Your first year is the perfect time to pay attention to what excites you and start reflecting on what you may be interested in pursuing at Princeton. Understanding your values, interests, skills, and identity can help you determine what you may want to try in the future. 

Brainstorm a list of things you may want to learn about or explore more over the next four years, including:

• Academics and research
• Co-curricular opportunities
• Internship and volunteer activities
• Career possibilities
• People you’d like to meet
• Experiences, including joining student groups, clubs and communities, and domestic/international travel 

Jotting these down and periodically revisiting them will help you learn how your values, skills and interests change over time, which will be helpful in informing post-graduate decisions. 

There are many ways for you to actively learn more about yourself during your first year:

• Participate in our FYRE program to learn more about the Center for Career Development 
• Complete your Handshake profile, including the "Career Interests" section, to start receiving personalized internship and job recommendations
• Take the CareerExplorer assessment to learn about your interests and work style
• Talk to your assistant dean or a Peer Academic Advisor (PAA) about how academics and careers connect 

When you have identified a few career fields that interest you, start to learn more about them by researching online; connecting with alumni, employers, and other professionals in the fields; and attending our programs. 

• Use Career Compass to learn about fields, find related resources and ways to gain experience while at Princeton
• Browse Vault Career Guides to find detailed industry guides and career profiles
• Learn about the pre-health path at Princeton
• Get first-hand experience in a job without the commitment of an internship through Princeternship
• Go on site visits to various companies/organizations by applying for City Treks
• Attend the career fairs to learn about different fields, and internship and job opportunities they offer

Connecting with others is one of the best ways to learn what the day-to-day looks like in different career paths. This is often called "networking". 

Networking has many benefits, and we encourage you to start connecting with others during your first year at Princeton.

• Read our Five-Step Guide to Networking to learn how to approach professional connections 
• Sign up for a Career Chat with an alum to learn about career areas that interest you and to start to build your Princeton network
• Register for a coffee chat with an employer to learn more about organizations and career paths that interest you 
• Find alumni in fields that interest you by using Career Compass
• Use LinkedIn, TigerNet and CareerShift to find contact information

During winter break, make sure to find time to relax and reflect on the fall semester and the spring semester ahead. Princeton offers many opportunities to participate in fun activities, professional development work, academic development and more:

• Sign up for Wintersession and additional career exploration opportunities 
• Set aside time to reflect during winter break. Reflecting can be done in many ways including journaling, talking with a friend or meditating are a few examples. As you reflect, you might consider the following:
  • What have you learned about yourself, your interests and skills during your first term at Princeton?
  • How can you learn more about yourself through activities (e.g., student groups, volunteering, etc.) and courses? 
  • How can you build in opportunities to reflect when the spring term begins and throughout your time at Princeton?
     

Regardless of your summer plans, you should learn how to prepare effective application materials. 

It can be helpful to put together a master resume to keep track of your experiences and reflect on your accomplishments this year. We also recommend getting a sense of how to write convincing cover letters and setting up your LinkedIn profile to create a professional online presence.

You can schedule an appointment in Handshake to have a PCA or career adviser review your resume, cover letter and your LinkedIn profile.

Resume

• Draft or revise your resume using our resume guide 

Cover Letter

• Learn how to write an effective cover letter 

LinkedIn

• Read our LinkedIn tips

Interviews

• Review our Interviewing Guide to learn the basics of how to nail an interview

As you move forward through your first year at Princeton, check in with yourself about your thoughts, feelings, observations, and progress. College is a time of growth and discovery, and you should be proud of yourself and your accomplishments. We encourage students to celebrate their victories, big and small, throughout their college journey. 

It is important to find and practice wellness activities that work for you. Think through activities that can help you feel balanced and motivated. Examples include:

• Reaching out for help
• Discussing your thoughts and feelings with others
• Staying physically active
• Music, mediation and/or yoga
• Reading and journaling

You can meet with Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS) for broader confidential counseling and psychological support and/or a Center for Career Development adviser for career strategy and planning support. Both CPS and career advising are dedicated resources that welcome conversation about these topics.  

Remember: career development is ongoing and, at times, it is full of decisions outside of our control. Go at your own pace and try not to compare your journey to others. Our career advisers are here to support you in your journey every step of the way.