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Four Year Plan
Home Contact Us Offices Directory Office of Career Services Four Year Plan

Professional Evolution

Experiences + Employability Skills = Professional Evolution

Connecting the experiences you are acquiring in and outside of the classroom to the employability skills you are developing and enhancing that employers are looking for among college graduates. Each of these employability skills play a role in preparing you  for what comes next and helping you making a positive and consequential impact on society.

Cooperation

Leadership

Utilize the strengths of others to achieve common goals, and can guide, motivate, organize, prioritize, and delegate tasks in various environments.

Multicultural Respect

Value, respect, learn, and understand individual differences among various identities along with the challenges they may experience.

Teamwork

Build collaborative relationships with others to work within a team structure, resolve conflicts, and identify strengths to overcome the teams weaknesses.

Innovation

Communication

Articulate thoughts and ideas that are organized in written/ oral forms effectively in a variety of ways.

Problem Solving

Obtain and interpret information in order to think critically, assess problems, understand the cause, make decisions, and create solutions.

Maximizing Technology

Identify and utilize different platforms to increase work efficiency and bring creative solutions that address industry related challenges.

Exploration

Knowledge of Self

Understand ones skills, strengths, knowledge, goals, and experiences relevant to ones career path and professional growth.

Professional Brand

Establish a positive impression or image that speaks to your work ethic, abilities, and core values.

Thinking Ahead

Effectively identify long/short term goals and establish steps that are needed to accomplish those goals.

Year 1

Cooperation

Create an FSC Team that can be made up of professors, staff, alumni, and students who can coach, advise, mentor, and/or cheer you on as a student and alumni. Your first year is a great time to start identifying ways to cooperate with people who can prepare you for the rest of your college experience.

Leadership

  • Take on leadership roles during group projects in class
  • Get involved with Student Organizations on campus by attending Blast-Off and other Welcome Week events to increase opportunities for leadership roles in the future

Multi-Cultural Respect

Check out offices and clubs like the Simmons Center, Multicultural Student Council, Allies, ASL Club and more to increase awareness of other cultures.

Teamwork

  • Collaborate closely with other students on class projects to start identifying  personal strengths and weaknesses when working with a team
  • Get to know your professors and campus resources to begin building your FSC Team

Innovation

An individual’s ability to adapt to change can have a significant impact on achieving ones goals. The earlier you are able to recognize how you adapt to various changes, the easier it will be to accomplish your goals by avoiding obstacles, solving problems, and making necessary adjustments in the years to come.

Communication

Speak publicly in or outside of the classroom through presentations, FSC Senate Meetings, Toastmasters (Student Organization), and other events on campus or in the community.

Problem Solving

  • Find a mentor(s) on campus who will help you succeed and overcome challenges  
  • Utilize campus resources like your Orientation Leader, Resident Assistant, Academic Center for Excellence Advisor, Professors, and more to help solve problems or overcome obstacles

Maximizing Technology

Activate your Handshake account to become familiar with scheduling appointments and finding employment opportunities

Exploration

Questions like, who am I? and what do I want to do for the rest of life? are not easy to answer. To help, explore different resources and opportunities available to you. The more you explore, the more you will learn about yourself and what’s around you, providing the information you need to answers those difficult questions.

Knowledge of Self

Take Career assessments (MyCareerShines, StrengthsQuest, Ennegram, etc.) to help plan your career path

Professional Brand

  • Update high school resume or create a new one from scratch to get your college resume started
  • Create a LinkedIn account/online portfolio as a way to compile your work, projects, accomplishments, experiences, etc.

Thinking Ahead

  • Create a bucket list of things you want to accomplish during your first year and throughout your time at FSC, like going on a Discover Florida Trip, kayaking on Lake Hollingsworth, getting a job on campus, attending a conference, etc.
  • Meet one of our employer partners by attending a career related event like Moc Tail Networking Hour

Year 2

Cooperation

We are limited by our experiences and to diminish this limitation, you should continue to expand and diversify your FSC Team. By cooperating with people that have different experiences than ourselves, we can enhance our skills, learn new perspectives, and increase the number of opportunities available to us.

Leadership

  • Explore leadership opportunities like running for specific positions through Student Organizations you are involved in or joining a committee you are interested in
  • Take on additional roles such as being a Resident Advisor (RA), working at the Roux Library, being Teaching Assistant or Research Assistant for your favorite professor, writing for the Southern (FSC Student News Paper) etc.

Multi-Cultural Respect

  • Attend cultural events on campus like Dr. Martin Luther King Day, Dias De Los Muertos, Open Mic Nights, Drag Fashion Show, and more
  • Explore cultural events in the Lakeland community like the Hispanic Festival, PRIDE week, Black Heritage & Cultural Festival, specific art shows, and more

Teamwork

  • Identify additional opportunities to work with a team in or outside of the classroom
  • Generate a list of roles/responsibilities you have had in a group settings to help determine what you enjoyed and what you do not enjoy

Innovation

With one year down, you can start to reflect on how easy or difficult that year was for you. As a result, you should be able identify what variables contributed to your success or shortcomings. Once you are able to determine what those variables are, changes can be made in order to improve or maintain those outcomes.

Communication

  • Talk with professors to learn about shadowing / internship opportunities with Geico, Lakeland Regional Hospital, MADE, Publix, and more
  • Visit the writing center in the Rogers building to identify common mistakes you may be making and improve your writing ability

Problem Solving

Utilize resources like the Roux Library, Academic Fuel, Internship Coordinators, and the Chaplins office for assistance with whatever problems you may be facing.

