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Purdue Mitch Daniels School of Business logo
Business Career Services

Four Year Plan - Program

Accounting

Fall

  • Participate in the Accounting welcome event
  • Meet with your career coach to share interests and explore career paths
  • Join 1-2 accounting or business clubs
  • Attend the Public Accounting Career Fair & DSB Career Fair to gain experience
  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Create a LinkedIn account, add friends/family and get a professional headshot taken

Spring

  • Meet with your career coach to review your career portfolio and build a networking plan
  • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
  • Explore company culture and lines of work
  • Network with professionals, faculty and peers
  • Attend career fairs, networking events and company presentations/visits
  • Apply to summer leadership conferences, discovery events and diversity programs
  • Participate in case competitions
  • Conduct a mock interview with BCS
  • Seek leadership opportunities
  • Consider Accounting Pathways Program

Fall

  • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
  • Meet with your career coach to make a personalized career development plan
  • Focus involvement in 1–2 organizations
  • Research roles and companies of interest
  • Attend career fairs, networking events and company presentations/visits
  • Apply to summer internships of interest (firms hire 12–18 months in advance)
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals for “coffee chats”
  • Participate in case competitions

Spring

  • Meet with your career coach to refine your career goals and specialization interests
  • Talk with professionals and alumni to further explore areas of interest
  • Attend career fairs, networking nights and company presentations/visits
  • Apply for spring internships (busy season), summer internships and externships
  • Obtain leadership experience
  • Participate in case competitions

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to discuss long-term decisions and offer strategy
  • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
  • Attend career fairs, networking events and company presentations/visits
  • Apply for full-time positions, internships or graduate school (firms hire 12–18 months in advance)
  • Join a professional association at the student rate (INCPAS, AICPA & CIMA)
  • Continue organizational involvement and mentor underclassmen

Spring

  • Meet with your career coach to provide career updates and gain professional insight
  • Complete a public accounting internship (optional but valuable during busy season)
  • Continue to gain leadership experience
  • Attend career fairs, networking events and company presentations/visits if interested
  • Apply for full-time roles if seeking employment

Fall

  • Lock in your personal brand and make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect it
  • Attend career fairs, networking nights and company presentations/visits if applicable
  • Apply for full-time roles if seeking employment
  • Meet with career coach to share success, finalize decisions or identify opportunities
  • Continue leading and mentoring within DSB
  • Apply for National Case Competitions

Spring

  • Meet with your career coach to share success, finalize decisions or identify opportunities
  • Stay active on LinkedIn; connect with future co-workers and share milestones
  • Join recruiting events and apply online if seeking full-time roles (limited openings)
  • Apply for National Case Competitions
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at the Business Boilers Bash

BAIM

Fall

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to
  • Reflect on what you did and didn’t like: classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Look for summer internships
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships

Spring

  • Participate in a case competition
  • Shadow a student organization leader
  • Identify a specialization of interest — meet with your advisor or other mentors for help
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Attain a summer internship or any form of summer employment
  • Develop your transferable skills

Fall

  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Meet with your career coach to identify experience gaps
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Run for a student organization leadership/officer role
  • Consider adding some technical experience by learning to code
  • Network with professionals, faculty and peers
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services

Fall

  • Meet with career coach to identify and plan next steps
  • Lock in your personal brand and make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect it
  • Network through multiple channels — LinkedIn, Purdue Ties, Networking nights
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions —  fall is the peak season for BAIM job offers

Spring

  • Meet with career coach to share or pursue next steps
  • Continue networking
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions
  • Let Business Career Services know if you are struggling. We are here to help!
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash

Economics & QBE

Fall

  • Participate in the Economics welcome event
  • Meet with your career coach to explore career options
  • Join 1–2 Economics or business clubs
  • Attend the Career Fair to gain experience
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and add your friends, companies, alumni and professionals

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to who share similar career interests
  • Reflect on what you did and didn’t like — classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Look for summer internships
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships

Spring

  • Participate in a case competition
  • Shadow a student organization leader
  • Identify a specialization of interest — meet with your coach or other mentors for help
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships

Fall

  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Meet with your career coach to identify experience gaps
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Run for a student organization leadership/officer role
  • Take actions to resolve gaps in experience
  • Network with professionals, faculty and peers
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services

Fall

  • Meet with career coach to identify and plan next steps
  • Lock in your personal brand and make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect it
  • Network through multiple channels — LinkedIn, Purdue Ties, Networking nights
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions — August is the #1 month for Economics job offers

Spring

  • Meet with career coach to share or pursue next steps
  • Continue networking
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions — April is the #2 month for Economics job offers
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!

