CAREER SERVICES

WConnect

Career Exploration

Career Readiness Roadmap

Overview

The career readiness roadmap outlines a recommended plan for career development, tailored to 4-year students and 2-year transfer students at Mississippi University for Women. Each semester includes key activities, resources, and milestones to ensure students graduate with the skills, experience, and confidence to launch their careers. To track your progress digitally, get started with The W Flight Path!

4-Year Student Career Track

Freshman Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Activate your Suitable account using your W email.
  • Complete the Strong Interest Inventory in UN 101 and discuss the results with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Explore careers using
  • Attend the Majors and Minors Fair to explore programs at The W.
  • Activate your Handshake account using your W email.
  • Join at least one student organization.
  • Volunteer on campus or in the community.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate

Spring Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Schedule a career advising appointment with the Career Services and Professional Development (CSPD) Center.
  • Continue exploring careers.
  • Complete your Handshake profile and set your job preferences.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Begin building a resume with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Volunteer on campus or in the community.
  • Secure on/off-campus work experience.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Revisit and refine your career goals and major/minor choices.
  • Continue your involvement in organizations.
  • Enroll in Career Readiness through Emotional Intelligence.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Begin searching for an internship, study abroad, research experience, or other high impact experience.
  • Update your resume and Handshake profile, removing high school and outdated experiences.
  • Schedule a resume/cover letter review appointment with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.

Spring Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Apply for an internship, job shadowing, study abroad, research experience, or other high impact experience.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Attend Mock Interview Day.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.

Summer Semester

  • Complete an internship, research experience, study abroad, or other high impact experience related to degree program.

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Revisit and refine your career goals.
  • Take on leadership roles in organizations.
  • Update your resume.
  • Begin building a LinkedIn profile.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Begin searching for an internship, study abroad, research experience, or other high impact experience.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.
  • Network with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.

Spring Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Attend graduate school info sessions (if applicable).
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Begin compiling a professional portfolio (writing samples, projects, etc.).
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.
  • Attend Mock Interview Day.

Summer Semester

  • Complete an internship, research experience, study abroad, or other high impact experience related to degree program.
  • Conduct a resume, Handshake, and LinkedIn audit.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Finalize your resume/CV, cover letter/statement of purpose, and references.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Apply for full-time jobs or graduate programs.
  • Practice interviewing with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes and complete procedures to remain on track to graduate.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.

Spring Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Continue job applications and interviews.
  • Obtain the Professional Development Certification from the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Attend Mock Interview Day.
  • Complete the Graduation Survey.
  • Graduate!

2-Year Transfer Student Career Track

Junior Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Activate your Suitable account using your W email.
  • Schedule a career advising appointment with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Explore careers using
  • Attend the Majors and Minors Fair to explore programs at The W.
  • Activate your Handshake account using your W email.
  • Join at least one student organization.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Begin searching for an internship, study abroad, research experience, or other high impact experience.
  • Volunteer on campus or in the community.
  • Secure on/off-campus work experience.
  • Network with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.
  • Begin building a resume with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.

Spring Semester

  • Update your resume.
  • Begin building a LinkedIn profile.
  • Enroll in Career Readiness through Emotional Intelligence.
  • Apply for an internship, job shadowing, study abroad, research experience, or other high impact experience.
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Attend graduate school info sessions (if applicable).
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Attend Mock Interview Day.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes to remain on track to graduate.
  • Begin compiling a professional portfolio (writing samples, projects, etc.).

Summer Semester

  • Complete an internship, research experience, study abroad, or other high impact experience related to degree program.
  • Conduct a resume, Handshake, and LinkedIn audit.

Senior Year

Fall Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Finalize your resume/CV, cover letter/statement of purpose, and references.
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Apply for full-time jobs or graduate programs.
  • Practice interviewing with the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Meet with your advisor(s) to register for classes and complete procedures to remain on track to graduate.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.

Spring Semester

  • Go to class, complete assignments, and check your W email!
  • Attend campus events.
  • Attend and complete CSPD Center’s Professional Development Certification and career readiness workshops.
  • Attend a career fair, on-campus employer connection event, or career trek.
  • Continue job applications and interviews.
  • Obtain the Professional Development Certification from the Career Services and Professional Development Center.
  • Continue networking with alumni via Handshake, LinkedIn, and campus events.
  • Attend Mock Interview Day.
  • Complete the Graduation Survey.
  • Graduate!

Career Assessments

It's hard to figure out what you're supposed to do 'the rest of your life.' No one thing or person can tell you what to major in or what career path you should take, but career assessments can provide direction so you can make the best decision for YOU.

https://www.muw.edu/careers/O*Net
Free
O*Net
  • Self-directed career exploration/assessment to help students identify their work-related interests.
  • Helpful for people choosing or changing their major or students in any major who are wondering what types of career options might fit their interests.
  • Students receive results immediately and can access the software online.
O*Net
https://www.muw.edu/careers/What%20Can%20I%20Do%20With%20This%20Major
Free
What Can I Do With This Major?
What Can I Do With This Major? features 100 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities. Scroll to the bottom of each profile for links to professional associations, occupational outlook information, and job search resources.
What Can I Do With This Major?
https://www.muw.edu/careers/Strong%20Interest%20Inventory
CONTACT OUR OFFICE FOR ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
Strong Interest Inventory
  • Strong Interest Inventory assessment helps students uncover their career interests and identify which areas of study are appropriate or required for a particular field. Students become more engaged because they are focused on classes relevant to their goals.
  • By identifying personal interests and how these relate to different occupations, the Strong assessment opens up the world of work to first-time career seekers and people considering a career transition.
  • The Strong assessment heightens people's self-awareness and provides deeper understanding of individual strengths and blind spots, including work style and orientation to risk taking.
  • The Strong assessment helps employees align their interests with areas of responsibility in their job, or in other jobs within your organization where those interests can be applied. 
  • The Strong assessment helps individuals re-enter the workplace after a period of disconnection or absence.
CONTACT US