First Year Students
You don’t have to wait until junior or senior year to start thinking about your future, your first year at USA is a great time to begin exploring!
At South Alabama's Career Development Office, we offer a wide range of resources designed specifically for first-year students. From career assessments and exploration tools to one-on-one Career Consulting, we work to help you better understand your strengths, explore majors and career paths, and start building a foundation for future success.
Whether you’re undecided about your major, don't know where to start, or already have a few interests in mind, we’re here to support you every step of the way.
Not sure where to start? These two tools can help you begin exploring your interests and options:
Focus2 helps you learn more about your interests, values, and strengths, and how they connect
to different majors and career paths. It’s a great first step if you’re unsure what
direction to take or want to explore new possibilities.
What Can I Do With This Major? breaks down what you can do with specific majors, including common career paths,
types of employers, and strategies to prepare for those roles. It’s a helpful way
to see how your academic interests can connect to real-world opportunities.
Both tools are easy to use and designed to help you feel more confident as you begin
shaping your academic and career journey.
You can also get career support from one of our Career Consultants to discuss your Focus2 results, ask questions, or just to get some help with talking through your options.
You don’t need years of experience to start a resume, your first year in college is the perfect time to begin!
You can include:
- Part-time jobs, volunteer work, or leadership in clubs
- Class projects or assignments that show your skills
- Activities that highlight teamwork, communication, or initiative
Our Career Development team can help you build your first draft, even if you’re not sure what to put on it yet. We'll show you how to take what you're already doing — in and out of class — and turn it into a strong foundation for future internships or jobs.
Want to get started on your own? Check out our resume video series for advice on what employers are looking for.
Here are some ways we suggest gaining some skills and making some connections in your first year here at USA:
One great way for you to gain experience and to become a part of the USA community is to get involved on campus! Whether this is with a student organization that matches your interests, joining an Honor Society for your major, or playing intramural sports, being a part of what is happening here at USA can help you build your network, expand your horizons, and open you up for chances to gain leadership experience.
To learn more about getting involved on campus, visit Involve South!
Volunteering and service work looks great on your resume, and it helps you give back to your USA community, too. Whether you need service hours for a scholarship, student organization, or if you just enjoy doing giving back, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer.
To learn more about service, visit South Serves!
Accelerate South is our campus-wide job platform! This is where you can look for part-time and on-campus job opportunities, internships, make connections with South Alabama alumni, and even search for that first full-time job!
Getting started early with Accelerate South helps you keep track of your growth from day one. By building your profile now, you can reflect on your experiences, discover new opportunities, and get familiar with the platform employers will be using to find students like you. Add your USA experiences to your profile to show others your story.
Want to learn more? Check out our FAQ’s and Getting Started page.