Meis Center: Four Year Professional Plan
This set of guidelines will help you get the most from your experience at the Scott College of Business and the MSDC. They will help build your resume and prepare you for your professional life.
The information on this page is available as a PDF document
All
Attend Meis Center workshops early!
- Sessions fill up towards the end of the semester, so don’t wait until the last minute to fulfill your Catapult requirements
Attend the Career Fair
- Attend Meis Center Career Fair Prep workshop
- Be prepared!
- Dress the part and do your homework on the companies before hand
- Attend both Fall and Spring semesters
Stay up to date with the Meis Center and the Career Center by following our social media accounts
Attend Meis Center level workshops for your year to continue growing as a professional
Foster strong relationships with your faculty and staff
- Visit during office hours, ask questions, and make lasting connections
- They can be a great resource for advice
Freshmen
Get involved! Visit the SCOB Student Organization Fair
- Great way to add meaningful information to your resume
- Attend the ISU Organization Fair at the start of the semester
Create a base resume and cover letter that can be altered
- Attend a Meis Center workshop
- Next submit your resume to Sycamore Career Link or come in for a walk in appointment with the Career Center
- Use the Career Center’s online resources
- Keep your syllabi to help build your resume Create your base resume by the end of Fall semester
- Create your base resume by the end of Fall semester
- Update anytime you have something new to add
Visit the Career Center website & complete MyPlan to explore career interests
- Picking a major/career path is difficult! MyPlan can help you investigate areas you may not have thought of
- Attend a MyPlan review session and/or meet with a Career Advisor to discuss your results
- Complete by midterm Fall semester
If you’re interested in Study Abroad visit the Study Abroad office or call 812-237-3427
- Great resume builder and an amazing opportunity
- It is much easier to fit Study Abroad into your schedule during your first two years of college
- If Study Abroad is even on your radar, contact the office by no later midterm of Spring semester
Apply for Internships
- Use Sycamore Career Link
- Make an appointment with the Career Center
- Check the bulletin board outside of the Meis Center for internship postings!
- Start investigating opportunities near the beginning of Spring semester
Create a LinkedIn account
- It is expected for all business professionals to have a LinkedIn account
Clean up other social media accounts because employers will search your social media accounts
- Midterm Fall semester
Volunteer!
- Great resume builder
- Contact the Center for Community Engagement to learn more
Sophomores
Update your resume and cover letter
- Attend a MSDC workshop
- Use the Career Center’s online resources
- Keep your syllabi to help build your resume
- Base resume should be created and you will need to customize a new resume for the new positions you apply for
- Submit your resume to Sycamore Career Link for review and post it to the resume book
- Come in to the Career Center for a walk in resume review if you’re having trouble
- Companies look through posted resumes when searching for internship candidates
- Submit your resume by midterm Fall semester and continue to resubmit anytime you make updates
Begin the internship search
- Start the search by using Sycamore Career Link
- Make an appointment with the Career Center to help you form your plan and learn more about Sycamore Career Link and CareerShift
- Stay on the lookout for Career Center employer information sessions! Learn more about different employers and take the opportunity to network with industry professionals
- Check the bulletin board outside of the Meis Center for internship postings
- Start checking Sycamore Career Link by midterm of Fall semester
- Starting Spring semester start searching and applying for internships every week
Attend Meis Center Interview workshop and schedule a mock interview appointment with the Career Center
- The more you practice interviewing, the more comfortable you’ll be when it comes to the real thing
- Schedule appointment before midterm of Spring semester
If you’re interested in Study Abroad visit the Study Abroad office or call 812-237-3427
- Great resume builder and an amazing opportunity
- It is much easier to fit Study Abroad into your schedule during your first two years of college
- If Study Abroad is even on your radar, contact the office by no later midterm of Fall semester
Continue to be involved in campus and community organizations
- These activities are great resume builders and help you gain experience and skills
Look into certificate programs to help distinguish yourself
- The Career Center and the Meis Center can help you find certificates to work towards
- Graduation is no longer enough to put you ahead of the competition
- Determine which certificates you are interested in by midterm Spring semester
Enroll in the Sycamore Career Ready Certificate Program to further enhance your professional skills
- You will complete most of the requirements just by following this guide
- Once completed, it will appear on your co-curricular record as well as helping you feel more prepared to enter the professional workforce
- Contact the Career Center by midterm Spring semester to enroll
Attend a networking workshop in the Meis Center or Career Center
- Networking is a learned skill and it takes practice; the more you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be
- Start looking for events to attend at the beginning of Fall semester
Use the Alumni Mentor Database to connect with alumni in your career field of interest
They will have great advice and insight on the industry
Juniors
Update your resume with activities, community service, and job experience
- An updated resume will help you be more marketable and make applying to jobs an easier process
- Don’t forget to update your resume on Sycamore Career Link as well
Use Sycamore Career Link to search for internships every week
Internships are important, often leading to full time employment after graduation
- Check the bulletin board outside of the Meis Center for internship postings!
