The Office of Career Counseling

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Step-by-Step Timeline - From Here to Employment

This time line begins whenever you are ready to begin your search for a job, be it summer or full time. Please note, that this time line falls rather neatly into the academic calendar; so don't delay starting.

Phase I - Secondary Research

• Make an appointment to see a OCC staff member
• Start a job-hunting notebook; get organized
• Solidify (at least for now) your career goals
• Read career information about fields of interest
• Explore the OCC website for jobs and internships (some have early deadlines!)
• Read a national newspaper at least three times a week to monitor economic and political news and trends
• Learn about the Alumni Sponsored Internship Program (sophomores/juniors)
• Begin your list of potential employers using industry directories and other reference tools

Phase II - Primary Research

• Have you done some thorough self-assessment? If not, make an appointment to see John Noble ASAP
• Make sure your resume is as good as it can be. Is it targeted to your interests and the employer's interests?
• Work on an exceptional cover letter
• Do you have references? Find them and make contact
• Begin your list of "career advisors," see Williams Alumni Database
• Prioritize your list of employers and create a printed list to show to "career advisors"
• Contact "career advisors" either by e-mail, letter, or phone

Phase III - Interviewing for Information

• Make arrangements to visit advisors
• Visit advisors to begin your contact network; try to get leads using your list of employers; ask for names; don't worry about specific job openings
• Begin follow-up on talks with advisors, write thank-yous, make new lists, write more letters/e-mails to employers/new advisors
• Continue your research, find new employers, check out smaller organizations, different geographic regions, expand your thinking, especially if you're unhappy with your progress

Phase IV - Follow Up and More Research

• Explore all possible sources of job information (industry journals, trade magazines, Sunday papers, OCC Library, OCC Website)
• Stay in touch with your advisors
• Continue to research your chosen field(s); you should have a well-developed job-hunting notebook
• Have you: contacted at least 15 advisors? Written at least 50 letters of inquiry? Stayed in touch with OCC events and/or counselors?

Phase V - Follow Through to Job Offers

• Don't be surprised if you don't have a job yet; just ask around, you'll see you're not alone; most employers only hire when they have an immediate opening
• Follow up all your leads and set interviews
• Make a final visit to a OCC professional to review job-hunt strategy
• Enjoy the end of the semester knowing that you have a plan and knowing what it will take to get the job you want!

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