Career Preparation Timeline

It's never too early to begin thinking about where you are headed upon graduation from college. Below is an outline of things you can do, even as a freshman, to get a head start on your employment search.

Freshman Year

• Register to use Career Navigator and become familiar with its different features
• Attend the BYU-Idaho Career & Internship Fairs (held in October and March) to get an idea of which employers recruit at BYU-Idaho, and what they are looking for in potential employees
• If you have not already decided on a major, consider enrolling in a Career Exploration class to help you explore different career alternatives
• Learn about different societies and activities available on-campus; become involved with those offerings that will help you gain experiences you can use on your résumé
• Keep a record of activities in which you are involved that you can use on your résumé—record accomplishments and leadership experiences; these will be very helpful as you begin writing your résumé

Sophomore Year

• If you have not already done so, declare your major and attend a Career Workshop.
• Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities related to your major
• Begin researching places where you could complete an internship
• Write a résumé and call extension 2176 to schedule a résumé review and mock interview with Career Services
• Attend the BYU-Idaho Career & Internship Fairs; research employers of interest before you go and give them targeted résumés, indicating your interest in internship opportunities

Junior Year

• Continue your involvement in extracurricular activities related to your major; consider seeking leadership positions within those organizations to further bolster your résumé
• Add content to your résumé and refine what you have already done to develop a crisp, tailored résumé—call extension 2176 to schedule an appointment for a résumé review with Career Services any time
• Complete a mock interview with a student mentor before interviewing for internships
• Begin applying for internships in anticipation of your internship between your junior and senior years
• Consider going on an internship expedition to learn more about potential internship providers
• Drop by the Career & Internship Fairs in March and October; by now, recruiters who have seen you at several fairs will recognize you and appreciate your continued interest in their organization

Senior Year

• You may have received an offer of employment from your internship; if so, and you accepted it, congratulations—please notify Career Services by filling out a short survey
• Sign up to receive emails of upcoming on-campus interviewing opportunities through Career Navigator; you will be notified of opportunities that match your preferences
• Use your senior year as a time to be actively seeking full-time employment—if you are two months out from graduation, and you are just beginning to apply for positions, you are probably too late to have a position lined up when you graduate
• If you are interested in being a contact for future students who graduate from BYU-Idaho, please contact Career Services