How can students plan for Career Success?

The Magner Career Center finds that students who start preparing early will yield better results for their career development.

We have prepared a guide that details career activities to complete each week of the academic semester. Follow it below, and make sure to stay connected with us to attend all the awesome career events and opportunities available to you!

We recommend following the timeline listed below which mimics the academic semester. This is a general timeline to help you plan, but some items can be done much earlier! We encourage you to check the date of our job fair and, if needed, do those tasks sooner than the rest of the tasks.

STAYING ON TRACK: To help stay on track will keep an online journal. Use this template to create your journal (be sure to click on “File,” “Save As,” and label it with your name). The journal will have actions or responses you need to complete based on the activity. Review the journal at the beginning of each week to see what tasks need to be completed. Below are the topics you will complete each week with detailed information on the various career milestones.

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TASKS BY WEEK

Week 1: Get Familiar with the Career Center:

• Become familiar with the Magner Career Center by watching Welcome to the Brooklyn College Magner Career Center! and Magner Career Center Orientation.
  • Name 3 services you are interested in using at the Career Center. Complete Slide 3.
  • Name 1 thing that stood out to you/that excites you. Complete Slide 3.

• Watch at least one video from one of the following playlists. Complete Slide 4.
  • School of Natural and Behavioral Sciences Playlist
  • School of Visual Media and Performing Arts Playlist
  • School of Humanities and Social Sciences Playlist
  • School of Education Playlist
  • School of Business Playlist
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.

• Complete slides 1, 3 & 4 in your journal.

Week 2: Explore Your Interests

• Complete the Ideal Career Self-Assessment on Slide 5. If you need some help getting started, take the Color Q self-assessment to gain some possible insights.
• Reflect on your interests, skills and abilities by completing Slide 6.
• Take the O’NET Online Interest Profiler assessment. Jot down at least 3 careers you want to learn more about. List them on Slide 7 in the Career Interest box.
• Conduct research on these careers using ONETonline and MyNextMove. Complete Slide 7.
• Schedule a group appointment with a career coach to discuss your career interests and what you learned. Complete Slide 8 to prep for the appointment.
• Reflect on your group discussion. Complete Slide 9.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.

• Complete slides 5 through 9 in your journal.

Week 3: Getting Career Ready – Resumes

• Draft your resume by using the resources on this page.
  • Note: a resume does not only highlight work experience. You can highlight volunteer experience, class work you’ve completed, clubs you are/were a part of and much more.
• After drafting your resume, email it to careernews@brooklyn.cuny.edu requesting feedback on the document. Include feedback you receive on Slide 10.
• Make edits to the resume based on the feedback from the Career Coach. If needed, schedule a group appointment to discuss the feedback. When your resume has been edited, upload it to Handshake.
• Link the edited document to Slide 10.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 10.

Week 4: Getting Career Ready – Cover Letters

• Identify at least one internship you are interested in on Handshake and download/save the job description. If you can’t find one on Handshake, try the following resources.
• Draft your cover letter based on the internship you identified by using the guidebook.
• Email your cover letter to careernews@brooklyn.cuny.edu requesting feedback on the document, record the feedback on Slide 11.
• Make edits to the cover letter based on the feedback. If needed, schedule a group appointment to discuss the feedback.
• Link the edited document to Slide 11.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 11.

Week 5: Develop Your Pitch

• Take a look at this sample Elevator Pitch (shortened version of the answer to the question “Tell Me About Yourself” – the most popular interview question).
• Write down some points you would say in a 30 to 45 second pitch on Slide 12.
• Practice your pitch with a Career Coach during group session Walk-In Hours and write the feedback on Slide 13.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
• Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slides 12 & 13.

Week 6: Professional Email & Phone Communication

• Review the Business Etiquette page which explains best practices in the workplace.
• Log into LinkedIn Learning with a Brooklyn Public Library card, then complete the following communication module around Business Etiquette: Phone, Email, and Text.
• Based on what you learned, complete the scenarios on Slides 14 & 15.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slides 14 & 15.

