Career Flight Plan – Eight Semester Career Readiness Guide

Our university is here to support students in building the skills needed to be either employed or enrolled in a graduate program upon graduation. However, career development is an active process that requires action to grow and connect with opportunities. This career readiness guide details career steps for each semester to help build on your skills and experiences to support your transition to the workplace. Review the recommended career checkpoints for each year below and the semester break downs on how to achieve those goals to soar to success with CDS!

Year 1: Explore & Reflect

  • Complete the Career Ready Eagles Module. Learn about the career resources available to you.
  • Complete the Focus 2 Career Assessments. Explore your interests, values, and personality type alignment with FGCU majors and career options with these career assessments.
  • Explore Career Pathways and Communities. Review the CDS website to learn about industry-specific skills, job/internship opportunities, and blogs.
  • Identify Your Academic Advisor & Engage with CDS. Meet with your academic advisor and connect with CDS to intentionally plan your four-year success plan.
  • Connect with FGCU Community. Build your campus network through Eagle Link (student organizations), Eagle Service Network (service-learning), and Eagle Career Network (professional development opportunities).
  • Engage with Employers at FGCU Career Events. Meet employers interested in hiring FGCU students at career fairs, workshops, and networking events. Practice communicating your interests/skills and learn about careers that use them!
  • Attend the Part-Time Job Fair. Looking for an on-campus or part-time job? Attend the Part-Time Job Fair to explore your options and begin gaining work experience.
  • Explore Impactful Experiences and Reflect on Goals. Build your transferable skills at FGCU intentionally. Choose 1-2 experiences and leverage your service-learning and campus involvement to explore interests.

  • Create your college resume. Attend resume workshops, use CDS resume resources, and download your major’s sample resume to transition your high school resume to an updated college resume.
  • Identify the Skills You Want to Build at FGCU. Discover the in-demand skills for your desired career pathway through research/employer networking and prioritize experiences that support your growth.
  • Attend the CDS All Majors Career & Internship Fair. Learn about opportunities and plan for the future. Network and explore local internships/jobs.
  • Build Your Network & Professional Brand. Attend LinkedIn/Networking workshops or make an appointment to develop a strong professional brand and online presence to stay connected with employers, professors, and peers.
  • Research Career Options on What Can I Do With This Major. Identify target career areas and industries with this useful online resource.
  • Conduct an Informational Interview. Connect with professionals to learn about the expectations, daily experiences, and advice for career areas of interest. Get started with our Candid Career online database of informational interviews.
  • Plan for an Impactful Summer. Create an intentional summer plan informed by major/career exploration and research to maximize on gaining experiences and building skills.

Year 2: Build Skills & Experience

  • Check-in with Your Academic Advisor and CDS. Review your goals and alignment with classes and opportunities.
  • Build Your Transferable Skills. Discover in-demand skills for your desired career areas and prioritize experiences to support your growth.
  • Engage with Employers at Career Events. Plan for now and the future – connect with employers and explore internship opportunities.
  • Activate Your Eagle Career Network Profile. Utilize Your ECN profile to increase visibility to local employers seeking FGCU talent
  • Explore LinkedIn Learning. Upskill and complete courses and certificates on technical, transferable, and industry skills to bridge any skill gaps for target career areas on this resource available to FGCU students.
  • Attend a CDS Workshop. Engage with career advisors in meaningful conservations and activities focused on various career topics to support student success.
  • Practice Articulating Your Skills. Develop an effective resume and elevator pitch by reflecting on your skills, experience, and goals.
  • Identify High-Impact Experiences. Review your areas of improvement, goals, and select quality experiences to engage in for semester four

  • Edit Resume and LinkedIn. Attend resume/LinkedIn workshops or use CDS resources to ensure effective professional documents as you apply to opportunities.
  • Engage with Employers and Mentors. Connect with employers and mentors through career events, professional associations, and local networking mixers.
  • Attend the All Majors Career and Internship Fair. Learn about opportunities and plan for the future. Network and explore local internships/jobs.
  • Develop an Internship or Experiential Learning Plan. Attend a CDS Job/Internship Search Workshop or meet with a Career Advisor to develop an action plan apply to internship/research opportunities.
  • Attend a CDS Workshop. Engage with Career Advisors in meaningful conversations and activities focused on various key career topics to support student success.
  • Practice Interviewing Skills. Take part in a CDS Interview Workshop, a mock interview with a career advisor, or review interviewing resources to secure a role.
  • Identify Skill Gaps. Utilize digital badges, LinkedIn Learning, or be strategic with classes to develop desired skills/certificates for your target career area
  • Plan for an Impactful Summer. Follow-up with any professional contacts regarding experiential learning or opportunities to continue to build your skillsets.

