Four-year Career Development Plan

Launch your exploration

• Be intentional about your spiritual development through prayer, attending Chapel and Convocation, and participating in ministries.

• Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your career goals and seek advice.

• Grab a copy of the CCI events and workshops calendar in our office in Jenks next to Registrar, or you can view our events in Handshake. Attend events and workshops suggested for first-year students and any others that interest you.

• Take initial courses for your major or a program that you wish to explore.

• Take a career assessment with CCI to learn about possible career paths based on your unique gifts and passions.

• Prepare a resume and keep it current. Attend a "Resume & Cover Letter Workshop" or a "Resume & Cover Letter Review Open House" at the CCI office to develop your resume further.

• Login to Handshake at Gordon and begin searching through job and internship postings.

• Create a LinkedIn account and begin connecting with peers, faculty, alumni and others to develop your network. Attend one of the LinkedIn workshops.

• Stop by a "Career Coffee Hour" or schedule a one-on-one appointment with a CCI staff member to discuss your vocational interests and other calling and career topics.

• Attend the "All About Internships" event in CCI to learn why internships matter, and how you can get a head-start on this important aspect of your academic and career journey—then start searching!

• Even if you don’t land a formal internship, obtain a summer job to gain professional skills.

• Ask your parents for career advice and potential ways to connect with their professional contacts. Parents can support their students and get involved in a variety of ways.

• Schedule an informational interview with an employer, alum or other professional using the "CCI Guide to Informational Interviews" (available in the CCI Office). Also, visit the alumni and faculty pages to learn how they can support you through your four-year college journey.

• Participate in the rich array of extracurricular programs on campus—athletics, student government, residence life, student ministries or missions, community service, clubs, the arts and more—to build your soft skills that employers are looking for in well-rounded individuals.

Plan your route and take action

• Continue to be intentional about your spiritual development through prayer, attending Chapel and Convocation, and participating in ministries.

• Carry forward with core liberal arts courses and courses in your major. If you’re still deciding about a major, consider taking one or more introductory courses in majors of interest to you.

• Pick up a copy of the CCI events and workshops calendar in our office in Lane next to Gillies, and plan to attend any workshops you missed last year.

• Keep your resume up-to-date with summer and semester opportunities. Visit a "Resume & Cover Letter Review Open House" or make an appointment with CCI to have it reviewed.

• Login to Handshake at Gordon if you haven’t already done so and begin searching through job and internship postings.

• Attend the "Calling & Career Conference" to continue discerning and pursuing your calling while building your professional skills, materials and network.

• Locate internships that interest you, and take note of application deadlines so you can prepare accordingly.

• Continue to connect with parents, faculty, alumni and friends—they have a wealth of information, advice and professional contacts that could benefit you.

• Contact three or four professionals working in the industry you are pursuing, and secure an informational interview or meeting with them.

• Attend the "All About Internships" event in CCI and seek internship opportunities related to your academic or career interest.

• Even if you don’t land a formal internship, obtain a summer job to gain professional skills.

• Visit the Global Education Office to learn about study abroad opportunities relevant to your major or career path, and start planning how you might incorporate global experience into your four years.

• Improve your LinkedIn account and continue using that platform to reach out to people, including Gordon alumni and other industry professionals.

• Participate in the rich array of extracurricular programs on campus—athletics, student government, residence life, student ministries or missions, community service, clubs, the arts and more—to build your soft skills that employers are looking for in well-rounded individuals.

Immerse yourself in new experiences

• Continue to be intentional about your spiritual development through prayer, attending Chapel and Convocation, and participating in ministries.

• Meet with your academic advisor to ensure you are on track with the proper courses and your career goals. This is also the time to discuss the possibility and benefits of attending graduate school.

• Start looking into graduate programs, entrance exams (GRE, GMAT, LSAT, MCAT, etc.), fellowships and finances.

• Attend career workshops to hone the professional skills you need during your internships and employment.

• Seek a leadership or professional opportunity on campus, such as becoming a teaching assistant, writing tutor, mission trip leader, Presidential Fellow, Chapel intern, career ambassador, Admissions intern or other important roles.

• Pursue research opportunities by asking to be involved in a professor’s research project or looking into other undergraduate research programs during the summer.

• Visit CCI to find out more about participating in an academic or zero-credit internship to gain great experience and further discern your calling.

• Schedule an appointment with a CCI professional to review your career documents and plan for your internship and job search.

• Network with Gordon alumni through campus events (such as Homecoming) and the LinkedIn Gordon Alumni Group, and schedule three or four informational interviews or meetings.

• Attend the Graduate School Fair in September and the Gordon College Internship and Job Fair in February. View events ➔

• Contact three or four individuals who might be willing to serve as references for you as you apply for internships, full-time employment or graduate school. Record their contact information in an easily accessible document.

• Apply for internships and consider the Gordon Global Internship summer program to gain global and professional experience.

• Sign up for membership to a professional networking group in your industry, which will provide you access to other members’ contact information for networking purposes. Most organizations have student memberships for free or at a deep discount.

Reach for your next milestone

• Continue to be intentional about your spiritual development through prayer, attending Chapel and Convocation, and participating in ministries.

• Attend career workshops to polish your career and professional development skills, prepare for your job search and interviewing, write cover letters, customize resumes and properly network.

• Schedule an appointment with CCI in September to develop a personalized job search plan.

• If you have not yet completed an internship, search for opportunities right away and explore how to fit this into your senior year schedule.

• Continue to network with Gordon alumni through campus events (such as Homecoming) and the LinkedIn Gordon Alumni Group.

• Contact your three or four references and remind them that you are applying for full-time employment or graduate school and they may be contacted by potential employers or Admissions Offices.

• Create a formal reference document to submit to employers when needed.

• Attend the CCI "Money Matters" workshop to develop a budget for life after college.

• Attend the Graduate School Fair in the September and the Internship and Job Fair in February. View events ➔

• Sign up for membership to a professional networking group in your industry, which will provide you access to other members’ contact information for networking purposes. Most organizations have student memberships for free or at a deep discount.