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VUSE Career Development Pathways

As a VU engineering student, your career prospects are excellent if you take appropriate steps to achieve your goals.  Earning your degree with good grades is not enough.   You will need to develop a professional network, participate in internships, and research industries and employers of interest.  You will need to learn how to present yourself to employers.  Click on the links below to see the steps you need to take each year of your undergraduate program to stay on the pathway to your successful career.  If you have questions, consult your adviser or the Career Center.

Steps by year on your pathway to success:

FRESHMAN YEAR

Attend a Coaching Express/Walk-In session to determine next steps, have your resume critiqued, learn about Center resources or ask general questions. Dates, times and locations are listed on the Center's website.
Register in DoreWays and complete your profile *
Sign up for Vanderbilt Career Center Listserv(s) for industries of interest(Engineering & IT, Finance, Consulting, Healthcare, etc) *
Create a resume and upload into DoreWays (tools including Optimal Resume can be found on the Center website under “Job Search Skills”)*
Create a file for notes about classes, projects, and activities that can add value to a resume (Optimal Resume has a portfolio builder that may be useful)*

 

Recommended:

  • Join professional societies and/or clubs
  • Schedule a resume critique or coaching assessment with the Center (615) 322-2750
  • Work on developing strong communication and computing skills
  • Start to build and track relationships with a network of industry connections; sign up for VU Connect (http://www.vuconnect.com )
  • Obtain a summer internship, research, job, or volunteer experience related to your career goals

SOPHOMORE YEAR

Sign up for VU Connect  (http://www.vuconnect.com ), network and conduct informational interviews with VU Alumni
Schedule a coaching appointment with the Center (615) 322-2750
Participate in on campus recruiting including Industry Career Day(s) and/or On Campus Interviews

 

Attend at least one of the following:

  • Interviewing and/or networking workshops
  • Company Information Sessions
  • Career Conversations or industry panels
Upload a current resume in DoreWays and update your profile
Search DoreWays, company websites, and internship boards and read Center listservs regularly
Update filefor notes about classes, projects, and activities that add value to your resume

 

Recommended:

  • Obtain a summer internship, research, job, or volunteer experience related to your career goals
  • Research & evaluate employers and industries
  • Start to build and track relationships with a network of industry connections
  • Remain/become active with professional societies and/or clubs
  • If you plan to attend graduate or medical school, begin discussing this with your academic adviser

JUNIOR YEAR

Upload a current resume in DoreWays and update your profile
Search DoreWays, company websites, and internship boards regularly
Participate in on campus recruiting including Industry Career Day(s) and/or On Campus Interviews

 

Attend at least two of the following:

  • Interviewing and/or networking workshops
  • Career Conversations or industry panels
  • Company Information Sessions
Conduct at least one informational interview (resources available on Center website)*
Secure an internship related to your career goals
Read Center listservs and follow-up on opportunities
Research & evaluate at least five employers in your industries of interest
Updatefile for notes about classes, projects, and activities that add value to your resume

 

Recommended:

  • Continue to build interviewing skills
  • Develop an elevator speech for networking and interviewing
  • Continue utilizing VUConnect and other resources or contacts to build industry focused network
  • Practice and refine business etiquette and communication skills
  • Follow up as needed with your Career Coach in the Center (615) 322?2750
  • Remain/become active with professional societies and/or clubs

SENIOR YEAR

Update your resume with items that add value, including Senior Design; upload in DoreWays and update your profile
Consider taking the Fundamentals of Engineering examination, which is the first step toward future licensure as an engineer. There are four testing windows per year. See
http://www.tn.gov/regboards/ae/documents/AE-April2014-FEandPEExamInfo.pdf for important details and http://www.tn.gov/regboards/ae/documents/AE-Sept2013-SSEIappkg.pdf for an application. Participate in an FE exam prep course. Note - almost all VUSE seniors who take the exam pass it.
Search DoreWays, company websites, and job boards weekly - apply for relevant opportunities
Use your network to contact potential employers & mentors
Participate in on campus recruiting, including Industry Career Day(s), Information Sessions and On Campus Interviews
Update file for notes about classes, projects, and activities that add value to your resume
Attend all Career Conversations or industry panels
Read Center listservs and follow-up on opportunities
Develop your Plan B

Recommended:

  • Practice practice practice all of the skills you have learned
  • Be  flexible - keep your options open while continuing a targeted search
  • Follow up as needed with your Career Coach in the Center (615) 322-2750

*These items/resources can all be found by visiting the Vanderbilt Career Center at www.vanderbilt.edu/career

Peak on-campus recruiting seasons are September to November and January to March for both full-time and internship opportunities.

Pdf version of Career Development Pathways