I think it’s fair to say that everyone goes to college to prepare for a rewarding career in any field you choose. What’s the formula to really get ready for a career and life in the adult world? Here’s a year-by-year guide to getting the most of your college experience.
Freshman Year
Welcome to college! Get ready for the greatest four years of your life! Besides going to all your classes, the best thing to do is get a work study position. It’ll help you earn some extra money while meeting new people (plus it’s not a bad resume building block either). Every college requires some form of educational planning so when registration comes up, start planning ahead for the future. Which courses do you want to take in the future? When will it be offered again? These are some things to plan ahead for so future registrations are easier to handle. Also, if your school requires community service hours, consider getting as many out of the way possible this year! It’s a great opportunity to make new friends while fulfilling a graduation requirement!
Sophomore Year
OK, so this where you begin to think about your potential career. Start thinking about possible internships and if you’re in a program that doesn’t require one, it’s still a good resume builder to have one. Along with identifying possible internships, think about becoming a student leader on campus. Become a student ambassador, become part of SGA, etc. These are easily other resume builders that can help you stand apart from the crowd.
Junior Year
You’re halfway through college. Now let’s try to find an internship! Use your school's career development office for help with resumes, cover letters, and interview techniques. Most career fairs have employers looking for summer college interns, so that can be a great place to start looking. Why not do an internship in your field rather than working a part-time job at some retail store or a local swimming pool?
Senior Year
Congratulations! You’ve gone this far, keep going forward! Make sure your resume is flawless. Make regular appointments with career development to make sure you’re on top of everything. Start doing mock interviews to prepare you for the real interviews and attend as many job/career fairs as possible. Even if you’re not interested in any of the positions available, it’ll still give you experience talking to potential employers.
Also consider attending an alumni networking event. This can help you get connections in your field (plus there’s usually free food and drinks at events which is usually a huge plus). Consider getting letter of recommendations as well. Talk to the professors on campus who view you in a high standard. Who knows you better than the professors who have been teaching you and preparing you for a successful career for the last four years?
If you follow this map, you should be good to go! As a college senior getting ready to graduate, I know the thought of finding a job can be scary and stressful. Through my four years of experience, if you follow this path you should be ready to go!