Finance

Fall

  • Participate in the Finance welcome event
  • Complete a finance industry exploration course and identify areas of interest
  • Identify your professional strengths
  • Meet with a career coach
  • Join 1–2 Finance or business clubs
  • If you are interested in Banking, IB, VC, PE — Review a specialized 4 year plan
  • Attend the Career Fair to gain experience
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and add your friends, companies, alumni and professionals

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to who share similar career interests
  • Seek out active learning experiences to know what your future career might have in store
  • Reflect on what you did and didn’t like — classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers
  • Attain summer employment or volunteer opportunity

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Look for summer internships in a finance-related field
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Seek leadership opportunities in student organizations

Spring

  • Participate in a case competition and complete industry-related projects
  • Shadow a student organization leader
  • Identify a specialization of interest — meet with your coach or other mentors for help
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Build your professional network by utilizing LinkedIn and informational interviews
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Attain a summer internship OR any form of summer employment
  • Some career fields begin recruiting during this time period (i.e., investment banking).

Fall

  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Meet with your career coach to identify experience gaps
  • Secure leadership roles in student organizations and begin making an impact on campus
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Lock in your personal brand and make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect it
  • Take actions to resolve gaps in experience
  • Begin to leverage your professional network by gaining references to potential internships and full-time opportunities
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Research various modes of interviews, including virtual, technical and behavioral
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services

Fall

  • Meet with a career coach to identify and plan your next steps
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Begin focusing on what legacy you will leave on campus
  • Engage your network to find jobs and/or to add value to your professional connections
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions

Spring

  • Continue networking, including with key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Continue to apply for full-time positions
  • If you have secured a position, find specific skills to optimize value for you and your employer
  • Meet with Business Career Services to discuss your search, salary negotiation, understanding benefits and more!
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!

General Management

Fall

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Connect with a career coach and make a plan for summer/start of fall
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers
  • Think about what industries you are interested in and use this information to set up informational interviews

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Set up informational interviews and mentorship relationships
  • Research potential minors or concentrations

Spring

  • Participate in a case competition and complete industry-related projects
  • Apply for a leadership position in your student organization
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • If you are seeking an internship, work on your job search strategy with a career coach
  • If you have received and accepted an internship offer, discuss how to make the most of your experience with your career coach
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Take online classes and gain certifications in areas that interest you

Fall

  • Meet with a career coach to talk about your internship experience and plans for the upcoming DSB Career Fair
  • Prepare for the Career Fair by updating your resume and LinkedIn profile
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Apply for internships
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services

Spring

  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Using this list, begin expanding your network on LinkedIn and conducting informational interviews
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Secure leadership roles in student organizations and begin making an impact on campus
  • Take actions to resolve gaps in experience
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships

Fall

  • Meet with a career coach to identify and plan next steps
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network through multiple channels
  • Engage your network to find jobs and/or to add value to your professional connections
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • If you receive an offer, schedule a meeting with a career coach to talk about benefits and job offer negotiation

Spring

  • Continue networking, including with key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Continue to apply for full-time positions
  • If you have secured a position, find specific skills to optimize value for you and your employer
  • Meet with Business Career Services to discuss your search, salary negotiation, understanding benefits and more!
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!

IBE

Fall

  • Participate in the IBE welcome and cohort events
  • Focus on a strong academic start and integrate with engineering students
  • Meet with a career coach
  • Join 1–2 business clubs
  • Attend a case competition or pitch event
  • Attend the Career Fair to gain experience
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and add your friends, companies, alumni and professionals

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Actively engage in IBE cohort events
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to
  • Reflect on what you did and didn’t like: classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Participate in a case competition
  • Attend career fairs to connect with employers and seek internship and other skill development opportunities

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Consider project-based courses (EPICS & VIP) or faculty-led research to grow skills
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and develop professional network
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Research potential minors or concentrations

Spring

  • Begin outreach to engineering and business alumni via LinkedIn
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest and conduct informational interviews
  • Apply for a leadership position in your student organization and become project leader on a team
  • Develop your career search strategy and application plan with career coach
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Accept a summer internship, part-time employment or volunteer opportunity

Fall

  • Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
  • Meet with your career coach to identify skill and experience gaps
  • Develop a target company/graduate school list and find an ideal job description
  • Using this list, begin expanding your network on LinkedIn and conducting informational interviews
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Prepare for different types of interviews and participate in various mock interviews
  • Attend career fairs and networking events to build and maintain connections
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Take actions to resolve gaps in soft skills and technical experiences
  • Network with professionals, faculty and peers
  • Attend the engineering and DSB Career Fair to connect and look for internships
  • Stay actively engaged in leadership roles on campus and consider mentorship
  • Search for internships that will assist in developing a skill or provide a professional development opportunity

Fall

  • Finalize and adjust coursework to meet desired minors and concentrations
  • Meet with career coach to identify and adjust plan for next steps
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network through multiple channels
  • Engage your network to find jobs and/or to add value to your professional connections
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and look for full-time roles or grad school
  • Apply for full-time positions or grad school

Spring

  • Meet with career coach to share or pursue next steps and seek guidance on navigating offers and salary negotiations
  • Attend the employer and alumni networking events to grow connections
  • Meet with Business Career Services to discuss your search, salary negotiation, understanding benefits and more!
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!

