By: Emily Glazer, www.wsi.com
Welcome to the hallowed halls of academia. Now start planning for life in the real world.
It’s still a tough jobs market out there and likely will continue to be for some time. So it isn’t too early for freshly minted college students to start making themselves more marketable – from taking classes that polish essential skills to building a strong network.
“The size of your support network and mentoring group can often be as important as your degree,” say Rich Feller, president of the National Career Development Association, which provides programs and services for career development.
Here’s a timeline on the moves to make over the next four years:
Freshman Year
Classes: You’ll likely be required to take certain basic courses or prerequisites for your major. But this also is the time to sharpen basic – but essential – communication skills, says Mark Brostoff, associate dean and director of Weston Career Center at Olin Business School at Washington.
So sign up for writing and public-speaking classes. And you’ll be able to carry the skills over into your job search and professional life. Think cover letters, elevator pitches, product presentations and company reports. It’s also the time to start fostering relationships with professors or alumni who will later help with career advice and internship and job leads.
Activities: Most students don’t step foot in the career services office until senior year, but it’s a good resource for freshmen as well. Many career services offices offer personality tests to help students figure out their passions and interest, says Robin Ryan, a Seattle-based career counselor.
Summer: It is likely too early to land an internship, but you still can gain valuable skills from a summer job. Try to tailor the job to your field of study in some way. Also consider asking about volunteer opportunities at a company or organization in your field of interest, Ms. Ryan says.
Sophomore Year
Classes: Take a business-writing course that homes in on writing cover letter, executive summaries and proposals, Mr. Brostoff says. It’s also time to become proficient with math – the kind you’ll actually have to use in everyday life. That means taking both an accounting and personal-finance class.
Activities: Narrow down membership to a few clubs or teams where you can stand out, and take an active role by volunteering for projects and events.
Summer: This is the time to start working internships, says Mr. Brostoff. Visit your career services office for a list of available internships and cast a wide net. Also ask professors and acquaintances in your field of interest.
Junior Year
Classes: You’ll likely need to declare your major by this point, says Mr. Feller. Keep in regular contact with your academic advisor to make sure you’re on track to complete requirements.
Activities: Join a professional or community organization based on your interests and field of study. And keep networking with professors and alumni.
Summer: If you haven’t secured a summer internship by now, this is the time to land one. The career services office can help place you in an internship or fellowship. Most offer help with resume writing and mock job interviews
Senior Year
Classes: If you still have electives to take, choose classes that build on what you’ve learned during a summer job and internship. Engineering majors can take a website-coding class, a skill that’s in demand for digital or technical positions.
Activities: Try to get a leadership position on a least one club or organization and outline what you hope to do to make your mark. It’s also time to put networking into high speed.
Summer: It’s all about landing that full-time gig – and putting all the advice and steps that you’ve hopefully taken over the last four years into practice.
Lastly, join your school’s alumni association so you can continue to build your network.
For more information see: The Wall Street Journal (online), Family Finances, August 28, 2012
