Career Tips for College Students

Career Tips for College Students

It doesn’t matter if this is the first semester or the last, college students who expect to land that perfect job need to ensure that along with their college degree they have developed the skills, abilities and experiences that employers are actively seeking.

Gain Practical Job Experience Prior to Graduation

One of the most important steps that college students can take toward launching their careers is to get actual work experience, preferably related to their degree major; though any type of real-world work experience will be beneficial and can provide transferrable skills such as customer service, project management, and relationship building.

The best way to do this is to volunteer, work part-time or find an internship that will provide a student with the opportunity to experience life outside school. Naturally, hands-on experience that is directly related to a course of study enables students to see what they are likely to encounter once they graduate.

Take Time to Enjoy a Variety of Courses

Sometimes, either in an effort to just get through the curriculum or to take courses that require less brain drain, students will take the path of least resistance in choosing their class schedule. That means nothing particularly challenging or new.

However, it is important to take a variety of classes: those which are interesting as well as those which compliment a student’s major or career path. And most importantly, regardless of college major, all students should consider taking business courses in subjects such as ethics, business law and sustainability in order to adequately prepare themselves for today’s business world.

Participate in Extra-Curricular Activities

Students need to have fun, need to participate in campus life, but that doesn’t just mean the party life. Instead, students should consider joining extra-curricular activities that support their career aspirations

So for instance, political science majors might consider joining the debate team and student government, or students who desire a career in veterinary science may want to become members of 4H. No matter what subject students choose as a major, there is likely a complimentary club or association on campus. And don’t forget that sports are always a good way to build strong teamwork skills.

Build a Solid Network and Develop Socialization Skills

There’s a long-standing concept in the business world which suggests that organizations are social entities. But that doesn’t mean that college students should wait until they graduate and obtain their first job to start building life-long relationships and a solid network of career contacts. Relationships developed in school can not only help college students through the good and bad times during their college days, they can become the friendships that endure a lifetime.

And it’s not just about peer friendships. Professors and college counselors can offer mentoring opportunities and career guidance now and for years to come. Take the time to actively participate in campus activities and to meet and greet people from all walks of life.

Take Advantage of Campus Career Programs

Every college and university throughout the U.S. has a career center which offers students a variety of programs, workshops, job fairs and other activities to help them write their resume, learn how to interview and guide them to find paid, unpaid, part-time and internship employment opportunities before and after graduation. Students should not hesitate to take full advantage of what their student career center has to offer.

The fact is that with a little forethought and planning students can walk away from their college days not only with a college degree, but with a wealth of experience and information that will help them jumpstart their career

source: suite101 - Important Career Tips for College Students