Resources & Guides

Young woman writing at a desk

Explore Your Path

Are you thinking about your future but not sure where to begin? Start here. This self-paced activity will give you greater clarity about your career plan and help you identify the next right thing for you to explore. After you dive in, make an appointment with a career adviser to chat about your next steps.

We are aware that Google Docs don’t meet all accessibility requirements. Please email lazarus@smith.edu for a fully accessible version if you need one.

Interactive Google Doc

Career Guides

Note: Some guides are in Google Docs format. We are aware that Google Docs don’t meet all accessibility requirements, especially when images and tables are involved. Please email lazarus@smith.edu for a fully accessible version if you have accessibility difficulties with Google Docs files on the Lazarus Center pages.

Are you thinking about your future but not sure how to get started? Assessing yourself and what you want is a key part of career planning, whether you’re launching a job or internship search, thinking of taking time off, or considering further study. It's helpful to first think about your identities, skills, interests, values, and personality.

  • Your identities may be closely tied to your values, interests, social contexts and self-image. Knowing who you are and being confident in those identities will help you stay grounded as you explore the next phase of your life.
  • Skills are competencies developed through everything you do: jobs and internships, activities, courses and pastimes. A Smith degree builds a variety of highly marketable skills, some specific to a major and others gained across the curriculum.
  • Interests are issues, activities or fields of knowledge important to you. Your interests may be part of your work or remain as pastimes. Connecting with people who share your interests is an important part of researching careers, opportunities, and options for further study.
  • Values are qualities you consider important about your work and life. For example, some people enjoy working as part of a team, while others prefer to work independently. Your values influence how appealing you find different work settings and can contribute to your definition of success.
  • Personality determines how you behave in interactions at school, work and in your personal life. Knowing more about your personality can help you identify careers and fields of study that might be a good fit.

Free Online Tools for Exploring

The following self-assessment tools provide insights; they are not prescriptive. It is a starting point that allows you to reflect and gain awareness.

Activities

How to Build a Resume (Google Doc)

How to Write & Format a Cover Letter (Google Doc)

Action Verb List for Resumes & Cover Letters (Google Doc)

Considerations If Using AI in Your Job Search (Google Doc)

Have a Peer Adviser Review Your Materials

Writing Your First Resume & Cover Letter

Your Job Search (Google Doc)

Your Job Search Timeline (link to come)

Recruiting Timelines (Google Doc)

Understanding Job Offers (Google Doc)

CliftonStrengths Assessment

The CliftonStrengths for Students report helps you see how your unique talents can bring clarity to your life and help you thrive academically, socially, and in your future career.

Why Take the Assessment?

Discover your top five CliftonStrengths themes, get instructions for using your personalized report, today and in the future, learn how your strengths contribute to your success (and how your strengths could get in the way of your success!), and access a practical outline for achieving your goals.

After taking the assessment (free for Smith students), schedule a “Review My CliftonStrengths Top 5 Results” appointment in Handshake to debrief your unique strengths and create a personalized action plan.

CliftonStrengths for Student Groups

Are you a member of a student organization, athletic team, or leadership group/club on campus looking for a team-building and development tool?  Here are a few reasons to take advantage of CliftonStrengths for your group:

  • It’s positive
  • It’s structured
  • It’s backed by data 
  • It’s inclusive
  • It has a developmental focus

Contact Patricia Woods, assistant director of career exploration, at pwoods@smith.edu to request a CliftonStrengths workshop.

Career Videos by the Lazarus Center