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Northern Illinois University

College of Business - NIU

Career Planning Checklist

Freshman Year

  1. Meet with an advisor in the Undergraduate Studies in Business Office (Barsema 201) for course selection. Please call for an appointment, (815)753-1325.
  2. Enroll in UNIV 101 - Business section
  3. Use SIGI-Plus, Horizons, Bridges (computerized systems that provide occupational information and career guidance topics in CLB 235), and the NIU Major WebLinks.
  4. Schedule a career counseling appointment or attend a career workshop in the Career Services office, CLB 220.
  5. Visit the Career Resource Center (CRC) in Campus Life Building 235 and read about majors and occupations of interest. A good reference is the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition.
  6. Keep on top of current business issues by reading business journals and newspapers.
  7. Start your first career-related work experience by registering with Victor eRecruiting and meeting with counselors in Career Services.
  8. Talk to professors, academic advisors, friends and classmates about careers related to course subjects that interest you.
  9. Visit Career Services, Off-Campus Work if you are looking for work while in school.
  10. Visit the Human Resource Services, Student Employment for work on campus.
  11. Consider involvement in the University Honors Program (CLB 110) if you are getting excellent grades.

Sophomore Year

  1. Select a major and consider one or more academic minors of interest. Speak with your academic advisor or a Career Services counselor for details.
  2. Meet with an internship counselor in Career Services and check frequently with Victor eRecruiting.
  3. Attend both internship career fairs (October and February) and pertinent College of Business events for summer/fall/spring internships. See NIU Career Events.
  4. Visit the Student Association (CLB 180) for information about participating in any of NIU's 200+ student organizations. Also visit the College of Business Student Organizations site.
  5. Consider course work and co-curricular activities that develop skills in computers, foreign languages, leadership, communication, and ethics as well as international awareness.
  6. Visit the Study Abroad Office (Williston Hall 417) to explore study abroad and international internship opportunities.

Junior Year

  1. Take the Careers Course offered through your major department. (See specific departments for prerequisite details.)
  2. Become actively involved in student organizations and activities. Run for office, assume leadership roles, and/or join a committee.
  3. Obtain as much career-related experience as possible through internships, on- or off-campus jobs, involvement in student organizations, and volunteer work.
  4. Visit Career Services to strategize your job search.
  5. If relevant, visit the Career Resource Center (CLB 235) to identify prospective graduate or professional school programs.
  6. Continue to learn about careers of interest by visiting the Career Resource Center and talking to friends, family members, academic advisors, and professors.
  7. Explore the Internet for information about careers, professional organizations, and companies of interest to you.
  8. Arrange volunteer activities by visiting the Student Involvement and Leadership Development Office (CLB 150).

Senior Year

  1. Participate in Career Services programs on resume writing, interviewing, and job search strategies or meet with one of their counselors.
  2. Fine-tune your communication, leadership, foreign language, and computer skills via paid work experience, volunteer activities, internships, and active involvement in student and community organizations.
  3. Go to Senior Year Job Search.
  4. Utilize Victor eRecruiting and participate in On-Campus Recruiting.
  5. Attend one or both university-wide job fairs and pertinent COB career events.
    See NIU Career Events
  6. Identify and research employers, using online sources and the Career Resource Center, CLB 235.