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.

The official University of Florida online community for UF students and alumni to connect for mentorship, networking, professional development, and virtual access to the Gator Nation.

How to Succeed as a First-Generation College Student

Attending college can truly be one of the most unique experiences a person can have, and with it comes a lot of firsts. For many, it can be the first time they’ve lived away from home, the first time they’ve …

Read more

Gator Career Chat: Foreign Relations, Diplomacy, and International NGOs (workshop recording & recap)

Last week’s Gator Career Chat: Foreign Relations, Diplomacy, and International NGOs featured panelists sharing their experiences and challenges working in this global field. Panelists Hali McLester, UF alum and Program Associate for the Latin American and Caribbean team, Global Energy …

By David Adams
David Adams Senior Assistant Director for Career Pathways – Business, Public Service, and Tourism
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Healthcare Professional School: What to Expect

Did you happen to miss last weeks workshop on what to expect from health professional programs? No need to worry! Click on the recording link below to replay the presentation by Career Coach, Kyle Schramm! In this recording, you will …

By Kyle Schramm
Kyle Schramm Career Pathways Coach
Read more

Top 5 Ways to Get Your Resume in Front of a Human

Tired of getting auto-rejected when applying to positions? Read this post for tips to help limit auto-rejections by the ATS.

By Taylor Mingle
Taylor Mingle
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How To Make Small Talk: 15 Tips & Why You Shouldn’t Avoid It

Small talk is a learnable social skill that’s essential to helping you navigate every social situation, from working and networking events to casual gatherings.

Making small talk is the art of engaging in light conversation. It’s an important social skill

Read more

Sidebar

Job Market DataIn partnership withLightcast logo

Explore occupations by career categories and pathways and use real time labor market data to power your decision making.

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.)

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

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…

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…

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…

Rock Your LinkedIn Profile

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,…

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…

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…

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…

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,…

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…

Designing a Presentation

Taught by Tony Harmer
Perhaps the most essential skill for all knowledge workers, sales professionals, business owners, and educators is the ability to design…

Featured Classes

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. Use
this 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 …

Featured Mentor Connections

Maria Alcolea

Alumni, First & Second Year Students
  • Legal Secretary Various
Meet Maria >

Christian Garciga

Alumni, First & Second Year Students
  • 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.