Something that employers want students in college to know is what they desire in an employee. And college graduates would value greatly if they knew this information before getting out of school. So what is it that employers want students to know? Come out of college with experience. It’s what you do within your degree that sets you apart—not just the simple fact that you have a degree. Here are some different ways to gain experience with finances, academics, personal skills and relationships during your college years, leading up to graduation and finding a good ol’ job.
Understand all perspectives of dorm life by living in the dorms, taking a leadership role in the dorms, then living off campus with people by renting a house. The different relational and financial perspectives gained will bring experience and give credibility. - Work multiple jobs during your college years to gain experience in various fields.
- Intern somewhere that applies to your working field of interest.
- Form relationships with professors and your school’s faculty. Not only will it give you experience in communicating with a different generation but it will enable you to establish connections and gain insight with intelligent professors and doctors who are there to help you.
- Join multiple clubs for fun. Being involved in a wide array of activities will extend your interests, and strike up conversation. Bonus: Learn something.
- Join a club early on that you are serious about, that parallels with your academic interests, and work your way into a leadership or club council position.
- Know where you live. See the sights and get an understanding for the different ways in which your college home works so that you can seek out more opportunities for internships, relationships or pure adventure.
- Establish hobbies and be consistent with them. Perseverance in one activity is invaluable, and shows employers you are capable of sticking with a particular activity for a long period of time.
- Keep a journal to document your progress throughout school, so that you can come out being aware of the ways you grew and how much you learned, beyond just academics. Notifying employers of the growth attained through certain experiences is a definite plus.
- Employers want well rounded individuals; take a wide array of classes that not only peak your interest, but help you understand how the world works.
- Apply for scholarships. The more you apply for, the more you will likely win. Winning scholarships is a good resume builder, because employers will see that you are qualified in the eyes of others also.
- Keep up with the print media and read the daily news. Not only does reading the newspaper give your life context, but it’s valuable to know what is going on during a daily basis.
- Find out what you think for yourself. If we ask questions and examine all aspects of life, we will be more educated through the processes used in finding our answers and also more prepared to be employed long term.
- Read blogs! Find out what opinions there are on different issues and see where you fit in to all of it. Being aware is very valuable in an employee, and will help you do your job on a higher level than you would while being unaware of current events.
- Study abroad.
- Take a year off. Spend the year building up your experience.
- Take workshops at your college. Any workshop. Last week I attended a presentation on “Careers in Liberal Arts” which gave me some insight on different liberal arts majors and the occupations that students go on to take. Any presentation or workshop that could be beneficial (which are most) should be taken advantage of!
- Run a marathon. It’s something besides academics and extracurricular activities that challenges you. (And it’s impressive!)
- Fail at something. And then learn a lesson through your failure, coming out of it with a great story to tell. Walter Brunell once said, “Failure is the tuition you pay for success.”
- Volunteer! Volunteer opportunities can be found in many places, and all the better if you can find something that that you can contribute to with the expertise of your major.
- Become an expert in what you’re interested in. Read books, follow blogs and stay up to date with the news in your field of interest.
- Use social media to get your name known, and to communicate with others who are doing what you want to do eventually. This can give you opportunities to form relationships early in your career.
- Take advantage of freelance opportunities from connections who would like to help you, and who need something done that you are capable of doing. And it wouldn’t hurt to make business cards.
- Make an excellent resume. Use online resources or career center resources at your school.
- Create a blog to mediate all of your networking and to post questions and issues of your area of interest, starting as early as possible and getting yourself established in your studies when employers search you on Google.
- Practice people skills. During an interview, personality is a definite factor in the hiring process.
- Take advantage of free advice (free is relative). Attending college hands these opportunities out freely (again relative).
- Use your time wisely .
- Do important things, like study and manage time well, but don’t forget to be a college student and socialize. Learn from experience, not just textbooks.
- Learn how to socialize in large groups and one-on-one.
- Meet with your professors if they are willing to meet with students outside of class, use this as an opportunity to be mentored and given advice in academics and life.
- Don’t settle for the first major that sounds interesting and probably has a high employment rate. Study what you are good at and study what you love.
- Have fun.
- Be organized with your accomplishments.
- Manage a budget so that you aren’t hindered from partaking in beneficial activities because you’ve spent money mindlessly.
- Be able to tell someone about yourself and how you have grown individually through your time in college and list specific experiences that have helped shape you.
- Don’t sweat the small stuff. As long as you focus on the bigger picture of graduation and beyond, you will have a larger perspective that employers will appreciate.
