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Career Development

Academics Academic Centers and Services Career Development

Open by Appointment!

If you would like assistance with any of the following, please either fill out our appointment request form below, email us at careers@uscupstate.edu, or call 864-503-5993.

Appointment Request Form

Students

Helping you get where you want to go is always the top priority of Career Management. From resumes and cover letters to finding jobs and internships in Handshake to interviews and career fairs, our staff is here to support you in your career every step of the way!

Employers

To share an opportunity with Upstate students, please do so on Handshake. For further details on programs offered at Upstate, on-campus recruiting, why you should hire a Spartan and more, please visit our Employers page. Feel free to contact us at any time with questions.

Career Development Events

USC Upstate’s Career Management team is committed to providing the career events students, alumni, and faculty need. To that end, we offer a variety of Career Fairs, Workshops, Info Sessions, etc. For a complete and up to date list of career events, please see the events section of Handshake.

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Are you Spartan Ready?

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) there are eight critical skills all employers want. Below is the full list, a description of each, and suggested steps to develop them if you haven’t already. Click a competency to see additional information including how you can develop your own skills. We encourage faculty to ingrain these skills in their courses, students to actively develop them before graduation and staff to support students along the way. Here’s to making sure you’re Spartan Ready by graduation!

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  • Description: Proactively develop oneself and one’s career through continual personal and professional learning, awareness of one’s strengths and weaknesses, navigation of career opportunities, and networking to build relationships within and without one’s organization.

    Methods of Development:

    1. Develop plans and SMART goals for your career
    2. Assess your strengths weaknesses and continuously seek to improve yourself
    3. Learn job search strategies from start to finish (search strategies, best web sites for your field, application, negotiation, accepting the offer, etc.)
    4. Write a professional resume, customized cover letter and reference list
    5. Implement networking strategies to build an intentional network, include active use of sites like LinkedIn
    6. Practice interviewing with Big Interview
    7. Seek out learning opportunities such as internships, research, volunteering, organization involvement, etc.
    8. Explore graduate/professional school

  • Description: Clearly and effectively exchange information, ideas, facts, and perspectives with persons inside and outside of an organization.

    Methods of Development:

    1. Develop & deliver a presentation.
    2. Ask questions in class, work, etc. to gain understanding.
    3. Polish up your social media presence

  • Description: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

    Methods of Development:

    • Develop an action plan with specific steps to solve a problem
    • Brainstorm solutions to a problem before bringing it to a supervisor/professor
    • Activate your mind–read, do puzzles, write, etc.

  • Description: Identify and respond to needs based upon an understanding of situational context and logical analysis of relevant information.

    Methods of Development:

    1. Attend an event on campus that encourages you to step outside your comfort zone
    2. Engage in conversation with individuals who have different perspectives than your own
    3. Participate in a study abroad or volunteer experience to broaden your horizons

  • Description: Recognize and capitalize on personal and team strengths to achieve organizational goals.

    Methods of Development:

    1. Take on a leadership role in a group or organization
    2. Demonstrate initiative at your job/internship by taking on additional responsibilities
    3. Motivate team members with a positive attitude and leverage their strengths when delegating work

  • Description: Demonstrate responsible work habits (i.e. punctuality, accountability, workload management) while displaying integrity and ethical behavior (i.e. acknowledge and learn from mistakes)

    Methods of Development:

    • Learn to prioritize work and meet deadlines.
    • Learn to use a calendar like outlook to schedule blocks of work and meetings.
    • Reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and set future goals for growth.

  • Description: Build and maintain collaborative relationships to work effectively toward common goals, while appreciating diverse viewpoints and shared responsibilities.

    Methods of Development:

    • Collaborate with others on class projects
    • Find a study budy for classes
    • Participate in organizations of interest
    • Seek work experience in a team environment
    • Join online groups of interest on LinkedIn

  • Description Understand and leverage technologies ethically to enhance efficiencies, complete tasks, and accomplish goals.

