The Five-Year Resume: A Career Planning Exercise

Abstract

For most college students, lack of career planning wastes time and resources and may result in years of “career drift.” Lack of planning can also lead to deception once students begin seeking career-related employment. Faced with a competitive job market, some students inflate and exaggerate their resumes. The five-year resume exercise helps students avoid these difficulties by developing a future orientation toward their career goals. Students create the resumes they would like to have in five years. This exercise encourages both self-management and proactiveness. The exercise, sample questions, and a template are provided. Illustrations of student feedback, benefits, and suggestions for faculty are presented.