Department of English Four-Year Career Development Plan

The English four-year career plan helps you strengthen your abilities in reading, writing, and critical analysis while exploring how language shapes ideas, culture, and communication. This flexible plan shows you how to apply these skills across industries and translate your study of literature and writing into a meaningful career.

If you have questions on how to tailor this career plan to your path, make an appointment with the College of Liberal Arts Career Services.

Year One

FALL

  • Participate in the College of Liberal Arts (CLA) welcome event
  • Identify your professional strengths (mystrengths)
  • Meet with a CLA career coach and advisor
  • Create a LinkedIn
  • Attend organization callouts
  • Attend events or informational sessions for study abroad opportunities

SPRING

  • Build a starter resume
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty in your related interests
  • Seek out active learning experiences to know what your future career might have in store
  • Attend career events or informational sessions
  • Find summer employment/volunteer opportunity to build up your experience

Year Two

FALL

  • Update your LinkedIn and resume
  • Research potential concentrations and potential areas of focus
  • Begin building a professional wardrobe (CCO Closet)
  • Seek leadership opportunities in student organizations
  • Start thinking about graduate school options
  • Attend introductory presentations about grad school

SPRING

  • Identify a specialization of interest – whether this is Degree+, minors, or certificates
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Build your professional network by utilizing LinkedIn and informational interviews
  • Reflect on likes and dislikes: classes, student organizations, or other experiences
  • Attain a summer internship OR any form of summer employment
  • Meet with the Pre-Professional Advising Office

Year Three

FALL

  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Meet with your career coach to identify experience gaps
  • Secure leadership roles in student organizations and begin making an impact on campus
  • Network with professionals, faculty, and peers
  • Apply for internships in the desired area
  • Attend graduate school prep workshops to help prepare for applications

SPRING

  • Secure your personal brand, make sure your resume and LinkedIn reflect it
  • Complete a second or third internship to make your resume stand out
  • Create and update a professional portfolio including projects, media samples, etc.
  • Research various modes of interviews, including virtual, technical, and behavioral
  • Conduct a mock interview with CLA Career Services to be your best in front of potential employers
  • Attend graduate school prep workshops to help prepare for applications

Year Four

FALL

  • Meet with CLA Career Services to identify and plan next steps for after graduation
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network by letting all your contacts know you are looking for employment
  • Plan to apply and interview for jobs and graduate schools 4-6 months before you graduate

SPRING

  • Continue networking, including key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Attend a career fair
  • Continue to apply for full time positions
  • If you have secured a position, find specific skills to optimize value for you and your employer
  • Complete the Next Steps Survey to provide helpful and accurate data insight