Early Career Development
Career Development Paths
Using the two Career Development Paths, Testing and Exploring, your student can think about college experiences that lead them toward the right career. This concept helps students think strategically about their time at Oklahoma State University, seeking opportunities that help them achieve their career goals.
While at OSU, your student is on at least one of the two paths, either testing whether a career is a good fit or exploring their options.
Exploring path
The Exploring Path is designed for students who are still considering their options. At this stage, students are encouraged to actively learn about themselves and the range of available career possibilities. Seeking out experiences aligned with personal interests and goals can help broaden perspectives and clarify what is possible.
Testing path
Students who have a specific career in mind should immediately test whether their profession is a good fit by researching salaries, job titles and necessary skills. They can also gain firsthand experience through job shadowing, internship opportunities or by connecting with a mentor in that field to better understand day-to-day expectations and workplace culture.
Questions to help your student reflect and grow
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Career exploration
- What careers or industries interest you?
- What do you know about those careers so far?
- Have you had any experiences (jobs, internships, volunteering) that helped clarify your interests?
- Could you pursue any experiences, (part-time jobs, shadowing, volunteering, internships) to help you clarify your interests and a possible career direction?
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Reflecting on jobs, internships, research, study abroad and other experiences
- What motivated you to participate in this experience?
- What parts of that experience energized you the most?
- What parts drained you?
- Did anything surprise you about what you enjoyed or didn’t enjoy?
- What would you change if you could?
- Did this experience help clarify your career interests or open your mind up to something new?
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Academic and experiential planning
- How does your current major align with your career interests?
- What kinds of experiences (internships, leadership roles, research) would help you build relevant skills?
- What is one short-term goal you can set to move forward with your career goals?
- What resources or support do you need to take the next step?
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Resume development
- Tell me about something you’re proud of from your [internship, research, student employment, study abroad, etc.]
- What did you do and what went well?
- If you had to describe the impact of this experience in one sentence, what would it be?
- What skills did you gain or strengthen through that experience that you could bring to another setting?
- How did this experience help you grow in areas like communication, teamwork, problem-solving or leadership?
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Interview preparation
- If you were in an interview and asked about a time you made a difference, what example would you share?
- How might you connect what you did in that experience to the kind of roles you’re applying for now?
- How were you challenged? What skills did you use to overcome that challenge?
- Are there skills you gained from college experiences that you could use in this role?
- What is one story from an experience that shows your problem-solving or teamwork skills?
Student support
Helping students prepare for a successful career is our top priority. We offer career readiness support for all students at each step of their journey, from the day they enroll until after they graduate. Connect with our team today by scheduling a first-year career coaching appointment.
Stay connected
Family members of current students can stay updated about Career Services events and opportunities through the Cowboy Family Portal.