- Set time aside every week to apply for internships
Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to develop a plan for your job search or graduate school
- Before midterm of Fall semester
Look for networking events to attend within your career/industry area!
- Check with your student organizations
- Ask faculty for suggestions
- Attend panels and presentations with outside professionals and introduce yourself after
- Start seeking out events at the beginning of the Fall semester and keep the search going through Spring semester
Work towards a leadership role within an organization
- This is great experience for life after graduation
- You can learn a lot from leading a student organization
- Beginning of the Fall semester
Keep practicing your interview skills
- Schedule a mock interview with the Career Center
- Ask your friends or parents to ask you sample interview questions
- The more times you practice, the more comfortable you’ll be for the real thing!
Identify and ask permission of 3 people who can serve as professional references (faculty, supervisors, advisors, etc.)
- Almost every job you apply for will require professional references.
- Having this list ready will speed up the application process
- Start by midterm of the Fall semester and continue through the Spring semester
Use the Alumni Mentor Database to connect with alumni in your career field of interest
- They will have great advice and insight on the industry
Put thought behind social media posts
- Employers will look at your accounts. Don’t let it be a reason for them to hire a different candidate
- By midterm of Fall semester you should be developing your online voice
Seniors
Update your resume with activities, community service, and job experience
- This will speed up the application process
- Create tailored resumes for the different jobs you apply for
- Don’t forget to update your resume on Sycamore Career Link as well
Create an adaptable cover letter and be prepared to make adjustments
- Writing cover letters can be very challenging but having one that you can make edits to depending on the job will make things easier
Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to develop a plan for your job search or graduate school
- Before midterm of Fall semester
Do your research!
- Investigate different industries and career paths
- Utilize the Career Center’s website for resources
- Think outside the box—all companies need marketing executives, HR staff, accountants, etc.
- Start this within the first month of the Fall semester
Devote time every week to search for employment
- Yes you are busy but finding a job takes longer than you may anticipate
- You may get many rejections until you find the right fit for you
- Be prepared to take the time and put forth the effort—getting a job can take time
- Start by midterm of the Fall semester and continue through the Spring semester
Identify and ask permission of 3 people who can serve as professional references (faculty, supervisors, advisors, etc.)
- Almost every job you apply for will require professional references. Having this list ready will speed up the application process
- Start by midterm of the Fall semester and continue through the Spring semester
Develop your list of friends, previous colleagues, and contacts for job leads
- Your network is very important and is probably deeper than you realize
- Start by midterm of the Fall semester and continue through the Spring semester
Put thought behind social media posts
- Employers will look at your accounts. Don’t let it be a reason for them to hire a different candidate
- By midterm of Fall semester you should be developing your online voice
Use the Alumni Mentor Database to connect with alumni in your career field of interest
- They will have great advice and insight on the industry
- Start looking for connections after midterm of Fall semester
Ask questions!
- If you have questions specific to your situation or general questions then ask! We are all here to help you succeed.
- Contact the Career Center, The Meis Student Development Center, or your professors!
Meis Student Development Center Office Hours: ISU Career Center Liaison to the Scott College of Business |