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Before you get too busy with classes and activities in full swing (and before senioritis sets in), make sure you take these first steps to being career ready! Get yourself organized at the beginning of school so that you can enjoy all that your college has to offer. If you’re an underclassman, you can really get ahead by starting on these items now and keeping up with them through your senior year!
1. Review your résumé: Hopefully you’ve spent the last three years building up your résumé to its fullest potential. Once you’ve added your most recent summer experience to it, send it to a few trusted mentors (family members, alumni, professors) and have them look it over. Make changes as necessary.
2. Create/Update your LinkedIn profile: After you’ve perfected your résumé, add the same great info to your LinkedIn account. Also be sure you’re connected to everyone you’ve met at your summer job/internship/abroad experience. Even if you don’t think you’ll be looking for a job in that field upon graduation, you can always ask for recommendations, and you might want to speak with others in their network.
3. Clean up your personal social media accounts: Before recruiters start searching for you, make sure that any public posts or photos of yours are appropriate enough that you wouldn’t mind your future boss looking at them.
4. Order business cards: You’ll hopefully be attending a good number of career fairs and networking nights in the coming months. Stand out by having a professional business card with your contact information in addition to your résumé.
5. Visit your school’s Career Services Center: Now is the best time to meet with a career advisor who can help you plan in advance for any upcoming career prep workshops and other events. Form a strong relationship with your advisor so that when a job that fits your wants and needs comes up, you will be the first person on the advisor’s mind.
6. Fill in a calendar: In addition to keeping track of your schoolwork and extra curricular activities, make sure you mark down GRE exam dates, job application deadlines and any career related events you want to attend.
7. Make a list of dream companies: Figure out which companies you can really see yourself working for in the future. Use this list to motivate yourself to push through the craziness of your last year. Also use it to keep track of when you should be applying and following up with these employers. Refer back to your list every so often and make sure you are on track to complete your goals.
Amanda Gallucci is a senior at Providence College in Rhode Island, studying English and Business. She is actively involved in Student Alumni Association and is the Executive President of Providence College’s chapter of NSCS. She hopes to one day land a marketing position in New York City. Follow her on Twitter @agalluch.