The time to start working towards your career goals is now, here are tips that will help.
Students, you’ve seen it more than once. Fellow classmates complete their degrees and then spend their first week of freedom from the library painting the town red and celebrating. Then they tarmac looking for jobs for the next five years. Don’t’ let this happen to you. Start working towards your entry-level career early in the game.
Try these five proactive tips to prepare for your career and prevent an educational disaster.
1. Don’t procrastinate
One common misconception is that your professional experience starts after college. This incorrect student career advice can and will cost future opportunities. Start looking for opportunities before you graduate. Don’t automatically default to those stereotypical “college student” jobs. Look for work related to your course. For example, journalism students could benefit from working in a print production organization. This provides an inside look at how the business functions.
2. Expand your knowledge
Students learn multiple skills in college. Some are related to your career; others may seem less useful. Open your mind to those so-called “useless” skills. They may come in handy one day. But don’t stop there. The key is expansion. Expand your skills and knowledge. Companies look for team members with the ability to work in diverse settings. Learn a new language, computer skills or even driving, something that adds onto your curriculum vitae.
3. Stay up-to-date
While some entry-level careers are more competitive than others, all jobs require work and preparation. Staying current on technology and industry trends gives you an advantage over other applicants. Most students are more up-to-date with technology than seasoned professionals, giving them the upper hand. Those same students, however, show a lack of knowledge of industry trends. Learning new technology or updating your software version knowledge is just as important as industry trends so always be up to date.
4. Don’t forget about those internships
Internships are the lifeblood of college experience. And rightly so. Nothing beats a hands-on education. Just be careful to select the right internship to help work towards your entry-level career. Many recommend forgoing those large, competitive internships while in college. Instead, put more energy into local, small business internships. These businesses need the help and often offer more real-world education than those coffee-fetching, large company versions.
5. Build your resume
Most of this student career advice requires a few years of planning to become effective. Don’t worry though, there is still time for students getting ready to walk the stage. The first step is to optimize your resume. Look for transferrable skills (i.e. leadership, communication, team building, etc.) Highlight those attributes and similar accomplishments. Use strong action verbs, and draw attention to what you can achieve for the company. Treat your abilities as merchandise for sale. Make the employer want you.
With that said, its never to early to start working on your career even if you are in college, get those skills, work towards your career goals and after college all the hard work will pay off as you will be equipped to make the transition from a student to a career man or woman.
