Career Readiness Roadmap: Charting Your Career Journey

This is a 4-stage plan to help guide you through your career journey at Villanova!

  • Schedule a ‘General Career Counseling’ or ‘Exploring Majors & Career Paths’ appointment via Handshake with the Career Center to discuss your interests and strengths.
  • Learn more about majors and minors that best suit your interests.
  • Access Handshake to complete your profile and career interests. You’ll receive information on opportunities and events relevant to you.
  • Volunteer for a cause you’re passionate about or get involved in student organizations to connect with the Villanova community.
  • Build a college/professional resume or update your high school focused resume to include college experiences. Utilize our Resumes, Cover Letters, and Applying Resource Collection on Career Connections to build your resume.
  • Create your LinkedIn and Nova Network profiles and use the headshot photo booth in the Career Center to kickstart your professional network.
  • Attend a campus career event to explore career paths and the recruiting landscape at Villanova.
    • Examples: Villanova Career Fair, Employer Information Session, Networking Events and Meetups, Coffee Chats, Professional Development Workshop

  • Schedule an appointment with the Career Center to check in on career goals, interests, and planning, and learn about the professional development services in your School or College.
  • Use Handshake to research internship/externship opportunities, attend career-related events, and explore companies.
  • Connect with industry and identity-based opportunities, events, mentors, and resources Career Connections.
  • Prepare for the application process by updating your resume, learning how to write cover letters, and succeeding in an interview. Visit Big Interview and our Career Connections Resource Collection for Resumes, Cover Letters & Applying and Interviewing and Offers for virtual support.
  • Connect with Villanova alums and working professionals on LinkedIn and Nova Network for networking and career conversations. Visit our Networking Career Resource Collection on Career Connections.
  • Pursue opportunities in research, leadership, or study abroad to enhance career competencies. Consider participating in a Villanova Immersion Program and connecting with other offices around campus, such as Center for Research and Fellowships and Office of Education Abroad.
  • If you’re interested in pursuing an advanced degree such as Graduate School, Law School, or Medical School, meet with the Health Professions Advising Office or the Career Center’s Pre-Health, Pre-Law, and Graduate School counselors.

  • Identify specific industries/organizations of interest and apply for opportunities.
  • Meet with an Industry Advisor in the Career Center or professional development staff within your School/College to discuss companies of interest, recruiting connections, and how to tailor your career search for target industries.
  • Attend the Career Fair and other recruiting events with a plan to connect with companies
  • for externship, internship, or job opportunities.
  • Schedule a practice interview with the Career Center or use Big Interview to hone your interviewing skills. In addition, visit our Career Connections Resource Collection Interviewing and Offers.
  • Obtain an externship or internship in a field of interest or engage in relevant/transferable research, service, travel, or employment opportunities.
  • Find more information about internship and professional development funding opportunities. Visit our Student Funding Opportunities resource on Career Connections.

  • Customize your resume and cover letter to each job you’re applying for.
  • Gather necessary materials and submit applications to graduate or professional school if pursuing an advanced degree.
  • Visit the Career Center to discuss navigating job offers, acceptance deadlines, and salary negotiations.
  • Obtain a job or post-graduation opportunity in a field of interest. Utilize Handshake and CareerShift for full-time roles.
  • Develop a list of professional contacts and connect on LinkedIn. Consider who you might ask to serve as a reference for job/graduate school opportunities.