Week 7: Job/Intern Fair

• BEFORE FAIR: Attend a job fair prep event. If you can’t attend an event, watch this 3-part prep video playlist. Write down 3 key takeaways from the prep. Complete Slide 16.
• BEFORE FAIR: Make a list of employers you want to speak with along with questions you want to ask. Complete Slide 16.
• DURING FAIR: dress to impress, bring resumes copies and smile!
• AFTER FAIR: Send thank you notes to each employer you spoke with. Refer to resume/cover letter guide pages 29 & 30; use this as a guide not something to copy. Complete Slide 17.
• Reflect on the fair. Complete Slide 17.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2
• Complete Slides 16 & 17.

Week 8: Networking and Mentoring

• Create a profile on LinkedIn.com. LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network. This allows you to build your professional identity online, and stay in touch with colleagues and classmates, as well as discover professional opportunities. Review this page to help build your profile. Complete Slide 18.
• Work with a Career Coach on the LinkedIn profile for feedback during Walk In Hours or schedule a group appointment.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 18.

Week 9: Building Professional Relationships

• Review the Building Professional Relationships presentation (BPR).
• Join the Magner Career Center LinkedIn group. Complete Slide 19.
• List alum that you would like to connect with in your field of interest by following these steps. Try to connect with one of the alums by sending them a connection request and a personal note. Complete Slide 19.
• Prep for the Mentor meeting using tips in the BPR. Complete Slide 20.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slides 19 & 20.

Week 10: Interview Prep

• STAR (click link for info on the technique) is a method that can help you organize your responses to behavioral based questions. Make a copy of this STAR Interview tool and come up with at least two STAR stories that demonstrate your skills in an interview by picking an interview question linked in column A1, and then filling in the rest of the columns. Complete Slide 21.
• Make a copy of this “interview organizer” and fill it in. The organizer will help you address other questions you may be asked in an interview. Complete Slide 21.
• Join a group session to discussion interview prep with a career coach.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 21.

Week 11: Now That You’ve Built the Foundation – Get Ready to Apply to Internships

• Review Internships 101. Complete Slide 22.
• Review Magner Career Center’s freshman/sophomore programs or junior/senior programs. Either apply to programs or develop a list of programs you plan to apply to. Alternatively, if no programs appeal to you, list your ideal internship position/company. Complete Slide 23.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slides 22 & 23.

Week 12: Personal Branding

• Join an on-campus club. Complete Slide 24.
• Plan to participate in at least 1 of these activities. Complete Slide 24:
  • Volunteer in your local community
  • Clean up your social media accounts by reviewing them in the eyes of an employer
  • Start a social media account for your career interest
  • Create a blog or personal website
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 24.

Week 13: Professional Development:

• Complete the Career Readiness Self-Assessment in your journal and identify at least one competency you would like to work on. Slides 25 to 31.
• Using LinkedIn Learning (free with your Brooklyn Public Library card) watch a video about the competency you selected that you want to work on the most.
• Create a short video or presentation that shows what you learned from the material you read and the video you watched. This is an opportunity to reflect on the past few months and what you learned. Slide 32.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slides 25 to 32.

Week 14: Goal Setting

• Review Magner Career Center’s page on Goal Setting.
• Develop a Career Plan (click link to download) which will cover the next 2+ years at Brooklyn College and sum up everything reflected on in your journal. Complete Slide 33.
• Register for a Magner Career Center event. Note: the workshop should be completed by the end of the semester. This can be any event that you are interested in.
  • Once you complete the workshop, in your journal reflect on what you learned from the event. Include the name of the event and the topic. You will see this task each week, you only need to register and attend one event. Complete Slide 2.
• Complete Slide 34.

Week 15 & Beyond: Catch Up & Staying Engaged

• Use this time to finish any tasks you didn’t have a chance to complete. We know you had a busy semester, and if you didn’t complete everything that’s okay!
• Be sure each semester you attend our events, especially our Job/Internship Fair, work with the Career Center to establish and refine goals/your resume, apply to opportunities, and engage with your campus community!