Marketing

Fall

  • Participate in the Marketing welcome and cohort events
  • Complete an exploration course and identify areas of interest and professional strengths
  • Meet with a career coach and review specialized 4-year plan
  • Join 1–2 Marketing or business clubs
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and add your friends, companies, alumni and professionals

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to
  • Seek out active learning experiences to know what your future career might have in store
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers and explore other skill development opportunities
  • Find summer employment and/or volunteer opportunity to build your experience

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Research concentrations and potential areas of focus within marketing
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and develop professional network
  • Begin building a professional wardrobe
  • Seek leadership opportunities in student organizations

Spring

  • Participate in case competitions to gain public speaking/client experience.
  • Identify a specialization of interest — meet with a career coach and other mentors
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Build your professional network by utilizing LinkedIn and informational interviews
  • Reflect on likes and dislikes — classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Attain a summer internship or employment to gain experience

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to identify skill and experience gaps
  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Attend career fairs and networking events to build and maintain connections
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Lock in your personal brand and make sure your resume and LinkedIn profile reflect it
  • Complete a second or third internship to make your resume stand out
  • Create and update a professional portfolio including projects, media samples, etc.
  • Research various modes of interviews, including virtual, technical and behavioral
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services to prepare to be your best in front of potential employers

Fall

  • Meet with career coach to identify and adjust plan for next steps
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network! Let all of your contacts know that you are looking for employment
  • Plan to apply and interview for jobs and graduate schools 4-6 months before you graduate

Spring

  • Continue networking, including key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Continue to apply for full-time positions — do not be worried if marketing positions are offered closer to graduation
  • Attend the Career Fair to network with potential employers
  • If you have secured a position, find specific skills to optimize value for you and your employer
  • Meet with Business Career Services to discuss your search, salary negotiation, understanding benefits and more!
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!

SCOM

Fall

  • Participate in the Supply Chain and Operations Management welcome and cohort events
  • Meet with a career coach to explore career options
  • Join 1–2 supply chain, operations or business clubs
  • Create a LinkedIn profile and add your friends, companies, alumni and professionals
  • Attend the Career Fair to gain experience

Spring

  • Build your resume and have it reviewed
  • Get a professional headshot and update your LinkedIn profile
  • Build relationships with the students and faculty you relate to with similar career interests
  • Reflect on what you did and didn’t like — classes, student organizations or other experiences
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with employers

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to make an individual career action plan
  • Research roles and industries based on your experiences so far
  • Update your LinkedIn profile and resume
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect and develop professional network
  • Look for summer internships

Spring

  • Participate in case competitions
  • Shadow a student organization leader
  • Identify a specialization of interest — meet with a career coach and other mentors
  • Research companies in your area(s) of interest
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with professionals and look for internships
  • Attain a summer internship or employment to gain experience

Fall

  • Meet with your career coach to identify skill and experience gaps
  • Develop a target company/graduate school list
  • Expand your network on LinkedIn and reach out to professionals from the companies on your list
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with professionals and look for internships
  • Apply for internships

Spring

  • Run for student organization leadership/officer role
  • Take actions to resolve gaps in experience
  • Network with professionals, faculty and peers
  • Attend the Career Fair to connect with professionals and look for internships
  • Conduct a mock interview with Business Career Services to prepare to be your best in front of potential employers

Fall

  • Meet with career coach to identify and adjust plan for next steps
  • Begin branding yourself as a professional, not just a student
  • Network! Let all of your contacts know that you are looking for employment
  • Attend the Career Fair to network with potential employers
  • Apply for full-time positions — August is the #1 month for Supply Chain job offers and October is the #3 month.

Spring

  • Meet with Business Career Services to discuss your search, salary negotiation, understanding benefits and more!
  • Continue networking, including key stakeholders at your desired company
  • Attend the Career Fair to network with potential employers
  • Apply for full-time positions — April is the #2 month for Supply Chain job offers
  • Complete the Next Step Survey and celebrate your success at Business Boilers Bash!