MSU Extension 4-H Careers & Entrepreneurship

Career planning is more than just deciding on the area of study in which you wish to major. According to Penn State, “An effective career plan connects the dots between the experiences you have, the work that interests you and the goals that drive you.” Every career plan is unique; no two people will take the same path.

Michigan State University Career Services Network outlines career planning as three steps in the Career Handbook: get involved, get experience and get connected.

Get involved

• Explore majors and careers that interest you.
• Get involved on campus in student organizations, volunteer activities, on-campus employment and other opportunities to develop transferable skills.
• Take a career assessment to understand your interests, skills and personality more fully, and learn how they connect to career paths.
• Meet with a career advisor to discuss your career goals and discover resources to help you on your path.
• Seek out people working in areas of interest and ask about their experiences.

Get experience

• Search for an internship or part-time job in an industry or role that interests you.
• Create a professional resume that showcases your skills and experiences.
• Attend career workshops and events to expand your career skills.
• Seek leadership opportunities in student organizations or other activities.
• Build out an online presence to connect with and follow employers of interest.

Get connected

• Develop a job or graduate school search strategy and timeline.
• Attend career fairs and events to meet employers and apply for jobs and internships.
• Network with professionals and alumni in your industry via LinkedIn and other tools.

Western Governors University’s Career Action Plan Workbook supports the above-mentioned steps by having students break them into SMART goals. These SMART goals typically focus on education and training, experiential learning, networking and career management; these align with the three steps of career planning. Setting goals is like creating a map, one step may lead to another. 

Michigan State University Extension and Michigan 4-H Youth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to be a part of and contribute to the future workforce.