Test out your interests by gaining experience beyond the classroom.

Expand Your Academic Knowledge

1. Work closely with your faculty advisors to review your remaining academic requirements to complete your major(s).
2. Discuss your career aspirations and post-grad plans with your faculty advisor. (e.g. work, graduate school or a full-time post-grad volunteer service program). 

Refine Your Career Interests and Acquire Professional Skills

1. Continue to explore career fields and identify preferred network settings.
2. Conduct informational interviews or shadow professionals in your field of interest.
3. Seek out on-campus work study positions or off-campus work study positions that tie to your career interests and/or will help you develop skills in your career field of interest. Contact the work coordinator in the Financial Aid Office to discuss your interests and available work-study options.
4. Hold a leadership position on a committee or in a student organization (e.g. music, athletics, service, SAC, etc.).
5. Engage in off-campus applied learning opportunities through internships, undergraduate research, clinical/practicum/field experience, local volunteer community service, and/or study abroad.

Prepare for the World of Work

1. Become familiar with the Career Center internship and job search resources.
   • View CareerSpot videos on job search, networking, interviewing, etc.
   • Sharpen your interviewing skills with our online interview preparation software BigInterview.
2. Tailor your resume for each job application and have it critiqued by a Career Counselor.
3. Update your personal profile on Luther's HANDSHAKE portal and upload your resume. Scan Handshake for employment opportunities.  You may log-in using your NorseKey information.
4. Update and expand your LinkedIn profile.
5. Use LinkedIn and the Alumni Directory to build a professional network to assist in your internship/job search.
6. Investigate employment opportunities in your field of interest and/or post-grad full-time volunteer service opportunities.
7. Attend the Fall Career Fair and Spring Career Fair and view the video "Career Fair Success."
8. Utilize the On-Campus Recruiting Program and events hosted by the Iowa College Recruiting Network (ICoRN).
9. Participate in a mock interview with the Career Center.

Prepare for the World of Graduate School

1. Meet with a Career Counselor and faculty member/advisor to discuss your interest in graduate school.
2. Become familiar with Career Center graduate school resources.
   1. Career Guide - Attending Graduate School (PDF).
   2. Read article, "To Go or Not to Go" (PDF).
3. Attend the Considering Graduate School workshop. See calendar for upcoming workshops.
4. Identify potential graduate or professional schools and post-grad fellowship and scholarship opportunities. Current contact person for fellowship and scholarship assistance is:  Elizabeth Steding, Associate Professor of German/Director of Student Honors and Fellowships,  Main 404
5. Attend the Fall Graduate/Professional School Fair.
6. Develop a list of your top potential schools and make plans to visit them.
7. Research program application deadlines and requirements for the programs you are considering.
8. Register and prepare for Graduate School admissions tests required by the programs you are considering (GRE, LSAT, MCAT, etc.).
9. Begin writing your personal statement and completing graduate school applications and have them reviewed by a Career Counselor and your Faculty Advisor.