•  Self-evaluation
•  Honesty with yourself regarding types and levels of skills; likes and dislikes; values
•  Honest discussion with close friend/mentor
•  Counseling and Testing services
•  Paper and pencil testing
•  Evaluations by professional counselors

ALIGN SELF-ASSESSMENT, STUDIES, SKILLS BUILDING:

• Talk with advisor about necessary course work for major
• Talk with advisor about complementary course work for major
• Research complementary minors 
• Determine needed skill courses outside major/minor realm
• Consider “across the board” courses such as typing, computer fundamentals and software applications, business writing, finance, human relations, management
• Pursue areas of interest related to personal likes, hobbies, etc.  Hobbies may provide an area of employment in the future!

COUPLE ACADEMICS WITH VOLUNTEER WORK, INTERNSHIPS/CO-OPS, ON- AND OFF-CAMPUS AFFILIATIONS::

• First-hand experience is as important as “book learning” because:
• It builds practical skills in areas of possible future employment
• NETWORKING begins here—contacts for the future are made NOW (Remember you will need references as well as job leads!)
• Participation provides evaluation opportunities—Is this work really for you? 
• Check organizations in need through Volunteer Center on Bowery in Akron or on campus through A&S Careers Program
• Work with your department’s co-op/internship mechanism, Center for Career Management in Schrank Hall North or the A&S Careers Program in Olin Hall.
• Get active in organization/s on campus or in local community that holds interest for you
• Check GSC 104, Student Development, for listings of on-campus organizations
• Involve yourself at your church/synagogue/temple or with local non-profits like American Red Cross or Goodwill
• Start your own group by advertising on campus bulletin boards for students interested in the same things you are

KEEP CURRENT IN FIELD OF INTEREST:

• Subscribe to (or visit the library to read) magazines/journals in field/s of interest
• Watch programs related to your field/s of interest
• Use the internet as the tool it was intended to be
• Attend any on-campus or local workshops/lectures related to area/s of interest
• Join organization/affiliations related to area/s of interest
• Develop an on-going relationship/mentorship with campus faculty 
• Consider Information Interviewing close to graduation
• Call individual employed at local company in area of interest for phone question/answer session
• Ask to visit individual to see first-hand what field/company culture is really like