There are nine essential skills you should have in order to find, acquire, maintain, and grow within a job.

Essential skills built through majoring in Operations Management include:

• Critical Thinking
• Global Learning
• Teamwork & Collaboration

Click here to learn more about each essential skill.

Students graduating from Operations Management find themselves most often in Operations Manager, Supply Chain Manager, Project Manager, Logistics Manager, Purchasing Manager, Service Operations Manager.

Click here to explore career opportunities by major.

Students who choose to pursue a graduate degree often consider these pathways:

• Operations Management grads are prepared to enter any business-related graduate program: BS or MBA

Click here to learn more about applying to graduate school.

Major milestones consist of activities students should complete during their first year, middle years and last year at MSU Denver. These milestones will help prospective and current students explore major and career options and create a year-by-year plan to integrate curricular (what happens inside the classroom), co-curricular (what happens inside and outside the classroom, and non-curricular (what happens outside the classroom) experiences. For example, milestones might list specific classes student should take at specific times along their journey or may suggest when students should participate in research opportunities with faculty members.

Simply put, Major Milestones are meant to enhance your student experience and set you up for success.

To use this tool to the fullest, follow these steps

1. Click on your year in school from the list below.
2. Read the steps listed in each category: Cultivate, Engage and Prepare.
3. Complete any necessary steps listed.
4. Check out further resources by connecting with your academic advisor, the Classroom to Career Hub, and your department faculty.

All options listed below are available in-person and online unless noted otherwise.

• Attend orientation and register for classes.
• Meet with your Academic Advisor.
• Complete FAFSA/CASFA/COF and the General Scholarship Application.

• Join a student organization and get connected to support on campus.
• Declare a major, (explore our fully online programs!) or meet with an exploratory advisor to learn about options.
• Attend signature events on campus (Convocation, Fall Fest, Spring Fling, etc.).

• Meet your Management Faculty Members and Academic Advisor.
• Complete your Business Core prerequisite courses.
• Follow the College of Business on Social Media.

• Connect with a current student or faculty member for coffee.
• Reach out to the Honors Program to see if you qualify!
• Explore College of Business student groups and clubs.

• Begin to explore possible career pathways.
• Create a LinkedIn/LinkedIn Learning Account.
• Career Assessment.

• Consider adding a minor or certificate to your chosen major.
• Explore resources like the tutoring program or the writing center.
• Get familiar with MSU Denver’s Academic Planning Tool.

• Explore student leadership on campus and volunteering in your community.
• Earn credit and gain experience through an internship, study abroad, or community-engaged learning.
• Attend identity or interest-based campus events like the Richard T. Castro speaker series.

• Connect with the Undergraduate Research and Scholarship program.
• Attend an in-person Career Fair to network and secure a professional headshot.
• Connect with the Classroom to Career Hub (C2Hub) for opportunities for professional mentoring and job shadowing.

• Meet with a department advisor to discuss progress to completion.
• Review your upper division Operations Management elective options.
• Seek out academic mentors within your departments.

• If considering Study Abroad, talk to your Advisor about how this fits into your degree.
• Join Beta Gamma Sigma, if eligible, or look for student leadership and volunteer opportunities.
• COMPASS mentorship program through C2Hub.

• Connect w/ people on LinkedIn to build relationships prior to graduation.
•  Conducting informal interviews w/employers to explore career paths/companies.
• Attend online or in person workshops in Denver (funded by C2Hub up to $400 per academic year).

• Meet with your advisor to complete remaining graduation requirements.
• Ready to Graduate? Check out this guide from the registrar!
• Attend or present in-person at a major-specific or industry-specific conference or networking event.

• Attend in-person alumni and campus-wide networking events.
• Submit a proposal to present in-person at the Undergraduate Research Conference.
• Seek to collaborate with local civic organizations.

• Finalize your portfolio of relevant projects and skills.
• Attend in-person career-focused events with an industry-ready resume.
• Identify needs for Professional Certifications or MCAT/LSAT etc. and prepare for professional school admissions.
• Prepare and submit applications for jobs, graduate school, or relevant post-grad training.

• Take electives that polish business, leadership, or communication skills.
• Consider completing an internship for credit.
• Explore professional certifications and plan to take exam.

• Get involved with alumni network.
• Complete an informational interview with a professional in the operations management-related field.
• Attend a professional organization workshop/meeting/event. Appropriate organizations include: Society for Project Managers, Product and Operations Management society, Association for Supply Chain Management.

• Create an academic CV or professional portfolio.
• Develop a job search strategy and apply for jobs.
• Attend job fairs and career and networking events like Dress for Success.