While you're in college, professors and counselors continuously remind you that you are in school to launch a successful career.
People will tell you they are there for you if you need help and that every class you take should get you one step closer to having the education to begin the right career. Just as students entering their freshman year of college probably don't know what degree they want to pursue, like seniors may be confused about what their career will look like.
The idea of deciding on a career can be intimidating because traditionally, people are in the same industry their whole lives.
As time goes on, however, people are becoming more flexible with how they picture a lifelong career and what the different parts could look like. No matter what their careers eventually look like, everyone starts in the same place by asking themselves what they want to do.
Don't let your future career worry you! Like in all other aspects of life, things will change and you'll learn to adapt to wherever life takes you. To get your career started in something you love, read on to learn what you can do to guarantee your success.
Even if your first post-college job doesn't meet your initial expectations, you'll know you've made the right decision if you're passionate in your daily work life.
1. Think about what you love to do
Considering what you love to do is such a simple step that many people often forget to do it. It's easy to get lost in wondering what will make the most money eventually, allowing you to pursue your dreams of traveling the globe or whatever other goals you want to reach one day. Start with something easy: What do you love?
Identifying your passion could mean thinking back on classes you've taken that you enjoyed.
Maybe you have a hobby that makes your heart sing or you want to start doing something that sparks your curiosity. College is the time to find all this out! Get involved with clubs and meet new people. As you learn more about the world and how you like to have fun, you'll more easily recognize what you love to do.
2. Research your degree
Once you've found your calling, it's time to think about your degree. What is it and what do people do with it? Imagine you've majored in accounting. The obvious answer is that if you get that degree, you begin a career in finance. Even if your degree is straightforward, you can research it to find out what opportunities await you inside the world it will open up.
Start looking up careers related to your degree and then jobs related to those careers. Branch off and explore every potential opportunity. You might not find something that interests you on the first page of your search results but you may find a job you want to learn more about, then a related specialty field you never would have discovered otherwise.
3. Take on multiple internships
A typical challenge college students find the most frustrating when they're looking for a job is that no one wants to hire a potential employee who has no experience in the role they're applying for. You may have a veterinary science degree but unless you've had the opportunity to apply your knowledge in the real world, it's not worth a whole lot to employers.
As early as you can, start looking for internships.
They can occur during the summer, fall or spring semesters or even year-round. Companies will all handle their internships a bit differently and it especially varies by the kind of work you'd be doing. If you don't see any internships or part-time jobs posted in your area that could be great resume-builders, start contacting businesses.
You can call businesses and request information, like if they've ever hired an intern and if they'd consider one. It's a perfect way to practice pitching yourself for a position. You'd get to tell them who you are and why you'd make the perfect candidate for an internship. Businesses who may not have had an intern before could open up to the idea if they know what kind of intern they'd be hiring and what you'd expect from the experience.
4. Talk with a career counselor
Most universities and community colleges have a place for students to go where they can talk with a professional about their future. Look on your school's website if you're not sure if you have access to one. A career counselor will help provide job options you can consider and how you can start planning the roadmap to your first real job.
The way to get the most out of any time spent with a career counselor is to come in with questions ready. Write down any questions you have about your career so you can get them addressed. Even if your counselor isn't sure of the answer, they'll know someone to put you in touch with or how you can research your question to learn more.
5. Be ready for when opportunity strikes
In a recent interview with Management Consulted, Vanderbilt University graduate Carli Bigi talked about how she was a problem solver from a very young age. Even as young as four years old, Carli carried around a backpack full of tools, just in case she needed to build something. "I was always measuring pipes and just being very curious and inquisitive. Any time I saw a problem, my go to at a very young age was to rally people around it and then get us to solve it," she said.
Today, Carli is a successful entrepreneur and a former Deloitte consultant. Take a page out of her book (or backpack) and prepare yourself to take advantage of any opportunity at a moment's notice.
Sometimes, the best shot at your dream career can come out of thin air, so being prepared by carrying around business cards, copies of your resume or whatever else you think might come in handy is a good idea.
6. Take a chance
Unless your degree and career are very straightforward, like becoming a doctor or lawyer, you're going to have to leap into your first job no matter how confident you feel.
It's OK to worry and do lots of research but know that no matter what you end up doing, it's not forever. Careers are always changing, so with time, you'll find a job that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning.
