First & Second Year Students

The resources and tools found within this community have been designed and curated to support students in their first and second years at the University of Florida. This community covers two main student populations:

  • Freshman Students
  • Sophomore Students

This page contains important information and resources supporting your career and professional development at the University of Florida and beyond.

Take time to review the community – check out the articles and blog posts and explore the resources to learn more about ways to become career ready. You will also find things you can do now, like joining a related student organization, connecting with alumni, researching occupations of interest by career categories or pathways using real time labor market data to power your decision-making, or reading featured articles and blogs.


University of Florida Expectations for First and Second Year Students

Also, we want to inform you of some University of Florida expectations you must complete during your first and second year. Please review the information below:

  • Career Prep Process must be completed during your first year at UF. To learn more, please visit the Career Prep Process page.
  • Career Readiness must be completed during your second year at UF. To learn more, please visit the Career Readiness page.

First and Second Year Resources

CHOMP is an online, interactive, self-guided career and educational planning system designed to help you make decisions about your future career goals and education plans. CHOMP offers a variety of self-assessments in order to evaluate your level of career readiness and gain self-awareness.

CHOMP can help you identify…

  • Work Interests
  • Values
  • Personality
  • Skills
  • Leisure Interests
  • Majors and Occupations
  • How different majors at UF connect to careers

What Can I Do With This Major? is a website featuring 100 major profiles with information on common career paths, types of employers that hire in the field, and strategies to maximize opportunities.

Whether you’re exploring majors or searching for information about your chosen field, this website will help you connect majors to careers.

Gator Network is an exclusive platform for UF students, alumni, faculty, and staff to gain access to virtual UF communities and connections.


At UF, we’re dedicated to equipping you with the tools you need to launch your career journey early. That’s why we’ve curated a selection of introductory job simulations through Forage. Whether you’re still exploring your options or have a specific career in mind, these simulations offer a unique opportunity to:

Gain Practical Skills: Experience real-life job tasks that build competencies you can use in internships and beyond.
Earn a Certificate: Upon completion, receive a certificate to proudly showcase on your resume and LinkedIn, making you more competitive in the job market.

Explore Forage now and take your first step toward a successful career!

Learn from UF Students About Experiential Learning

Experience That Counts: A Virtual Student Panel on Internships, Research & More

Are you wondering which experiential learning opportunity is right for you? Should you pursue an internship, research, or community service? Experiential learning is a powerful tool that can …

By Edwina Hurst
Edwina Hurst Manager
Read more

🚨Learn and Connect at Sustainability Career Discovery Days – Next Week! 🌱

Hey Gators, the countdown is ON! In less than one week, Sustainability Career Discovery Days (March 31 – April 9) kicks off—bringing you exclusive access to sustainability pros, career insights, and hands-on experiences. If you’re passionate about the planet and your …

By Gabby Diaz-Portalatin
Gabby Diaz-Portalatin Assistant Director for Integrated Career Solutions
Read more

Key Takeaways from Gator Career Chat: Major Doesn’t Equal Career

The Gator Career Chats series recently featured a thought-provoking panel, “Major Doesn’t Equal Career,” where career experts and alumni shared insights on navigating career paths beyond traditional expectations. Here are the top takeaways:

1. Transferable Skills Are Key

Panelists emphasized …

By Kyle Schramm
Kyle Schramm Career Pathways Coach
Read more

Not Too Late to Land an Internship for Summer 2025!

As we approach the midpoint of the academic year, many of you may be thinking, “Is it too late to find an internship for summer 2025?” The answer is a resounding no! While many students have already secured their summer …

By Edwina Hurst
Edwina Hurst Manager
Read more

Explore Your Future Career at Sustainability Career Discovery Days! 

Hey Gators! Ready to turn your passion for the planet into a career? Sustainability Career Discovery Days is your chance to connect with industry leaders, explore career paths, and gain the skills to make a real impact. Join us March …

By Gabby Diaz-Portalatin
Gabby Diaz-Portalatin Assistant Director for Integrated Career Solutions
Read more

Sidebar

Job Market DataIn partnership withLightcast logo

As a first-and second-year student, you can use the Job Market Data Tool to explore potential industries and occupations. This tool can help you gain average salary insights, and learn about required education levels, top employers, and core tasks and skills associated with various occupations. Try filtering by industry to learn more about occupations within an industry to help you explore the possibilities.

