Freshman Year Four-Year Action Plan

Ten Easy Steps to Getting Started on Your Career Path

1. Relax!
   Your first year is a very exciting one. You are meeting new friends, discovering new interests, taking on new responsibilities, and learning to balance your life both academically and socially. If you have not yet decided on a major, relax and take time to explore different subjects. Now is the time to branch out and see what possibilities exist for you.
2. Career and Self-Exploration
   If you are not sure of your talents and strengths, or do not have a clear understanding of the types of careers for which you have strong aptitudes, advantage of our career planning and personality inventories. Discover how your personal qualities and interests relate to majors and career opportunities. Once you have an idea of what majors and careers interest you, you can begin exploring the type of jobs that you can perform within each field. There are great resources available through one-on-one counseling with our career counselor, our online career resources center, or our library located in the career resources room.
3. Create a Career Portfolio
   Create a folder or portfolio in which to keep important information about careers that interest you. You will want to keep this information so that you can reference it later as you get a better idea of what you want to do. Keep track of websites, articles, publications, and other useful resources.
4. Take Advantage of Career Services Activities and Workshops
   The office of career services (OCS) makes lots of presentations throughout the school year for all students. Topics ranging from job search strategy to resume writing to selecting a graduate program make up the range of interesting topics presented by the OCS. Check out our calendar of events!
5. Take Courses that Interest You and Capitalize on Your Abilities
   Now is a great time to explore new subjects or to study in-depth those in which you have an interest. Explore how these subjects relate to the majors offered by Bridgewater College, and how those majors can lead to careers.
6. Get Involved in Campus Clubs and Activities
   There are many clubs, organizations, and activities on the Bridgewater College campus. Listings are posted in The eagle handbook and the Bridgewater clubs and organizations web page. Employers often give preferential to graduates who engage in team activities, take part in extracurricular experiences, practice networking, and exercise their interpersonal and professional communication skills.
7. Talk to Professors, Upper Class Students, and Alumni
   There is no better place to find great advice than from those with experience. Take advantage of the wonderful resources available to you right here on campus. Professors and upperclassmen are happy to share their advice and experiences with you in order to assist you with your career pathway. Bridgewater's alumni mentoring program offers students the opportunity to talk to graduates working in the field. They are eager to assist a fellow eagle make the right career choice.
8. Take Service Learning Opportunities Seriously
   Service-Learning promotes performance of community service while creating opportunities for career exploration. By performing serious, meaningful work, you generate interesting and relevant data for your résumé.
9. Exercise Good Time Management and Study Skills
   There is a balance to managing academics and social life. Be aware of the time you need to be in class, study, and complete assignments. Your grades are important, but more so is putting yourself into your academics and integrating them into your life. Be responsible to yourself first and foremost. Your academic record is critical to success in your future endeavors, in both employment and graduate school.
10. Know Why Employers Hire the Liberal Arts Graduate
    Employers are interested in hiring liberal arts students because they open their minds to new concepts. They explore the world around them. They are conscious of how they fit into their environment. They are critical thinkers. They are flexible in thought and action. They think globally. They are idea generators. They are problem solvers. They are team players. They are future leaders. Make the most of your experience here at Bridgewater College and become an exceptional liberal arts student and graduate.