Career Planning Guide
Discover
- Register online with College Central Network to explore careers, access career events, research employers, learn to write resumes and cover letters, prepare for interviews, and create your online portfolio.
- Find your career path with Focus 2 Career online career assessment to help align your career interests with your education.
- Schedule regular appointments with a career advisor to discuss your interests and goals, assess your personal strengths and talents, and learn about additional resources based on your needs.
- Do your best in classes and labs. Speak with SUNY Schenectady faculty to get the most out of your classes, receive job search advice, develop leads, and request letters of recommendation. Speak with classmates to generate leads and insight.
Explore
- Explore ways to build experience such as becoming an intern or volunteer. This is the best way to build experience as a student and is often the reason you are hired after graduation. Contact your Division or School Dean or the Career Services Office for assistance.
- Research industries and trends related to your career or occupational path using the Begley Library or public library career research guides, search the employment databases at the New York Public Library or use the Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Take Action
- Join and then become actively involved in a professional association. Start networking with those who work in the field, volunteer to serve on activities, and request advice from professionals regarding your career interests.
- Use business directories sponsored by chambers of commerce, associations, and local providers that categorize organizations by service or industry type and provide access to contact information. Try the Career One Stop website.
- Use comprehensive web-based job boards to review postings from thousands of sources such as Indeed or Simply Hired. Also check our College Central Network website.
- Regularly review county, state, and federal employment websites for potential examination procedures. Sign up for automatic notification of exam dates at the New York State Department of Civil Service for New York state jobs and the U.S. Office of Personnel Management for federal jobs.
Salary Information
New York State Salary Research
New York Department of Labor.
Scroll down to the "Wage Data" section.