    Methods of Development:

    • Become familiar with the most relevant websites and software in your field(s)
    • Effectively use Excel or similar spreadsheet application to track data and generate tables and graphs.
    • Create a strong LinkedIn profile, join groups of career interest, and ask for recommendations. Connect with alumni through LinkedIn.

The Spartan Lead Up

Planning for the future

Career Management wants all of our Spartans to be successful when they graduate. Planning for the future is overwhelming, so we have developed the Spartan LeadUP: small steps students can complete each year to ensure they are thinking about career preparation and competencies leading up to graduation. The Spartan LeadUP encourages students to EXPLORE careers and majors, DISCOVER career paths, FOCUS on post-graduation plans, and ACHIEVE their career goals!

We encourage students to make annual appointments with Career Management to review the Spartan Ready Competencies and identify where they still may need to develop their skills and experiences.

FRESHMAN YEAR – EXPLORE

  • Visit the Career Management website for tips and information!
  • Make an appointment with Career Management to create a resume and personalize your four-year plan! Call us at 864-503-5993.
  • Learn about the 8 Spartan Ready Career Competencies
  • Create your account in Handshake to browse internship and career opportunities
  • Take Focus 2 Career Assessment to identify your career values, interests, personality type, and skills and explore jobs aligned with those traits*
  • Attend Premiere Fair (Fall Semester) and Winter Blast (Spring Semester) to find ways to get involved on campus and in the community

SOPHOMORE YEAR – DISCOVER

  • Identify a few career interests and goals (you should have more than just one!).
  • Conduct an informational interview or job shadow to learn more about careers of interest.
  • Attend a career or internship fair to learn about career opportunities and begin networking.
  • Get involved on campus to start developing career competencies such as teamwork, leadership, and problem-solving.
  • Get involved in the community—find an organization and volunteer. Even if it is only a few hours a month, you are developing competencies of global perspective, communication, and professionalism.
  • Set up an account on LinkedIn.
  • Continually add to your resume as you take on new roles and responsibilities
  • Make an appointment with Career Management for your yearly check-UP  to review the Spartan Ready Competencies and see where you may need to develop your skills. Call us at 864-503-5993.

JUNIOR YEAR – FOCUS

  • Identify and connect with employers of interest on LinkedIn. Update your profile if needed!
  • If grad school is your next step, start looking at programs, application deadlines and the requirements (i.e. GMAT, GRE, clinical hours). Start preparing for any required tests!
  • Do a mock interview with Career Management. Call us at 864-503-5993.
  • Do an internship, independent study/research, or volunteer in the community.
  • Attend career fairs and other events to continually network and build connections with employers and alumni.
  • Take on leadership roles within campus organizations or employment*
  • Make sure you have a business professional outfit for interviews. Visit the Career Closet for free professional attire!
  • Join Spartanburg Young Professionals or other professional chapters to network and build communication and networking skills.
  • Upload your resume in Handshake.
  • Make an appointment with Career Management for your yearly check-UP  to review the Spartan Ready Competencies and see where you may need to develop your skills. Call us at 864-503-5993.

SENIOR YEAR – ACHIEVE

  • Make an appointment with Career Management to review your resume and cover letter. Call us at 864-503-5993. Learn all you need to know as you start your job search, such as where to look, negotiating salary, and writing thank-you letters. Check-UP to review the Spartan Ready Competencies and how to apply them!
  • Apply, Apply, Apply! Use Handshake to view and apply for opportunities.
  • Sit for GMAT, GRE, or any other examinations needed for graduate school and your profession.
  • If you are going to graduate school, write your personal statement. Have Career Management and the Writing Center review it before submitting your application.
  • Do a mock interview. Practice makes perfect! Call us at 864-503-5993.
  • Attend career fairs and events to build connections with employers.
  • Complete an internship, volunteer, or research experience if you haven’t already!
  • Ask faculty, supervisors, and staff to be references or write letters of recommendation.
  • Let Career Management know when you accept a job or enroll in graduate school! We want to hear about it!