College is the right time to be thinking about what’s ahead, where you want to live and what kind of career you would like to have. Following these career tips for college students will ensure that you’re prepared for a bright future.
Even though university is different from a professional environment, your professors know what they’re talking about. They have the best career tips for college students. University skills like writing, researching, and learning time management will take you a long way in your professional life, so listen to the advice your professors offer you.
Trying out different fields and learning new skills is the perfect way to see what type of career path you’d like to take. Professional experience, no matter the sector, will better prepare you for the real world and help you figure out what you enjoy. Plus, getting a foot in the door when you’re young will make the job hunt less painful.
If you really dislike certain subjects in school, it could be a sign of what to avoid in terms of a profession. Although there are always bad courses and professors, if you’re taking multiple chemistry classes that you cannot stand, maybe a chemistry major isn’t for you.
Most college students go into university thinking they’ll study one thing and end up with a totally different degree. That’s fine. College is the best time in life to experiment, even though it can be stressful.
An international experience, especially if it’s a job or professional internship, will show you’re the kind of gutsy, risk-taking individual who isn’t afraid of a challenge or of the unknown. As the world becomes increasingly globalized, understanding a second or third language will give you an edge when you are applying for jobs.
As you follow your passions and interests in school, it’s always important to keep a leg firmly planted in post-graduation reality. Whatever you’re studying, you should be thinking about what that might lead to in terms of jobs.
Use connections at your school to connect with students who have graduated and are doing well in the “real world.” Take them out for coffee and ask them to share some insight. See what internships worked for them and how they found out about their current job. Become part of alumni networks and see if you can leverage those connections to start finding opportunities.
Photos:
1. based on university, by Andréa Portilla, CC-by-ND 2.0
2. based on 130305-104 Chemistry, by US Coast Guard Academy, Public Domain
3. based on College of DuPage Celebrates 50th Commencement 2017 84, by COD Newsroom, CC-by-2.0