Well, seniors, it’s our last semester together at Elizabethtown College! After this, it’s time to journey into the realm known as “The Real World.” For some of us, this may be the start of a new, exciting era. For others, it may be a terrifying leap into the unknown. Personally, I’m somewhere in between; I go from enthusiastic about my future to absolutely petrified in minutes. I like to think that most of you can relate to this, as the future isn’t set in stone.
However, the future isn’t something to be completely fearful of. After college, the world is your oyster! The possibilities are endless! Use any motivational phrase you want, because you can really do anything if you put forth the effort and enthusiasm towards the things that you strive for in life.
In order to prepare for “The Real World,” you’re going to need some professional experience to get you to that dream job that you’ve envisioned since you started your college career. At Etown, there are plenty of options to build that resume and catch the eye of potential employers. Here are a few tips to consider to prepare yourself for a career:
1. Career Services – On campus, Career Services is an invaluable resource. From helping to build resumes to constructing cover letters to career exploration, their office is designed to help you in any way that you may need when it comes to careers. They’re open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are flexible with appointments if you ever need a career counselor. Check out their list of upcoming events and complete list of services at www.etown.edu/offices/career/ or contact them at CAREERSERVICES@ETOWN.EDU.
2. Your department – It’s likely that your department of study has some sort of internship program or at least professors willing to talk to you about potential careers. Don’t be afraid to check out your options! Your professors’ jobs are to help you on your way towards a career, so why not take advantage of their assistance? It’s likely they had the same worries or questions that you currently have about your field of study. Learn from their past experiences, and maybe even grab a cup of coffee together sometime. Professors can be your friends, believe it or not.
3. LinkedIn – I will admit, it’s taken me a while to get into the LinkedIn scene, but it’s a good way of connecting with people in a professional setting. It’s easy to find fellow students and professors from Etown, who are able to personally endorse you for your skills. It’s also easy to find potential internship and job openings. Heck, my roommate just found a potential internship lead on LinkedIn. It works, I swear. Even if you can’t accept any offers now, remember them for later and be sure to tuck them away somewhere for future reference. It’s never too early to plan ahead.
4. Professional networking – The connections that you make in your life can greatly impact your professional career. Faculty members, staff members, guest lecturers, friends, parents, parents of friends, co-workers, bosses, etc. Any of these people in your life may know someone in your field that you can connect with. Be sure to remember these connections when looking for a job later on. Being personable and making an impression with these people can make a difference in your professional career.
5. Get creative looking for opportunities – Get ready to put yourself out there and take some risks. Well, nothing too risky. See an ad on a flyer? Check it out, and see what it’s about! Hear about a job from a friend? Get their contact information! Look in the newspaper, walk downtown, look on job sites, anything that might open some doors for you.
6. Work on resume-builders – You may be first in your class, a straight-A student and perform outstandingly in all your courses, but is that the only thing on your resume? Lately, employers seem to be looking for a well-balanced resume or potential employees that have a lot of experience in a certain field. Even doing some volunteer work through a campus program such as Into the Streets can make you look good. At Etown, we’re all about educating to serve. Show the world that you are, too.
Most importantly, be confident throughout the whole process and keep your head up. You may not get your dream job right away, you may have bombed an interview or you may not even know where to start. This, too, shall pass. Just remember that things tend to work out in the end if you work hard and stay positive. Hopefully, with these tips, you’re ready to take on the big scary world ahead of you. Good luck, class of 2015.
