Here are some things you can do, now, in your free time outside of class so you don't have to panic, later, about not being able to get a job.
1. Make a résumé and do things to put on it.
Some things to consider when making your résumé may include the format, relevance, and perspective. You may want to ask yourself “how does the format of my résumé translate to the job field I want to work in?" For example, if you are looking to pursue a career in art or design, why not show off your design abilities in the actual format of your résumé?
Although most employers advise not sticking to a template résumé design, consider looking at one while you make your résumé to ensure you don't leave out any important information. Next, consider what in your résumé is relevant to your job field. For a professional résumé, you can probably safely cut anything you did in high school and your list of intramural sports teams. This leads right into the last vital component to a good résumé: perspective. Think about it from the point of view of the employer and what skills they need from graduating students to successfully transition them into a job? Find out what those skills are and obtain them.
2. Keep a portfolio.
Keeping a portfolio is probably one of the more overlooked components of job preparation. Of course, you would legally need permission from your professor to use work from their classes for personal reasons, but think twice before you drag all of your French papers and lab reports to your trash bin at the end of your semester. Keeping records of the work you have done for classes is an easy way to show future employers what your finished work looks like.
3. Develop relationships with professors and other respected people in your field.
What's the point of putting in the extra time to go to office hours if you are already doing well in the class? Because building personal relationships with your professors, and anyone else in your field, can only help in networking for better opportunities and connections down the road. Not only that, but professors have a wealth of knowledge that you are paying for in your tuition that doesn't always fit into a course syllabus. Finding a mentor in college makes the application process for grad school, jobs, and internships much more bearable, because a mentor can give advise from experience about what recruiters in your field are looking for.
4. Get an Internship.
Get one. Get three. Get ten. Most companies offer them, and most alumni and employers agree that internships provide the vital real life experience that a classroom cannot provide. In fact, one of the top reasons that students are not hired after graduation is due to a lack of internship experience. Although relevant work experience is always preferred, even work that is unrelated to your field can often provide you with a skill set that will set you apart from competition when applying to jobs down the line.
5. Make a LinkedIn account and learn to network on it.
In today's job market, networking is key. LinkedIn is an incredibly easy and efficient way to put out a positive, and polished image of yourself, while finding opportunities in your field. You can add connections with people you know or have worked with, join groups with professionals in your field, connect with alumni in your field, and even search positions open positions from various companies.
6. Research the job market in your field.
Many students may have an idea of what they want to do, but unless they take the time to do the research about potential opportunities that are on the shelves of today's job market, their dreams may not be realistic. For those who have no idea about what you want to do after graduation, researching the job market is your first step. Finding out what you don't want for a future career path is just as valuable as finding out what you do want. Once you find something you like, don't just bookmark the page. Contact them; put yourself on their radar, and let them know that you exist.
7. Go to class.
College takes stamina. Everybody in college is busy and everybody in college needs a rest. But what college also takes is money. Not only does going to class gain the respect of your peers and professors, but it really does end up saving you in the long run. While that review or workshop day may not be at the top of your list of priorities, you are still paying money for it (a lot of money), so you might as well get something out of it. Plus, going to class and absorbing the information will absolutely guarantee you a better grade, which can only help you later in life.
8. Volunteer.
Getting volunteer experience in college can widen your perspective on what life has to offer and open doors to other opportunities in your field down the line. Additionally, making a difference in your community can only help to mold our world for the better and create a lasting impact on the world. Why do it when you are in college? Because college campuses fuel a significant amount of the volunteer organizations in the surrounding communities, which need college students like you to lend a hand for a cause.
9. Learn how to write.
This may seem a little elementary. You have already passed your freshman writing seminar. But can you write a cover letter that will secure a job? Unfortunately, the real world does not have writing centers that can edit all of your papers, so college really is the critical time to develop those writing skills that will carry you through the rest of your life. Most career planning centers offer workshops that teach you how to write for an application essay or for a cover letter. Take advantage of it.
