Navigating college can feel overwhelming, but Cal Poly Pomona’s Career Development Plan transforms uncertainty into clarity with a year-by-year roadmap that helps you build confidence, skills, and momentum toward your future career. Whether you’re just starting your academic journey or preparing for graduation, this plan ensures that every step you take brings you closer to meaningful opportunities and long-term professional success.
During your Freshman Year, the focus is on exploration. Students build their foundation by setting up essential accounts such as Handshake for a job and internship searches, Focus 2 Career assessments for self-discovery, VMock for resume guidance, and LinkedIn to begin crafting a professional online presence. Early conversations with advisors, faculty, and career coaches help students reflect on their strengths, ambitions, and the possibilities ahead of them.
Moving into Sophomore year, students begin to engage more intentionally. This is the time to deepen self-awareness with additional Focus 2 assessments, attend workshops and Employer Engagement events, join student organizations, and explore leadership or involvement opportunities. Students are encouraged to connect with mentors through PeopleGrove and start considering internships, research groups, micro-internships, or cooperative education programs. These experiences help students build confidence while connecting classroom learning to real-world possibilities.
By Junior year, students shift toward aligning interests with career pathways. Updating Handshake and LinkedIn becomes essential, along with using tools like Big Interview to strengthen interview skills. Juniors are encouraged to participate in internships, continue mentorship connections, and explore graduate school or pre-professional pathways if desired. These steps help students refine their direction, strengthen their résumés, and begin visualizing their next steps beyond college.
Finally, Senior year focuses on attainment, putting everything into action. Students develop targeted job search strategies, use the Resume Optimizer in VMock for specific roles, complete industry-specific interview practice on Big Interview, and make their profiles employer-ready across all platforms. Whether pursuing full-time roles, graduate school, or professional programs, seniors receive guidance on preparing strong applications and celebrating their accomplishments.
CPP’s Career Development Plan empowers students not just to graduate, but to graduate ready. With a structured roadmap and support available every step of the way, students can confidently explore, engage, and ultimately attain the future they envision.
