Fourth Year Milestones

Senior year is the time to start making all your hard work pay off! If you are planning to pursue full-time employment, your search starts in September. Heading to grad school? Time to start applying! By the end of this year, you should have earned 120 credits and a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher, completed a minor or double major if interested, and finish preparing for graduation!

• Your Education As A Whole
  In your Capstone course, you will consider how your unique academic journey has prepared you for a successful career and a meaningful life – but don’t limit your thinking about that to your Capstone course assignments. Discuss with your academic advisor how the various parts of your education – inside and out of the classroom – fit together. Review and reflect on your progress by looking through your ePortfolio. Being able to articulate your distinctive experiences, cogently and enthusiastically, to a potential employer or graduate school admissions committee can win you the job or acceptance to grad school.
• Handshake Is Your New Home

  Update your Handshake profile and upload your most recent resume and other documents.

  Apply for any posted positions that you qualify for and that match your goals. Check back at least once a week, until you accept an opportunity.
  Review the Job and Internship Search Guide in the fall to begin planning the search process.
  Identify your target industries and top 25 target employers where you would like to work.
  Set up an individual appointment with the director of career development if you’re unsure what to do!
  Use the online Mock Interview tool in QUCC to get additional practice

• Internships for Depth
  It is not too late to do an internship to deepen your experience in one area, or add breadth to your professional background. The more experiences you have, the more attractive you will be to employers
• Leverage LinkedIn
  Make it a goal to develop at least 75 additional connections by the end of the year. Begin reaching out to your connections that can introduce you to their connections working in your target industries and organizations. Review our LinkedIn Guide to better refine your use of this tool.
• Connect With Alumni
  Continue to reach out to QU alumni using both the Bobcat Connect and our CAS LinkedIn group. Remember, you should not expect alumni to offer you jobs or even immediate assistance. Start your relationship by asking for their advice.
• Master The Career Fair
  Identify all the employers you need to speak with based on your goals and target industries. Research them and plan your approach to each company. All seniors should do this even if your immediate plans are to go to graduate school. Plans can change and this is a chance to make connections while you are face-to-face with recruiters, and build a network for the future.
• Graduate School Applications
  Beginning in the fall, take the necessary exams and begin applying to the schools in which you are interested. Start early, remembering you will need to write personal statements and complete applications, ask others to write references, request transcripts and take entrance exams.
• Networking In High Gear
  If you are planning to look for work near your hometown after graduation, use some time while you are home for winter break or spring break to join local chapters of professional organizations and attend a live networking event. Share your goals, specifically as possible, with faculty, family and friends and ask if they can connect you to anyone in your target industries/companies.
• Registration Information
  Click here for registration information