career options based on personality preferences. Sign up on Aggie Job Link to attend a workshop and have your MBTI interpreted.
  • Strong Interest Inventory
    This assessment may help you recognize career interests, preferred work environments and personal work style. Sign up on Aggie Job Link to attend a workshop and have your Strong Interest Inventory interpreted.
  • SkillScan
    A card sort used to help you learn more about the way you would prefer to combine your skills in a career.
  • Values Clarification
    Understanding values is central to making informed career decisions that align with your beliefs and needs. Use this assessment to clarify your values and priorities.
• Take the Careers & Identity in American Culture course to learn how to make informed career decisions
• Visit California Careerzone to explore potential careers
• Visit O*NET to consider or plan career options and more
• Meet with a Coordinator at the ICC

Experiential Education

After researching the World of Work in step two and working as an intern or volunteer during step three, you’re ready for the fourth step in our Career Planning model, Decision Making.

Get Started

• Find an internship with Aggie Job Link.
• Develop an internship on your own or with the help of an ICC Coordinator.
• Build skills outside of the classroom through volunteering, academic course work, working part-time or interning.
• Try service learning and apply your academic work with your community’s needs.

Decision-Making

The third step in Career Planning model is to all about learning through experiences like internships, volunteering or service learning (service learning is a combination of serving and learning that benefits the volunteer and the community). Experiential Education helps you learn outside of the classroom and in the working world.

Get Started

• Discuss your research, intern experience and your feelings about the process with an ICC Coordinator who can help!
• Identify where you are now and where you want to be.
• Think about what you’ve learned so far in the process and what you liked or disliked about your experiences.
• Evaluate your internship or volunteer experience and reflect on what happened.
• Look at the pros and cons.
• Develop an action plan.

Job Search

Now that you have narrowed your focus and set your goals, it’s time for step five of our Career Planning model, Job Search. But where do you begin and how do you start?

Get Started

• Visit the ICC to attend workshops, meet with Coordinators or pick up a copy of the Career Resource Manual, sometimes known as the Resume Book.
• Write your cover letter and resume. The ICC Coordinators and Student Advisors offer cover letter and resume reviews.
• Attend ICC Internship & Career Fairs to find a job and network with employers.
• Take advantage of On Campus Recruiting, located in the Buehler Alumni Center and interview with employers looking for UC Davis students. Use Aggie Job Link to submit your resume and schedule your interviews.

Career Management

Congratulations, you are ready to start your new job! Actively planning and managing your career will help keep you on track and lead you in the direction you want to go.

Remember!
Be realistic about your expectations, both of the job and of yourself. Remember, promotions are earned through diligence, initiative and hard work. Be conscientious and punctual with your work schedule. Act and talk professionally; offer firm handshakes, respect your co-workers. Be a team player; recognize others’ accomplishments as well as your own. Establish a mentor relationship with a seasoned veteran. Participate in committees and professional associations, if appropriate. Maintain a high ethical standard in all you say and do! Above all, learn, develop new skills and enjoy your experience!