Gather. Lift. LAUNCH.
As a potential future Knight, we want you to know that when you arrive in beautiful Buena Vista, VA you’ll have resources and guidance all over campus to support you in the third part of the Southern Virginia University mission: Launch!
Right in the middle of that network, you’ll find our career services office – affectionately known as the Launch Center. We’re here to help you achieve your career goals, from your first day of classes to post-graduation. Everyone’s path is different, and the Launch Center is here to help you discover where yours leads. Use this site to get a taste of what we do and how we support our students. You can also explore career paths and start getting to know our team. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions about our philosophy on “Launch,” and what it could mean for you if you choose to join us here!
(Ready for more? We love the enthusiasm! Head to the Admissions page to start your application.)
How can the Launch Center help?
- Career exploration
- Resume building
- Interview prep and practice
- Grad school research and preparation support
- Internship and job search support
- Networking and LinkedIn tips
- Connecting to the SVU alumni network (come ask us about this!)
- Snacks!
Four-Year Plan
This simplified plan is an example of what we might recommend you implement to lay a foundation for your future career and grad school success if you become a Knight. The sooner you start, the more likely you are to find success on your chosen path. At SVU, you won’t wait until senior year to get ready for life after college!
- Make a plan to succeed academically with your student success coach and your academic advisor
- Begin exploring possible career paths
- Create your resume
- Join Handshake – our job, internship, and career event search platform
- Build a LinkedIn profile, including getting a professional headshot
- Join clubs or organizations on campus that interest you
- Attend career fairs and other employer or grad school events
- Go to professors’ office hours to learn about them and their careers, get advice, and build relationships that can result in letters of recommendation in the future
- Consider finding local or on-campus employment to start building experience
- Visit the Launch Center (we have snacks)
- Continue everything listed above!
- Declare a major (if you haven’t already)
- Update your resume and LinkedIn/Handshake profiles
- Find ways to experiment with career paths that intrigue you
- Build your network – talk with people, including alumni, who are doing things you’re excited about
- Consider finding a summer internship (or similar high-quality experience)
- If considering grad school, start researching options so you can make a plan to be competitive
- Create a professional email & email signature
- Continue everything listed above!
- Find a summer internship (or similar high-quality experience)
- Make a list of potential paths after graduation (grad school, full-time employment, entrepreneurship, gap year, stay-at-home parenting, etc.)
- Begin researching these paths
- If planning on grad school, prepare for any required standardized tests
- Continue everything listed above!
- Narrow your list of potential career paths based on your internship and work experience(s), classes, and networking conversations
- Take any necessary tests if you intend on going to grad school
- Update your resume and LinkedIn/Handshake profiles
- Find a full-time job (if applicable)
- Nail down your housing plans after graduation – now you’re TRULY adulting!
