Below are lists of career-related steps you can take during your time at UAB to prepare yourself for a successful journey ahead. The Collat Career Center team is here to help you every step of the way.
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Freshmen
Fall
- Register on Handshake opens a new website, create your profile, and upload your professional picture.
- Make an appointment for a resume review on Handshake with the Collat Career Center. If you are on campus, stop by and introduce yourself (CSB 152).
- Once your resume is reviewed, upload your resume in Handshake.
- Develop and practice your answer to "Tell Me About Yourself?" (Elevator Pitch).
- Begin attending career development events such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours (see the center's events calendar opens a new website).
Spring
- Schedule a mock interview on Handshake with the Collat Career Center to practice your interviewing skills.
- Continue attending career development events such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for these events on Handshake.
- Join a business student organization opens a new website.
- Introduce yourself to your respective internship coordinator.
- Create a LinkedIn profile.
Summer
- Make revisions on your resume.
- Evaluate your career plan opens a new website.
- Continue to check Handshake for internships and summer opportunities.
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Sophomores
Fall
- Update your profile on Handshake opens a new website and have your resume reviewed by scheduling an appointment on Handshake with the Collat Career Center Team.
- Participate in career-related events opens a new website on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake.
- Search for internship opportunities on Handshake and meet with your internship coordinator for your major.
- If you have not joined a business student organization opens a new website, please join one.
- Consider applying for a leadership role in a business student organization.
- Practice your elevator pitch and interviewing skills by scheduling a mock interview on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- Update your LinkedIn profile.
Spring
- Practice your elevator pitch and interviewing skills by scheduling a mock interview on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- Continue searching for internship opportunities on Handshake.
- Participate in career-related events on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake.
- Start to build your career networking list. You can use LinkedIn or attend Collat events to do this.
- Build and maintain relationships with professors and administrators: you will soon need letters of recommendation for jobs and/or graduate school applications.
Summer
- Continue to secure internships.
- Conduct informational interviews/job shadowing with people in careers that interest you. For more information, contact Hannah Thompson at hmjohnso@uab.edu.
- Evaluate your career plan opens a new website.
- Review and update your career network list.
- Make revisions to your resume with the most current and accurate information.
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Juniors
Fall
- Update your resume on Handshake opens a new website and LinkedIn.
- Review your resume by making an appointment on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- If you have not joined a student organization opens a new website, please join one.
- Update and review your skills and interest.
- Continue growing your network.
- Practice your interviewing skills and elevator pitch by scheduling a mock interview on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- Participate in career-related events opens a new website on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake.
- Begin searching for internships on Handshake and continue researching companies that interest you.
Spring
- Evaluate your career plan opens a new website.
- Practice your interviewing skills and elevator pitch by scheduling a mock interview on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- Start applying to internships on Handshake that are specific to your major.
- Participate in career-related events on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake.
- Look at current job postings on Handshake that interest you to assess your skills and background.
- Take leadership roles in clubs and student organizations.
Summer
- Update your profile on LinkedIn and Handshake.
- Review and update your resume with your new experiences.
- Request letter of recommendation from professors or administrators.
- Job shadow at least two professionals in careers that interest you. For more information, email Hannah Thompson at hmjohnso@uab.edu.
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Seniors
Fall
- Update your resume on Handshake opens a new website and LinkedIn.
- Have your resume reviewed by scheduling an appointment on Handshake with the Collat Career Center.
- Participate in career-related events opens a new website on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake.
- Search and secure a full-time job on Handshake, and/or begin planning for graduate school
- If applicable, submit your application to graduate school.
Spring
- Participate in career related events on campus such as career fairs, workshops, employer chats, and employer tours. You can register and gain information for the events on Handshake..
- Participate in on-campus and off-campus interviews.
- Search and secure a full-time job, and/or begin planning for graduate school.
Summer
- Prepare for the world of work and/or graduate school.
- Complete the First Destination Survey to let us know where you landed! This survey will be sent to you at the end of your last semester.
- Congratulations! You are now free to take a much deserved vacation and rest up for the first day of the job.