As a fourth-year and someone who has spent umpteen hours thinking about his future career, there's a few things that I think I could share with my fellow collegiates that could help you guys with finding a career. I've switched majors, explored tons of options, and have ultimately made some importantly, life-altering decisions.
1. The biggest thing that you need to remember is that unless you're going to begin a career that's heavily major specific (like a doctor, engineer, etc) then more often than not, you probably won't end up in a career that is in line with your major.
It could happen, but for the vast majority, it won't. For example, I'm an English major, but I've begun my career in sales. With the track I want to go on currently, I'll most likely enter into management. My brother was a politic science and criminology major and he is in the electronics recycling industry. My mom got a teaching degree and went into marketing. This leads into my second point...
2. Finding a career is all about your experience.
I've written about my feelings on GPA - and it is important, but what is often a bigger qualification is your previous experience. Whether it be from jobs or internships, that experience is what employers look for. Obviously a degree is important. But if you're a political science major but worked in a job selling stuff with no poly-sci internships experience, you're probably more likely to find a career in sales. So, if you want to go into a field with your major, get an internship or some kind of experience while you're in college so that you have experience for when you graduate.
3. Start looking early.
Like, really early. It literally doesn't hurt you one bit to reach out to potential employers early on. Even if they have no internship or job position for you to fill, most people are, believe it or not, decent people who have no problem giving an up-and-coming college student a little bit of advice. I already know I have to take a 5th year, and I'm a first semester senior, but I'm already interviewing for positions when I graduate. It's never too early, and who knows - maybe one of those people you contact would love to hire you a few years down the road.
4. NETWORKING, NETWORKING, NETWORKING.
Do whatever you can to meet tons of people. That's one of the biggest reasons I joined a fraternity. Even if you don't go Greek, join an organization or just simply meet as many people as you can. People like helping friends out, so make friends and help yourself get into a career.
5. Get LinkedIn.
I know, I thought it was stupid too. But in this era, a lot of companies use it as a way of recruiting. Trust me, within a month of updating it, I was contacted by a few different companies in hopes of recruiting me. It's a way to connect yourself with others in your network, and it makes it easy to job search and get recruited.
