Career Pathways: SUNY Brockport

Professor showing student how to operate a camera

First-Year Students

Begin your studies in the field. Choose your concentration. Join media organizations.

APS Course (take one of the Career Interest Instruments: Sokanu, Myers-Briggs, I Start Strong).
Take Introductory classes in your concentration area: [200, 224, 225, 227, 242, 243].
Select a concentration to guide your professional goals.
Take classes focusing on media literacy [224 and 242].
Get familiar with Eagle Connect, your Career Resource portal, order business cards from Career Services with your name, major and class year.
Attend Club Craze and join a student media organization, all of which welcome first-year students. Report and cover news, work with clients, learn technology.
Attend Major/Minors Fair and select a minor.
Consider the Leadership Development Program (LDP).
Attend Research & Internship Day and Scholars Day.
Attend a session of “So you want to be a…?” Career Speaker Series (profile of a career and day-to-day tasks).
Attend the Diversity Conference.
Meet with your APS adviser as well as your academic adviser

Determine the direction for your profession.

Take introductory classes in your concentration area.
Attend a Career Event or Career Services Workshop.
Develop a resume that you can use to obtain an internship. Develop a LinkedIn profile and a professional presence on other social media platforms.
Hone your interviewing, writing and editing skills in courses that utilize the Academic Success Center’s services.
Round out your experiences: think about study abroad; choose an unusual minor; aim to get the service award for volunteering through the Office for Community Development; attend Scholars Day and plan to present next year; consider applying for the Washington, D.C., internship semester, the NYC alumni trip or the SUNY Undergraduate Research Program.
Get involved in more than one student media organization to expand your knowledge of different mediums.
Attend a Career Services Workshop this year (e.g., Etiquette Dinner or Have Lunch with a Career).
Do informational interviewing with three people; ask to job shadow one.
Attend the Diversity Conference.
Meet with your academic adviser to ensure you are on track in your concentration and to go over options to set aside time to study abroad and/or intern.

Develop credentials, immerse yourself in the field with experiential learning.

Present your work at Scholars Day.
Take ethics-focused upper-division courses.
Begin working on your e-portfolio, including samples from your classes and student media organizations.
Become a leader in a student media organization, such as an editor, director or executive board member.
Attend the SUNY Undergraduate Research Program.
Present and/or attend Scholars Day or another conference; do an Independent Study; study abroad; chair a campus club or sport.
Attend the Diversity Conference.
Meet with your academic adviser to ensure you are on track in your concentration and to go over options to set aside time to study abroad and/or intern.

Get ready to launch your career! Finalize e-portfolio, refine interviewing skills, and apply for jobs.

Take the capstone class in your concentration area.
Create an e-portfolio in 496.
Apply as a Teaching/Research Assistant.
Take ethics-focused upper-division courses.
Complete your e-portfolio, including samples from your classes, internships and media organizations.
Obtain your second internship or continue with your first one.
Join Lamda Pi Eta, the department’s National Honor Society, upon invitation based on your GPA.
Present at Research & Internship Day.
Attend alumni-delivered talk (at least one organized each year).
Attend Career Services event; get a professional photo for LinkedIn account and professional networking workshop.
Attend one Have Lunch with a Career (Career Services event) and/or attend alum workshops.
Present at Scholars Day or another conference; do an Independent Study; study abroad; chair a campus club or sport.
Attend the Diversity Conference.
Meet with your academic adviser to ensure you are on track for graduation.