I have friends who are seniors and absolutely panicking right now. They're graduating in two months and suddenly realizing they have no resume, no interview experience, no internship, and no idea what they're doing after graduation. They're scrambling, and it's stressful to watch.
Meanwhile, I've been following Georgia College's Career Planning Milestones since freshman year and I feel... ready? Not fully ready, but on the right track. The milestones include:
One thing that stuck with me: the university "strongly encourages all students to complete a practical work experience such as an internship prior to graduation" . Not just suggests — strongly encourages. They know that the students who do internships get better jobs faster.
My friend who ignored all this now has to build a resume from scratch while also finishing a capstone and studying for finals. It's a disaster.
The Career Center also helps with "graduate/professional school applications" , which is something seniors often don't think about until it's too late. You need letters of recommendation, personal statements, application strategies — that stuff takes time.
I'm not saying I have it all figured out. But I'm glad I started early. The milestones are like a roadmap — you don't have to know exactly where you're going, but at least you know the next turn.
For underclassmen reading this: don't wait. Go to the Career Center NOW. Future you will thank you.
Meanwhile, I've been following Georgia College's Career Planning Milestones since freshman year and I feel... ready? Not fully ready, but on the right track. The milestones include:
- First year: career assessment + Handshake profile
- Sophomore: resume review + LinkedIn intro
- Junior: career planning + mock interview
- Senior: final check-in + resume upload for Employer Resume Books
One thing that stuck with me: the university "strongly encourages all students to complete a practical work experience such as an internship prior to graduation" . Not just suggests — strongly encourages. They know that the students who do internships get better jobs faster.
My friend who ignored all this now has to build a resume from scratch while also finishing a capstone and studying for finals. It's a disaster.
The Career Center also helps with "graduate/professional school applications" , which is something seniors often don't think about until it's too late. You need letters of recommendation, personal statements, application strategies — that stuff takes time.
I'm not saying I have it all figured out. But I'm glad I started early. The milestones are like a roadmap — you don't have to know exactly where you're going, but at least you know the next turn.
For underclassmen reading this: don't wait. Go to the Career Center NOW. Future you will thank you.
