Step 3: Gain Career Exposure (Deciding on a Major/Career)

Now that you have learned more about yourself and careers/majors, you are ready to gain exposure to the world of work! Learn more about why it is important to gain career exposure.

Ways to Gain Career Exposure

1. Job Shadow
   • A job shadow is a work site experience during which a person spends one day with an employer/employee observing daily activities and asking questions about the job and industry. This is a great way to gather information on a wide variety of career possibilities without investing much time. To learn how to find professionals to conduct job shadows with, please visit our Networking Strategies webpage.
2. Informational Interview
   • An information interview is a meeting to learn about the real-life experience of someone working in a field or company that interests you. It's not a job interview, so it's important to keep focused on getting information, not a job offer. To learn more about how to conduct informational interviews, visit our Informational Interview Tip Sheet webpage. Informational interviews can be held via in-person, email, phone, or virtual conferencing.
3. Internships
   • An internship is a form of experiential learning that takes place over three to six months, integrating knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills developed in a professional setting. Internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths. Internships can be both paid and unpaid, but both are valuable. You can learn more about internship opportunities by visiting the Michael O. Leavitt Center for Politics & Public Service, the Intergovernmental Internship Cooperative (IIC), or visit with college departments. You can also find internship opportunities using Handshake, an online tool that contains all off-campus opportunities for SUU students and alumni.
4. Job Experience
   • Need help finding a job? Below you can learn the most effective ways to find a great student job, internship, or career!
     • Handshake
     • T-Bird Campus Jobs
     • SUU Employment (Additional Off-Campus Resources)
5. Volunteer
   • Looking for ways to get involved on campus or in the community? Please visit the Community Engagement Center to learn about ways to volunteer while in college.