| Once upon a time, college freshmen arrived on | | | | And don't underestimate the impact a college job |
| campus excited to meet their roommates, cheer | | | | can have on your future career. Getting exposure |
| on their football teams, and attend a frat party or | | | | in your field, even if it's as a temp or assistant, |
| two. | | | | can give you insight into that career and what it |
| Not anymore. Today's freshmen are heading | | | | entails. It may reaffirm that it's the right choice, |
| straight for the career center. | | | | or you may realize it's not what you thought, |
| According to at AP story "Colleges: Freshmen | | | | which will save you a lot of time and money you |
| looking for career advice now" by Kathy | | | | might invest pursuing that path. |
| Matheson, campus career centers are becoming | | | | Consider a Double Major (or Minor) |
| more popular with college freshmen than tailgating | | | | Are you on the fence about what you want to |
| and late-night pizza delivery. Whether it's due to | | | | do? Are you thinking about becoming a doctor, |
| the slow economic recovery or their already | | | | but you also really want to learn Spanish? Why |
| jam-packed schedules, this generation of college | | | | not major in biology and Spanish, or consider a |
| students (aka the Millennials) are ready to | | | | foreign language minor? |
| jump-start their post-college careers now. | | | | Double majoring or minoring can be beneficial to |
| And they are on the right track. Getting a college | | | | your future career for several reasons. First, it |
| degree is expensive and time-consuming. The | | | | gives you versatility, and shows potential |
| more college freshmen can learn about possible | | | | employees that you have a wide variety of skills |
| career paths, and which ones are right for them, | | | | they can put to use at their companies. Two, it |
| the easier their transition will be into the working | | | | can be a perfect fit for a careers that don't have |
| world. | | | | a clear-cut degree path. (For example, if you want |
| No matter what stage you are at in your college | | | | to own your own PR firm someday, you might |
| career, here are some tips you can take to | | | | benefit from a journalism or communications |
| prepare yourself for the future. | | | | degree with a business minor. Or vice versa). And |
| Talk to a Professional | | | | three, it can give you the flexibility to change your |
| One of the best ways to learn more about a | | | | mind about your career and what you want to do |
| potential career path is to talk to someone who's | | | | in the future. |
| actually living your dream. Talk to your friends, | | | | Visit Your Career Center |
| your parents, and friends of your parents to see | | | | Most schools have a career center dedicated to |
| who knows someone in your field. Then ask if | | | | one purpose: helping you find a job. In addition to |
| you can take them to coffee or lunch, and pick | | | | providing counseling and insight about what career |
| their brain. (If a face-to-face meeting doesn't | | | | is right for you, they'll help you with the nitty |
| work, email is a good option.) | | | | gritty of the job search: how to prepare a |
| The more questions you can ask him or her | | | | resume, how to write a cover letter, where to |
| about what your career will entail, the better. Find | | | | conduct your job search, and much more. Plus |
| out about education requirements, typical work | | | | career centers often get a heads up on job |
| hours, and advancement opportunities. Ask them | | | | opportunities, so being dialed in to their email |
| what's most challenging about their jobs, and | | | | groups and websites can give you a jump on |
| what's most rewarding. From their answers, you | | | | potential job openings. Some career centers even |
| should have a better sense of whether or not | | | | host job and career fields throughout the school |
| this career is right for you. | | | | year, giving you the chance to meet directly with |
| An added bonus: meeting with a career | | | | future employers. |
| professional can help you network for a job down | | | | Check in With Your Advisor |
| the road. (Just don't forget to write them a thank | | | | In addition to the career center, your advisor can |
| you note or email afterwards, and to stay in | | | | be a valuable resource in your career search. It's |
| touch throughout your college years!) | | | | a college advisors jobs to know the ins and outs |
| Work, Intern or Volunteer | | | | of every class option available, as well as what |
| You're going to learn some great things in the | | | | you need to graduate with a particular major. |
| classroom-there's no doubt about it. Writing skills, | | | | So if you've got a question about which classes |
| critical thinking skills, and research skills are all part | | | | will best prepare you to become a rocket |
| of a college degree that will be invaluable in the | | | | scientist, ask them. If you're thinking you might |
| future. But what you can learn by working, | | | | want to become and architect and want to know |
| interning, or volunteering, particularly in your | | | | the difference between the B.Arch and a Master's |
| chosen field, will be equally important after | | | | of Architecture, ask them. If you're a business |
| graduation. | | | | major and want to know if you've completed |
| For starters, you'll learn the computer programs, | | | | enough prereqs and business classes to graduate, |
| business processes, and office etiquette rules that | | | | ask them. That's what they're there for. |
| you'll need when you enter the workforce. | | | | Do Your Research |
| Knowing how to use the entire Microsoft Office | | | | The field you choose to pursue, whether it's |
| Suite, how to deal with a gossiping co-worker, and | | | | medicine or law or teaching, should be something |
| how to administer and run a meeting on FUZE are | | | | you love. (The more you love it, the better you'll |
| skills you won't learn in lecture, but that will come | | | | be at it, and the more satisfaction you'll get.) But |
| in handy throughout your career. Little details like | | | | it doesn't hurt to do some research first, and find |
| how to answer a phone and administer a meeting | | | | out which careers in that field offer the best |
| may not seem like a big deal, but they'll make an | | | | compensation, potential for growth, and job |
| impact on future employers. | | | | outlook. If you're interested in medicine, for |
| Working, interning, and volunteering can also be a | | | | example, but aren't sure about going to medical |
| great way to build your resume and begin building | | | | school, it may help to know that registered |
| a professional network. Many college graduates | | | | nurses and physicians assistants are seeing |
| land jobs directly with their college employers or | | | | unprecedented job growth in their respective |
| through their recommendations, so this is a great | | | | fields. |
| way to get a jump on your competition. | | | | |