The Young Scientist’s Guide to Career Planning
What Does Career Planning Look Like for a Science Major?
You’ve been accepted into the university. Great! The hard part is over, right? A lot of work goes into perfecting your college application, buffing up that resume, and maybe even acing an entry interview, but it definitely doesn’t stop there.
Whether your career path is headed for a future in medicine, institutional research, education, or even space psychology (yes, that is a thing), what you do with your time at LSU can help determine how you succeed after the degree.
College is a time to explore the vast resources a university has to offer, discover interests, and cultivate skills. It can seem daunting to think about life after these four years while focusing on scheduling and excelling in the right classes. Luckily, as a student you aren’t alone.
There is a team of people working every day to ensure every students’ experience in the College of Science is meaningful and intentional. As one of the newest members of this team, I am excited to introduce myself to the College of Science and begin working with the amazing students here.
My name is Abigail Brown, and I am the new career coach with the College of Science. I moved to the Baton Rouge area from Virginia for this position in June, and so far, I have been enjoying getting to know many of the students here, attending football games, and learning about Louisiana State University. One of the things that has genuinely blown me away about this position is how bright and ambitious the students in the College of Science are, and it makes me happy to be here and to be able to work with many of you.
Since my job revolves around careers and professional development, I work in the Olinde Career Center. My office is located in the LSU Student Union on the first floor. However, I’m specifically learning about and working with students from the College of Science. I can be seen around campus, and I spend a lot of time in Hatcher Hall, where a lot of my colleagues on the student services team are located. If you ever have a question related to classes or careers, either of these locations is a safe bet to find an answer. However, there is a much more efficient way to meet.
As a Career Coach, there are a lot of things I can help all students with. There is no question too big or too small. From freshman to senior year, I can help plan the steps for you to achieve your goals.
But let’s back up a bit.
What if you aren’t sure what your goals are?
No worries because we have a career decision making team dedicated to guiding you through detailed resources full of information and in-depth self assessments to help you find what job or career really excites you.
It’s important to find part-time jobs, internships, or hands-on experiences to make sure you’ve chosen a path that makes you happy. I am here to look over resumes, CVs, (and go over the difference between them), cover letters, and personal statements. Any documents you may be submitting for an application, whether it be for a job, internship, graduate school, or professional school, I am here to work with you on ensuring you are the most competitive candidate possible. It doesn’t matter if you’ve never made a resume before or would just like to go over strategies for a document you’ve revised a million times, I am here to help no matter where you are in the application process.
Even if there is something you are interested in but aren’t sure how to get started, I can connect you with resources and professionals in the field to answer any of your questions. As a student in the College of Science, you probably have a lot more options for work after graduation than you think. A degree in a science discipline is really desirable to almost any employer. That’s why it is so important to be thinking about your interests, skills, and hobbies early in your college career. Even if your plans and interests change countless times, I am here to update you with relevant information and talk through any worries or obstacles.
When should you start planning for your career?
It’s never too early to get started. In your first year, it’s a good idea to be aware of all your options and learn more about yourself. Decide on a major or minor that interest you and talk to faculty you find interesting. You can begin keeping track of your favorite classes and hobbies, while meeting other students who share your interests.
As a second year, it’s a good idea to begin working on a resume, joining on-campus clubs and organizations, and finding a work or shadowing experience through handshake.
By your third year, you’ll want to decide if graduate or professional school is necessary to achieve your goals. It’s totally okay, a good idea even, to have more than one path to follow. A good way to learn about your options is to attend career events like the Career Expo or workshops and start networking with employers and professionals. If you’re interested in pre-health, now is the time to connect with the pre-health review committee. Learning how to be professional and practicing interviewing skills are excellent reasons to come into the career center so that when opportunities come along, you’ll be ready.
It’s finally here, your fourth year! This time in school can cause a lot of apprehension, but you have a lot of people to help you! Now is the time to set up meetings with faculty for letters of recommendation, meeting with student services to make sure you’re on track to graduate, and meeting with me to work on job finding strategies. Together, we can find jobs you are interested in, continue networking with employers, and be prepared for your transition to graduate school or a full-time job.
Did you know November is National Career Development Month?
Kick-start your career planning this month. The College of Science and the Olinde Career Center are working together to offer a lot of opportunities to learn more about careers and prepare for life after graduation. This month, look out for my table outside of science buildings eager to answer your questions.
For those of you interested in entering a health career, Premedical and Pre-dental Review Committee information meetings will be held on November 14th (today) and 18th at 5:30 p.m. in Lockett Basement Room 6. This is an excellent opportunity for a student in any year to come learn about the steps to get into medical or dental school.
If you’re looking for more info on healthcare careers in general, November 16th – 21st is National Health Professions Week. This week is celebrated virtually online with on-demand events, educational and interactive activities, online chats with healthcare professionals, and informational videos. On campus, we have several events listed below. More information about all events can be found on the College of Science website.
No matter what stage of career development you find yourself, please be aware that you have many resources to help you. I am always taking appointments to talk about any of your career related questions. I look forward to meeting you.
To make an appointment with Abigail Brown, call (225) 578-2162, or make an appointment online via lsu.joinhandshake.com.
LSU On-Campus Health Profession Week Seminars:
(All events will be in the Life Sciences Annex A101)
Tuesday, November 19, 2019, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. - How to write a Resume and Personal Statement Seminar
Tuesday, November 19, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Professionalism in the Healthcare Field Seminar
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 2:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m. - How to write a Resume and Personal Statement Seminar
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. - Alternative Healthcare Professions Seminar
Wednesday, November 20, 2019, 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m. - Becoming a Well-Rounded Applicant Seminar
Thursday, November 21, 2:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. - Professionalism in the Healthcare Field Seminar
Thursday, November 21, 2019, 4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. - Becoming a Well-Rounded Applicant Seminar