First, choose an industry of interest, then filter for occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

Type in a keyword to select a relevant occupation. (If you'd like to see data for a specific location only, filter by state.)

LinkedIn Learning

Tech Career Skills: Developing Your Personal Brand

Taught by Dux Raymond Sy
In today’s competitive environment, having a strong personal brand positions you as an industry expert, promotes your influence, and opens…

Excel: Managing and Analyzing Data

Taught by Oz du Soleil
In this course, Oz du Soleil—an Excel MVP, author, and trainer with a passion for clean data and reliable reporting—equips…

Business Etiquette for Gen Z

Taught by Madecraft
Good business etiquette sets the right tone in a professional setting and can position you for long-term success. In this…

Cultivating a Growth Mindset

Taught by Dr Gemma Leigh Roberts
Mindset is a choice. People with a growth mindset—who choose to believe that talent and ability can grow—experience better performance,…

Goal Setting

Setting relevant and precise goals is a recipe for career success—but where do you start? Learn how to choose which…

Reasons Not to Worry: Stoicism in Chaotic Times

Taught by Next Big Idea Club
Ever wondered why we all worry so much about things beyond our control? In the 2022 book Reasons Not to…

How to Create Great Customer Experiences

Taught by Sam Stern
Creating exceptional customer experiences is a vital goal for every company. In this course, customer experience (CX) expert Sam Stern…

The Step-by-Step Guide to Rock Your Job Interview

Taught by Anna Belyaeva
In this course, founder of The Career Diet and career coach Anna Belyaeva provides a step-by-step guide to prepare for,…

Nano Tips for Landing Your Dream Internship with Sho Dewan

Taught by Sho Dewan
Welcome to our Nano Tips series, where LinkedIn Learning creators deliver impactful lessons in literally seconds. In this installment, gather…

Rock Your LinkedIn Profile (2019)

Taught by Lauren Jolda
Explore how to create a LinkedIn profile that brings your personal career story to life, whether you’re just starting out,…

Create Your Dream Career: A Transformative Guide for Women

Taught by genConnectU
While you may hear the occasional story of someone lucking into their dream job, or discovering their life’s calling through…

Decision-Making Strategies

Taught by Mike Figliuolo
Learn the art and science of business decision-making from leadership trainer and coach Mike Figliuolo. Mike outlines the four styles…

Networking Foundations: Networking Basics

Taught by Kevin Wallace
When someone begins to study networking, they’re challenged with knowing where to start. This is due to the wide spectrum…

Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

Taught by Carolyn Goerner
Those who experience imposter syndrome often believe they are inferior to others or have faked their way into positions despite…

Introduction to Career Skills in Data Analytics

Taught by Robin Hunt
Are you ready to take the first step on your journey as a data analyst? Whatever your goals, you don’t…

Learning to Say No with Confidence and Grace

Taught by Melody Wilding
Turning down requests at work can be tough. If you’re a high performer who serves as a resource for other…

Leadership Strategies for Women

Taught by Daisy Lovelace
Countless sources have documented the difficulties women face in reaching the top tiers of today’s businesses. Women leaders face different…

Writing a Cover Letter

Taught by Jenny Foss
Cover letters matter. When done right, they spell out clearly who you are, what you have to offer, and—most importantly—why…

Managing Your Career: Early Career

Taught by Valerie Sutton
What do you enjoy doing, and how are you uniquely qualified to build a rewarding career out of your interests,…

Managing Stress for Positive Change

Taught by Heidi Hanna
In the workplace, stress is often viewed in purely negative terms—it’s seen as a response that should simply be minimized…

Career Resources

Hi, Gators! In this short video I walk you through creating a winning resume from scratch. All you need to …

The Eight Semester Career Readiness Guide is a resource to keep you on track. Usethis resource to be intentional …

Looking for Federal Work Student and other part time jobs? The Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships is here …

Navigating professional school applications can often be challenging, and crafting a compelling personal statement is a critical step in your …

Alumni Connections

  • Legal Secretary Various
Meet Maria
  • Economic Analyst Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland
Meet Christian
  • Image Quality Scientist Intern Canon Medical
Meet Adam

Contact & Location

Phone
352-392-1601
Address

J. Wayne Reitz Union
Suite 1300
PO Box 118507
Gainesville, FL 32611-8507

Career Service Hours

Monday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Tuesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Wednesday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Thursday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm
Friday 8:00 am- 5:00 pm

We are located on Level 1 of the Reitz Union.