Interactive Checklists Help Students Prepare For Career Success
Landing that first post-graduation dream job takes organization and dedication. Just ask Lauren Barlow, senior career counselor at Widener’s Career Design and Development office.
“In this new digital-heavy academic world we’re living in, we wanted to have something that would show students how to engage with our office, and break down a plan for them by year,” Barlow said.
This past summer, Barlow worked alongside University Relations Graphic Designer Ian MacGregor to create interactive student career checklists for first-year through fourth-year undergraduate students.
Each checklist highlights different resources and opportunities to enhance students’ professional development, build interview skills to land internships and co-ops, and ultimately get one step closer to their dream jobs.
A huge piece of the Inside Track is making sure that students are engaging with career opportunities from their first year to senior year. It weaves through their entire time at Widener — Lauren Barlow
Career checklists provide undergraduates with a roadmap to success.
First-year students are encouraged to connect with career counselors at Widener’s Career Design and Development office, attend pro skills workshops on resume and cover letter writing, explore minors/majors based on career assessments, and begin looking at potential opportunities via job search platforms like Handshake and Quadjobs.
Navigating and planning when and where to seek internship and job opportunities can be stressful, but the Widener counselors are ready to help. “I wish I had this resource when I was in college,” said Barlow.
Whether students are looking for an on-campus job, or their first career post graduation, the checklists are a valuable way for individuals to stay on track to develop professional skills and design their careers.
The checklists are available to all undergraduate students via their myWidener accounts. Simply type “Career Design” into the search bar and click on “Career Design and Development.” The checklists are available on that page.
“We encourage students to connect with us in Career Design and Development the moment they begin at Widener,” said Barlow. “Helping students throughout their entire college and post-graduate career is what we’re here for.”