Establish an Employment Timeline
Establish your Employment Needs and Career Goals
As you begin your job search process, it is important to identify your employment needs as well as your career goals. Your first professional employment destination will not be your last, and it will help you develop the skills and experience for your dream positions and companies.
See the charts below that outline your employment goal options.
Immediate Need to Work
- Temporary professional work while you are searching for your first or target job.
- Short-term or temporary professional jobs that help you build skills, experience, and relationships to reach your career goals.
- Career Services can share your resume with Staffing Firms and Temp Agencies for immediate PROFESSIONAL employment, while we work together on your permanent position.
- Choose this option if you are looking for professional a job that could be secured within 1-3 months of graduation.
First Job after Graduation
- Solid professional job to help you get to the job you really want.
- A professional job that aligns with your Career Community and that can help you build skills, experience, and professional relationships for reaching your target job.
- Career Services can work with you on securing your first career destination after graduation, for which you are currently qualified, commonly an entry-level job in your desired field.
- Choose this option if you are looking for professional a job that could be secured within 1-6 months of graduation.
Target Job
- The job you really want!
- An aspirational early career position in your desired field and/or company.
- Choose this option if you are looking for professional a job that could be secured within 6 months-3 years of graduation.
If you need to start working immediately after graduating, Career Services can share your resume with Staffing Firms and Temp Agencies for speedy professional employment. In the meantime, we will continue working together on securing your next great opportunity.
Elements to Consider for your Unique Goals
To determine whether a temporary or short-term position is right for you, as well as your career plans and goals, consider the following factors:
1. Timeline
The timeline for your job search can be influenced by various factors, including financial and personal considerations, as well as whether you are willing to consider alternative routes to the position you ultimately want.
If you are looking to secure a job as soon as possible due to a financial or personal need, consider the “Immediate Need to Work” option and contact Career Services. In the meantime, we will continue working together to pursue other opportunities.
Consider this your first career destination, which will help you build the skills and experience for reaching your target job and getting to your dream companies.
While there is likely no such thing as a “perfect job,” everyone has career goals. We are absolutely confident that you will reach yours, but it may take time, and waiting does not help you in the slightest. We recommend building skills, experience, and relationships by gaining employment in your field, which will undoubtedly help qualify you for the most desirable position.
*Note: If you need a position immediately while we work together to look for other opportunities, please contact Career Services at careers@pace.edu.
2. Job Qualifications: Skills & Experience
As part of developing your career goals, consider the skills and experience required for your desired job roles. Follow the steps below:
In your Career Community, click “Skill Building” and review the “Skill for Success” for your Career Community.
Assess your skills relative to the requirements for your Career Community.
Identify your strengths as well as experiences you’ve had that helped you develop these skills.
For instance, if many of your jobs of interest require specific skills which you do not yet possess, that is an indication that they are important, and you can flag those skills as areas in which you would like to develop.
- Note: Most employers will not expect you to possess all the skills on a job description. To apply, you should expect to meet approximately 60% of the skill requirements.
- Which positions you are currently qualified for and can pursue immediately?
- Which job roles could be pursued in the future after you have taken the time to develop the required skills and experience?
- Which job roles can serve as your first position after graduation, and which ones require a longer career trajectory?
The positions for which you currently possess the skills and experience are great as your first job. But that does not mean that you need to give up on other, more desirable jobs. They may simply require more skill-building and experience, and they can serve as your long-term goals.
3. The Career Paths of Others
- Reach out to someone who has the kind of job you want and find out how they got there.
- You’d be surprised at how circuitous the job path can be, and talking to someone who has gone down the path before you will give you insight into how much work it will entail, what kinds of experiences you will need, and what kinds of skills are in-demand.
A great way to connect with professionals to learn about career paths is through the: