Career Planning Timelines

Prepared by Peter Spellman, Director, the Career Development Center 

Freshman Year

Academics

  • Try required courses to help explore majors.
  • Meet regularly with your academic advisor.
  • Meet professors; take advantage of office hours.
  • Attend Majors Event during the spring quarter.

Career

  • Attend Career Talk during orientation.
  • Visit the CDC.
  • Pick up CDC Summer Job resource packet in the spring semester.
  • Meet with a CDC career advisor to become familiar with Berklee’s rich store of career resources and events.

Extracurricular

  • Ask an RA or peer advisor for help if you need it.
  • Get involved in dorm activities, student organizations, and/or public service projects.
  • Nurture hobbies; balance work and play.
  • Work on projects requiring teamwork.

Sophomore Year

Academics

  • Meet with your academic advisor to discuss majors and your four-year plan.
  • Research faculty advisors.
  • Take courses that foster discussion.
  • Investigate off-campus study-abroad programs.
  • Visit departmental webpages to learn about majors and any requirements to declare.

Career

  • Visit the CDC if you haven't already done so.
  • Spend time in the CDC researching career fields of interest and getting acquainted with its diverse career resources.
  • Meet with professionals through the Mentor Program or Berklee Career Network.
  • Meet with a career counselor to discuss majors as they relate to careers.
  • Become informed of all summer job recruitment events through the CDC.
  • Look for summer internships or part-time jobs to gain valuable work experience.
  • Pick up CDC's Summer Jobs resource packet.
  • Attend CDC workshops and majors fairs.

Extracurricular

  • Consider taking a leadership role in your dorm, a campus organization, or class projects.
  • Volunteer, building team experience.

Junior Year

Academics

  • Study abroad or participate in an off-campus program.
  • Research grad school, if appropriate.
  • Investigate topics for research projects in your career field.
  • Pre-MBA students, prepare to take GMAT; pre-law students, prepare to take LSAT. (The CDC has information on both.)

Career

  • Meet with a career counselor to discuss your career goals.
  • Attend CDC workshops, panels, and career/internship fairs.
  • Schedule informational interviews with alumni through the Berklee Career Network or the Mentor Program to explore careers.
  • Become informed of all job recruitment events this year.
  • Look for a summer job or internship, or create your own internship relating to your interests.
  • Become comfortable researching opportunities online.
  • Explore the internship database in the Office of Experiential Learning (OEL).

Extracurricular

  • Apply for RA or PAA positions.
  • Consider starting a small business.
  • Work in an office to build personal skills.
  • Participate in a spring break service project or summer public service project funded by Berklee or another organization.

Senior Year

Academics

  • Research and apply for grad school. Consider two to three years' work experience first, to enhance learning.
  • Work on a research project with a professor.

Career

  • Meet with a career counselor to refine your resume and cover letters. Focus and develop your job search and discuss future career plans.
  • Explore job search strategies.
  • Attend career workshops, or view videotapes and employer information sessions.
  • Become informed of all job recruitment events this year.
  • Participate in an independent job search.
  • Speak with alumni in the Berklee Career Network for career and relocation advice.
  • Check CDC job listing publications and online job openings.
  • Join professional organizations/associations in your field.

Extracurricular

  • Project financial needs and a realistic budget.
  • Talk about your first year after graduation: your ideal work, lifestyle, proximity to friends and family, values, and longer-term goals.