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When you graduate (in the not too distant future) you will face the pressures of looking for a job and starting your career (along with every other college grad). There is a delicate balance between launching the career of your dreams and finding a job to pay your bills. All too often, the pressure of making ends meet overrides the passion of starting your career.
From building your college experience to the job search to landing a job, Career Coach Kristin Shopp helps the college student navigate the job search process and set themselves up for professional success. To the point yet filled with helpful tips and up to date knowledge of the college job market, this book is sure to give the job seeker a competitive edge.
But why wait until you graduate from college? If you want to get a head start on that career, you can start planning now for a successful job post-graduation.
Following are a few of the many ways to begin pursuing your career while still in college.
Research and Join:
Become an active member of your industry or field prior to graduation. Look for industry groups (especially on LinkedIn), trade publications, journals, and magazines. Become active as soon as possible. Read up on the leaders in your industry and research different trends and themes. Spend free time or breaks between classes catching up on the latest innovations in your field. Reach out to industry leaders to get their advice. The more contacts you make while in college, the easier it will be to begin your career once you graduate.
Never Stop Networking
College is an excellent time to build a core network that will help propel you into the future. Seek mentors who can teach you and walk you through the process of starting out. Professionals are often more open to current students because they want to encourage their interest and know that students are learning about the industry, not just prowling for a job.
Your Fairy Job Mentor’s Secrets for Success will provide you with the information, insights, and inspiration you need to take control of your career, even in uncertain times.
Take advantage of the alumni and professors that you come into contact with during your college years. Go to banquets and meetings that can be excellent opportunities for building connections that will profit your later career.
Start Working Now:
Working while going to college can be challenging, but many people do it. Ideally, you will want to get internships during your Summer (and sometimes Winter) breaks. Internships tend to be focused on your major and will give you industry-specific experience. Your college is a great way to find an internship, but there are a number of great websites that provide potential opportunities (see How to Set Yourself Up for Internship Success). Practical experience will raise
You should also consider your resume. And you never know if the company you intern at might just want to hire you full-time after graduation.
Sign Up for Seminars and Additional Classes:
You will obviously have relevant coursework as part of your major, but you should also consider extra-curricular courses and seminars. Supplementing your courses with related classes is beneficial as well (such as business classes). Seminars provide an opportunity to meet other people who share the same industry or subject interests. You never know who you may meet.
Get ahead of the curve (and your fellow graduates), leverage these tips and don’t wait for graduation to start building your career. There is no time like the present for maneuvering yourself toward the career path you desperately want.
