How to Plan for your Career while still in College There are a lot of things you can do as a college student to prepare yourself for a career post-graduation. Even if you are unsure of what career you want, this is a good time to explore some options. Here is a list of ways you can prepare for your career while still a starving student.
Internships Internships exist for the purpose of training/giving experience to college students as they prepare to graduate and enter the workforce. These usually last one semester, although they can be extended. Some are paid and some are not. As nice as it is to be paid for your work, if there is an internship that would provide excellent experience in your chosen field, don’t hesitate to take it. Not only are internships great ways to gain experience, they are also an excellent networking tool. Many students end up being hired full-time by the companies who they interned with or receive glowing references or letters of recommendation from their internship supervisors. During an internship, a student may meet many influential leaders in their field or community and from there jumpstart their career.
Volunteer Opportunities Another great way to gain experience is through volunteer work. These can be one-time events (i.e. volunteering at a 5K charity) or consistent service over time (i.e. big brother/big sister program). By working with a variety of different groups and organizations, students can build skills, network, and explore career options.
Informational Interviews Students can set up informational interviews with all kinds of professionals. Informational interviews can be held in person, over the phone, or via e-mail. Professionals are happy to help young, interested students understand what the real world is like and guide them to make the right decisions. The student can ask a series of questions about what a typical day is like, what the best things are, what the worst things are, tips for preparation, and so on. Talk to multiple people and get a variety of opinions. From this, you could even land‌
Job Shadowing Opportunities With or without an informational interview, there are many chances to job shadow. Tag around a professional for a day or even for a few hours to really get a feel for what a career in a specific field would be like. Like most other hands on experience, this can help you network, understand the real workplace, and help you decided if this is the career for you. So, for example, if you think a graphic arts degree would be good for you, try to get an internship. Call up a local graphic designer or even talk to a graphic design professor. Set up an informational interview and job shadow for a day. This will give you both perspective and experience needed to prepare you for your future career. Don’t ever be afraid to explore! Do everything you can now to jumpstart your future!
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