Maximizing Technology

  • Review internships and career opportunities to identify computer skills that can enhance your application 
  • Utilize your advisor to look for courses you can take in the future to enhance your computer skills (Examples - Introduction to Computer Science, Programming and Data Structure, Introduction to Web Development, etc.)

Exploration

How do you perceive yourself? And how do others perceive you? These are two important questions to answer during your second year because you still have plenty of time to make adjustments if you do not like the answer. These are also not easy questions and encourage using your FSC team for help.

Knowledge of Self

  • Choose a career path
  • Develop a plan to achieve your career path with your professors, Career Services staff, and/or friends to prepare you for that career

Professional Brand

  • Add any new accomplishments, experiences or skills to your resume you have gained over the last year
  • Update / sharpen your online presence on LinkedIn, Handshake, E-Portfolio, and social media accounts

Thinking Ahead

Discover opportunities (research, internships, and volunteering) that you can apply for in the future by attending a networking event like the FSC Job & Internship Expo

Year 3

Cooperation

If you have not already, we recommend applying your skills in different environments. Environments can range from in the classroom, internships sights, student leadership, on-campus jobs, and/or volunteer locations. Utilize your FSC Team to find opportunities and identify areas of strength along with areas for growth.

Leadership

  • Pursue leadership roles within clubs and organizations like SoCo Productions, Delta Sig, ACE, and more along with academic departments
  • Serve on FSC committees / boards

Multi-Cultural Respect

  • Go on a Junior Journey Trip
  • Attend a diversity Training like Safe Zone through the office of Accountability, Education, and Compliance

Teamwork

  • Create a response to how you would answer an interview question about working with a team using your previous experiences collaborating with others in or outside of the classroom

Innovation

At this point in time, you should have a good understanding of how you adapt to change and assess situations, along with making a plan for after graduation if you have not already. As a result, you will be able to identify which environments you thrive in, increasing your ability to set yourself up for success.

Communication

  • Test your abilities to articulate your strengths and experiences by attending Moc Interview Day or conducting mock interviews with professors, mentors, friends, and Career Center staff
  • Apply different forms of communication in an internship setting (speaking in front of a group, emailing, written report, etc.)

Problem Solving

Create a list of potential problems you may face after graduation and action items to address them if they occur.

Maximizing Technology

  • Research advanced functions on common softwares (Microsoft, Google, Macintosh, Adobe, etc.) and identify ways to utilize those advanced functions
  • Enroll in the course you considered to enhance a computer skill (Introduction to Computer Science, Programming and Data Structure, Web Design, etc.)

Exploration

By this time, you should know what you are going to do after graduation or have it narrowed down to a few options. That way, you can start exploring any last minute or final opportunities to purse that can prepare you for a smooth transition after graduation.

Knowledge of Self

  • Assess goals, determine which you have accomplished, which you have yet to accomplish, and if you are on track to accomplish those goals that relate to your career path
  • Discuss career plan with professors, Career Services staff, and/or friends to ensure you are on track

Professional Brand

  • Seek feedback on your strengths and areas of growth from those within your FSC team or internship
  • Attend Career Services events to see what companies match with your professional brand

Thinking Ahead

  • Attend our Graduate School Bootcamp or Law School Caravan if you are considering graduate or professional school
  • Choose an occupation within your career path to pursue after graduation

Year 4

Cooperation

As you are about to start a new journey in your life, continue to look for opportunities that will enhance your network. Maximize the remaining time you have with your FSC Team by locking in which relationships you would like to have as alumni so they can continue to be there for you after graduation.

Leadership

  • Outline your response to an interview question that allows you to describe your leadership style
  • Support others transitioning in leadership roles within you involvement circles

Multi-Cultural Respect

  • Become a trainer for diversity programs like Safe Zone and Just Ask to help inform your peers
  • Learn about the impact of a diverse workplace by attending one of Career Services' Diversity in the Workplace Series events

Teamwork

Utilize your FSC team to help navigate life after college.

Innovation

The experiences you acquired at FSC has prepared you to make a consequential impact on society. It is now up to you to decide how you want to do this as a professional in the career you have chosen to pursue. This is easier said than done, so remember that FSC is here to support you as you become an alumni.

Communication

  • Connect with alumni that work within you career path from academic, professional, and social circles
  • Present your work at Fiat Lux to fellow students, professors, and staff from across campus

Problem Solving

Utilize the Career Services or other members of your FSC team to avoid common problems associated with the job search.

Maximizing Technology

  • Utilize Handshake, LinkedIn, and other online resources to assist with your job search
  • Update and sharpen online presence on social media accounts, E-portfolio, LinkedIn, and Handshake

Exploration

As your undergraduate career comes to an end, it is important to have a plan and implement strategies that will hold you accountable while fulfilling that plan. We encourage you to continue to explore in your personal and professional life, college only teaches you so much and there is still a lot you need to learn.

Knowledge of Self

  • Identify your personal values and what is going to matter for you the most after college
  • Attend Career Services events to fine tune your professional skills

Professional Brand

Finalize professional documents for career opportunities and grad/prof school applications.

Thinking Ahead

  • Notify your references and writers of recommendation letters of deadlines and what you are asking of them
  • Remember all of the Career Services resources are available to you as alumni