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CHAMPS Life Skills

Career Plan

Freshman Year

Career Tracking

  • Take DISCOVER an online career assessment through VU Career Center (VUCC)
  • Begin developing a resume to include college activities
  • Sign up on CareerLink through VUCC
  • Attend at least 2 VUCC workshops (resume writing, finding an internship, etc.) Current program information is available by checking CareerLink.

Personal Development

  • Participate in volunteer opportunities through CHAMPS
  • Participate in DoreSTEPS, Vanderbilt Visions and Student Athlete Orientation
  • Consider VUXP, a Vanderbilt Leadership Development program
  • Consider meaningful summer work options and/or internships

Why these steps should be completed:

    • Familiarity with the Career Center and other programs offered
    • Student involvement

Sophomore Year

Career Tracking

  • Define major and academic concentration
  • Sign up or update your profile on CareerLink through VUCC
  • Attend at least 2 VUCC workshops (resume/cover letter writing, finding an internship, etc.) Current program information is available by checking CareerLink.
  • Update resume with college activities
  • Develop a cover letter for applying to internships

Consider Summer (internship or study abroad) Possibilities

  • Meet with Career Center advisor about summer internship options
  • Attend a VUCC Internship Workshop
  • Consider meaningful summer work options or summer abroad programs
  • Consider participation in SEC or NCAA internships – see CHAMPS for more information
  • Attend the Nashville Area College to Career Fair (Internships) in February at the TN State Fairgrounds

Personal Development

  • Participate in volunteer opportunities through CHAMPS

Why these steps should be completed:

    • Meaningful summer internships or studying abroad can be valuable experiences and lead to career opportunities upon graduation
    • When applying for internships, graduate schools, or jobs, recruiters seek applicants who are well rounded individuals. The addition of volunteer and community service activities on your resume will reflect your involvement in areas other than school and athletics.

Junior Year

Career Tracking

  • Update resume with college activities
  • Update/develop cover letter for applying to internships
  • Attend at least 2 VUCC workshops (resume/cover letter writing, finding an internship, etc.) Current program information is available by checking CareerLink.
  • Update your profile on CareerLink
  • Upload resume on CareerLink. Companies contact the Career Center for resumes, and this ensures that yours will be included.
  • Sign up for Mock Interview Training with VUCC
  • Identify faculty & staff for references
  • Research specific industries and develop target list of potential employers
  • Meet with VUCC Advisor and consider job/post-graduation plan
  • Share job/post-graduation plan with athletic academic counselor
  • Meet with Faculty Advisor and consider/share job/post-graduation plan

Consider Graduate School

  • When considering Graduate & Professional Schools, become acquainted with the admissions process and admissions testing requirements, attend VUCC programs
  • Attend Graduate & Professional School Fair offered by VUCC – Fall
  • Research scholarships for graduate and professional schools
  • Sign up for GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT test training at the Career Center in the Fall or Spring

Consider Summer (internship or study abroad) Possibilities

  • Meet with Career Center advisor about summer internship options
  • Attend a VUCC Internship Workshop
  • Consider meaningful summer work options or summer abroad programs
  • Consider participation in SEC or NCAA internships – see CHAMPS for more information
  • Attend the Nashville Area College to Career Fair (Internships) in February at the TN State Fairgrounds

Personal Development

  • Participate in volunteer opportunities through CHAMPS

Why these steps should be completed:

    • Preparation for post-graduation plan and developing career strategies/goals.

Senior Year

Career Tracking

  • Polish resume and cover letter
  • Sign up for Mock Interview Training with VUCC
  • Attend VUCC Workshops (job search process, networking, interviewing, etc.) Current program information is available by checking CareerLink
  • Meet with Career Advisor to discuss career goals and options
  • Upload resume on CareerLink. Companies contact the Career Center for resumes, and this ensures that yours will be included
  • Update your profile on CareerLink
  • Complete University Senior Survey
  • Inform VUCC of post graduation plans

Graduate School

  • When considering Graduate & Professional Schools, become acquainted with the admissions process and admissions testing requirements, attend VUCC programs
  • Attend Graduate & Professional School Fair offered by VUCC – Fall
  • Research scholarships for graduate and professional schools
  • Make sure all necessary tests have been taken (GRE, MCAT, LSAT, GMAT)
  • Follow-up with athletic academic counselor regarding available NCAA post-graduation scholarships

Personal Development

  • Participate in volunteer opportunities through CHAMPS

Why these steps should be completed:

  • When all the steps are completed each year, the student-athletes should be prepared to achieve their career goals.