Career Development Process
Take a systematic approach to your job search.
Your first step is to evaluate where you are in the cycle. Begin with self assessment and move through the various stages. The amount of time you spend at each stage will vary depending upon your needs.
Self Assessment
Figuring out what you want to do for your career is one of the most critical steps in your career development process.
- Focus 2 is a self-paced career and major exploration tool that provides multiple self-assessments by asking simple questions about your hobbies, skills, values and work interests.
How to get started: Get access once you create/register a new account using your UB email address and the access code: ubbulls. Choose from any of the self-assessments to get started. - CareerLeader - This is an outstanding web-based self-assessment tool targeted specifically to those seeking careers in business.
Explore Careers
The best way to learn about the right job for you is to understand the current job market.
- Read job and internship postings: Use BizLink and Bullseye/Handshake, company websites and other job search sites.
- CRC Concentration and Job Function Resources
- Informational Interviewing: Contact individuals in various fields of interest and conduct informational interviews with them to learn more about job functions, industries, companies and career paths.
- Job Market and Research Tools.
- School of Management Clubs: Begin building skills and learn about industries.
Build Skills
Build the skills you need for the job you want. Complement your classroom studies.
- Join a club.
- Volunteer to build skills. Check out these volunteer opportunities.
- Take a course or earn a certification: Improve on a skill that will make you more marketable with some online learning: Udemy, Coursera, and LinkedIn Learning.
- Gain experience virtually with small projects through Forage or Parker Dewey.
- Internships
- Improve your English skills with these resources.
- LeaderCORE™ for MBA students.
Prepare to Search
- Résumé
- Cover Letters
- Interviewing
- Managing Job Offers/Compensation Negotiations
- Networking and Informational Interviewing
- International Career Tools including Employment Visa FAQs
- Develop a professional portfolio or website. This is a great way to demonstrate your interests, accomplishments and goals in an online platform.
- Become a thought leader on LinkedIn. Pick a topic to really focus on. Share articles and news. You could even write an article. Learn more about How to Become a LinkedIn Thought Leader in Nine Easy Steps.
Conduct Search
Identify specific companies and opportunities that are aligned with your interests, qualifications, salary requirements and geographic preferences.
- Create your target list. Example: Tracking Document (Excel)
- Network and conduct informational interviews. More jobs are obtained through personal contacts and networking than any other resource available.
- BizLink
- Job Market and Resource Tools
- Additional Job Search Sites
- Salary and Cost of Living Resources - Calculate what you need to make in a new city to have the same standard of living.
Pursue your targeted companies and positions.
Evaluate Results
Career development is a lifelong process. Reflect on your career and make adjustments as your interests, values, environments, economy and industries change. Revisit this process when it's time for a change or if you are not happy with your results.
- Having trouble finding opportunities that interest you? Spend more time assessing yourself, or go more in depth in exploring your career options.
- Have you been applying, but are unable to get interviews? You may need to build some new skills.
- Are you not getting past the first interview? Try taking advantage of our interview resources.
- If you've gone through the process and still need some help, then make an appointment with your career advisor through BizLink.