5-Step Career Development Model
The Career Coaching team will work closely with you using our comprehensive 5-step Career Development model. This model provides you and your coach with a framework for assessing yourself, exploring career paths, and setting you up for success in both academic and co-curricular opportunities to ultimately develop lifelong career management skills. Career decision making is a process and we are here to support you every step of the way from your first day on campus, through graduation and beyond.

First-Years | STEP 1: ASSESSMENT
Get to know yourself
Begin to identify your values, interests, skills, personality traits and career satisfiers in order to identify the ingredients of a good career “fit”:
- Review the First-Year Career Booklet
- Take self and personality assessments (Clifton Strengths Finder and CEC Assessments)
- Meet with a career coach to review assessments and early career planning
- Begin to identify career fields and/or academic programs that fit your interests and abilities
- Create a draft resume
- Complete your Handshake profile
Sophomores | STEP 2: EXPLORATION
Explore and research career possibilities
Learn the connections between academic programs, experiential learning, previous professional experiences, and careers:
- Conduct career research and gather information from valuable online resources. Gather information on different fields, industries and companies
- Decide on a major and learn what career paths a major can offer
- Conduct informational interviews with people in fields that interest you
- Explore opportunities to gain relevant work experience, such as internships, summer jobs, or volunteer work
- Attend career and networking events
Juniors | STEP 3: PREPARATION
Develop your resume and cover letter writing skills; refine your career goals and strategy
- Through informational interviewing, internships, and relevant part-time and summer jobs, “test the waters” and determine a potential career direction:
- Update and tailor your resume and cover letter
- Research graduate schools and visit campuses
- Learn to present your strengths and goals in an elevator pitch
- Conduct informational interviews and build your network
- Develop and practice your interview skills
- Obtain an Internship
Seniors | STEP 4: IMPLEMENTATION
Develop and implement your job search or graduate school strategy
Develop the skills you need to accomplish your goals:
- Sharpen your job search skills and develop a list of potential employers
- Explore relevant job boards and begin to apply for jobs
- Prepare for interviews and practice interviewing skills with a mock interview
- Network with friends, parents, faculty, alumnx and others
- Gather graduate school application materials and write a personal statement
- Attend events such as career fairs, company presentations and career-related forums with alumnx
Seniors | STEP 5: DECISION MAKING
Make an informed and meaningful career decision
Gain insight into necessary professional development skills to be successful:
- Refer back to your career goals, interests, strengths, and values for guidance
- Analyze job offers/graduate school admissions and weigh your options.
- Meet with a career coach to walk through your decision-making process
- Consider the practical aspects of life after Simmons, by reviewing the Life After College career guide to help make a successful transition
- Join the Simmons alumnx network Simmons Network, and check out Simmons Alumnx on Simmons University’s LinkedIn page
- Learn and practice the basics of negotiating

Career Education Center
- (617) 521-2488
- Send an email
- Monday - Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm
- Ground Floor, Lefavour Hall