Year 3: Refine Direction & Prepare

  • Engage in industry-specific networking and develop your target employer list
  • Update your resume, LinkedIn and/or portfolio
  • Secure an opportunity in your target career field

  • Engage with Internship and Employer Events. Be intentional in building your network within your target career area through workshops, career fairs, and local mixers.
  • Meet with a Career Advisor. Review industry-specific career coaching and planning with a Career Advisor to identify your next steps.
  • Attend Career & Internship Fairs. Plan for now and the future – connect with employers & opportunities to build your network and experience.
  • Target Skill Development. Attend panels, utilize career pathway resources, or make an appointment to identify and address skill gaps for your desired field
  • Attend a CDS Workshop. Engage with the CDS team in meaningful conversations and activities focused on various career topics to support student career success.
  • Market Your Transferable Skills. Obtain micro-credentials, digital badges, or LinkedIn Learning certificates to advertise your skillsets built in and outside the classroom.
  • Build Your Network and Apply for Opportunities. Optimize your FGCU affiliations & campus resources to tap into local/national opportunities at workshops or an appointment.
  • Plan for an Impactful Break. Review your progress toward your career goals and areas of improvement to make a strategic plan for semester six

  • Complete an Experiential Experience. Engage in an internship, leadership, or part-time role in your target field.
  • Update Your Professional Materials. Revise your professional materials with new experiences articulating the in-demand skills for field and prioritize experiences that support continued growth.
  • Engage with Employers at Career Events. Learn about opportunities and plan for the future. Network and explore internship/job opportunities
  • Identify Job Targets. Develop a list of industries and 30+ employers hiring for the roles and areas you are interested in to target for networking and applications.
  • Attend a CDS Workshop. Partake in meaningful conversations and activities focused on various career topics to support student career success.
  • Explore Eagle Career Network. Discover employers interested in recruiting directly from FGCU on our exclusive platform for FGCU students. Review weekly posts.
  • Research Requirements and Deadlines for Graduate School (if applicable). Develop your application timeline for your programs of choice and schedule check-ins with CDS on application materials and planning.
  • Meet with Your Academic Advisor and a Career Advisor. Review your goals and alignment with classes and professional opportunities.

Year 4: Transition & Launch

  • Explore Professional Development Opportunities. Gain experience/skills and continue to build your job search plan to apply to roles before your final semester.
  • Reflect on Experiences. Identify the skills you’ve developed for your desired career pathway you’ve developed and practice articulating them to employers.
  • Revise Your Professional Documents. Tailor your professional materials to articulate the in-demand skills for targeted career opportunities and connect with employers.
  • Attend the All Majors Career and Internship Fair. Secure postgraduation opportunities – connect with employers and explore internship and job opportunities at our largest career fair on campus.
  • Engage with CDS. Connect with Career Advisors in meaningful conversations and activities focused on various key career topics to support student success in pursuing career opportunities.
  • Apply to Opportunities on Eagle Career Network. Discover employers interested in recruiting directly from FGCU on our exclusive platform for FGCU students. Review weekly posts.
  • Search and Apply for Full-Time Jobs. Utilize your job search plan and list of targeted employers you developed in semester six to apply to positions the semester before you graduate in alignment with industry hiring timelines.
  • Build a Post-Graduation Plan. Reflect and update your postgraduate plans and goals to guide your final semester.

  • Apply for Graduation through Gulfline. Apply to graduation through Gulfline and check-in with an academic advisor to ensure all requirements are met.
  • Engage with CDS. Connect with Career Advisors in meaningful conversations and activities focused on various key career topics to support your next steps.
  • Connect with Employers. Secure a job – connect with employers and explore job opportunities at our career fairs and events on campus.
  • Assess Next Steps. Evaluate job application progress and identify barriers. Overcome any setbacks through maximizing CDS resources, events, or career advising team.
  • Adjust Your Career Flight Action Plan. Meet with a career advisor or attend a workshop to make any needed adjustments to your career flight plan and review job search strategy.
  • Complete the Graduation Survey. Complete the graduation survey to remove the hold on your final academic transcript.
  • Celebrate Your Accomplishments. Attend graduation and celebrate the hard work and time you’ve invested in obtaining your degree!
  • Engage with the Alumni Association. Stay connected with FGCU through engaging with the Alumni Association for alumni networking events, free professional development webinars, and other resources.

Career Development Services is an office dedicated to providing holistic career services to FGCU students. Supporting your development from career exploration to career preparation, we provide resources for:

  • Career Assessments
  • Major/Career Exploration
  • Resume/Cover Letters LinkedIn
  • Internship/Job Search Strategies
  • Employer Research
  • Salary Negotiation
  • Graduate School Applications
  • Professional Attire
  • Employer Engagement

Make an appointment today, or follow us on Instagram (@fgcucareerservices) or on LinkedIn (Career Development Services) to stay updated.