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Beside internships, how can college students build their professional development toward entry-level careers?
#college-student #human-resources #professional-development #JULY20
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10 answers
Updated
Dexter’s Answer
Hi Ian,
I would recommend the following:
1. Get any job. Even if it's a part time job, even if it's doing the dishes, most managers I know (and myself), look favorable on candidates with some kind of job experience. Even if it's hard to find jobs due to the way things are now, there are still people hiring, so try your best to land a job. If you can't...
2. Volunteer. There are tons of volunteering opportunities at all times, but given COVID, perhaps the best volunteering gigs I can recommend are virtual ones, like those on catchafire.org. By volunteering, you still show to your future prospective employer that you can work in a real-life environment (unlike the very controlled school environments) and can take direction and work in a team. If you can't...
3. Write blogs or research papers regarding the subject that you're interested in. My brother had the toughest time breaking into computer science, and finding a programming job, but he loved math and programming, so he wrote a research paper by himself. It was really useful to him in interviews, as he was very unique, and the employer could look through the research paper to measure his competence.
4. Network. Reach out to all the resources that you have (companies near you, your university, your friends, friend's parents, etc) to make something happen. Ask them about career opportunities that they know of, volunteering opportunities, trends that they're seeing, or simply ask them to perform a mock interview with you. Exhaust your resources to improve yourself, and it'll help you when the real opportunity comes knocking on your door.
I wish you the best of luck Ian!
--
Dexter
I would recommend the following:
1. Get any job. Even if it's a part time job, even if it's doing the dishes, most managers I know (and myself), look favorable on candidates with some kind of job experience. Even if it's hard to find jobs due to the way things are now, there are still people hiring, so try your best to land a job. If you can't...
2. Volunteer. There are tons of volunteering opportunities at all times, but given COVID, perhaps the best volunteering gigs I can recommend are virtual ones, like those on catchafire.org. By volunteering, you still show to your future prospective employer that you can work in a real-life environment (unlike the very controlled school environments) and can take direction and work in a team. If you can't...
3. Write blogs or research papers regarding the subject that you're interested in. My brother had the toughest time breaking into computer science, and finding a programming job, but he loved math and programming, so he wrote a research paper by himself. It was really useful to him in interviews, as he was very unique, and the employer could look through the research paper to measure his competence.
4. Network. Reach out to all the resources that you have (companies near you, your university, your friends, friend's parents, etc) to make something happen. Ask them about career opportunities that they know of, volunteering opportunities, trends that they're seeing, or simply ask them to perform a mock interview with you. Exhaust your resources to improve yourself, and it'll help you when the real opportunity comes knocking on your door.
I wish you the best of luck Ian!
--
Dexter
Updated
Brenna’s Answer
There are tons of free certifications online for Salesforce and Google. Try to search around for any free ones you can. Look up well-known software programs and see what type of certifications they can offer. Your resume should have keywords that match certifications or well-known companies and that will allow your resume to stand out more. On that note, fine-tuning your resume to fit nicely onto one page can help get noticed. Also when choosing the jobs you like, adjust your resume to have matching words from the job description. Don't use the exact same resume for every opportunity.
If you don't have a lot of work experience, a cover letter is where you can shine, so make sure you have one that represents your readiness to learn and any skills you may have. Most importantly, apply to as many jobs as possible and take volunteer opportunities if you can because that shows well-roundedness.
If you don't have a lot of work experience, a cover letter is where you can shine, so make sure you have one that represents your readiness to learn and any skills you may have. Most importantly, apply to as many jobs as possible and take volunteer opportunities if you can because that shows well-roundedness.
Updated
Madison’s Answer
Being active on campus will definitely help in those areas! I recommend joining different organizations and hold a leadership role on the Executive Board. Starting collegiate with leadership roles on campus will help you become known on campus and open up new opportunities/networking with your field.
Updated
Alison’s Answer
Hi Ian, this is a great question, and there's definitely a lot of opportunities to building experience! I'd recommend finding any leadership or work positions on campus that may be helpful. This will give you practice in leading projects or collaborating with others that you may not get in classes or even in an internship. Just keep in mind when you're researching these positions that it should be something you can talk about successfully in an interview or application.
You can always start your own club/organization if you so choose, this can be a great opportunity too in developing leadership skills. The experience you gain outside of internships can also provide variety to your story/resume and help you practice solving different problems. Good luck!
You can always start your own club/organization if you so choose, this can be a great opportunity too in developing leadership skills. The experience you gain outside of internships can also provide variety to your story/resume and help you practice solving different problems. Good luck!
Updated
Chris’s Answer
Ian,
Take on a part-time job, especially one that puts you in front of people. Food service & retail are great teachers if you keep your mind open to learn. You'll learn a ton about how to interact with others from all walks of life in a single week. With this job, you must:
1. Keep a great attitude. Smiling in the face of adversity is an underrated skill. We need more kindness in this world.
2. Put forth maximum effort. If you're unwilling to do the mundane tasks, what might that say about your effort in your chosen career?
3. Learn to respect and empathize with others.
4. Be your best. Being THE best is great, but rarely achievable. Stay humble
Keep a written log of your unique experiences. They'll serve you well in your interviews.
Take on a part-time job, especially one that puts you in front of people. Food service & retail are great teachers if you keep your mind open to learn. You'll learn a ton about how to interact with others from all walks of life in a single week. With this job, you must:
1. Keep a great attitude. Smiling in the face of adversity is an underrated skill. We need more kindness in this world.
2. Put forth maximum effort. If you're unwilling to do the mundane tasks, what might that say about your effort in your chosen career?
3. Learn to respect and empathize with others.
4. Be your best. Being THE best is great, but rarely achievable. Stay humble
Keep a written log of your unique experiences. They'll serve you well in your interviews.
Updated
Natalie’s Answer
This is a great question. I recommend the following:
1. Volunteering
2. Completing an online certification or training course (excel, SQL, etc.)
3. Networking
1. Volunteering
2. Completing an online certification or training course (excel, SQL, etc.)
3. Networking
Updated
Michael’s Answer
This is a great question. Personally, I think the response that mentioned volunteering and networking are spot on. I would also highly recommend pursuing professional designations/certifications which are specific to the industry you are looking to enter. In addition to the expertise and learning you receive by completing, the commitment to the industry you're looking to enter really shows. I would also recommend getting a mentor in the industry who can help coach you along the way and help you get entered into the field you're looking for. The additional knowledge gain through mentorships will help you prepare for the position and help you grow professionally. I hope this helps!
Updated
Gloria’s Answer
I have to second another post that you have here. Volunteer. You can garner a wide variety of skills while volunteering. I would challenge you to volunteer with a variety of organizations and ask them to assign you tasks that could play to the skills of your chosen major. If you are going into a career where you will be meeting new people all the time, volunteer with an organization where the primary responsibility is interacting with strangers, such as serving in a food kitchen or requesting donations for a cause. There are other non-profits who may need your skills as a web developer to help support them. There are also more jobs that a non-profits need done than they have people to do them.
Updated
Irene’s Answer
Networking is key to getting positions at several companies. If your university has such events like Career Fair, you should go and talk to those professionals there. They are there for you and are ready to answer your questions about job development and more. Even if you do not get offered a job at these fairs, you walk away with more knowledge then you had prior to the event.
Updated
Nikita’s Answer
Hello Ian,
Please see below. How college students build their professional development toward entry-level careers, besides internships.
1) Check out linkedIn learning or Lynda.com. some colleges have partnerships with these platforms and this is a great way to get certifications and build your skills as well. You can add them to your resume!
2) Do volunteering opportunities - great way to build leadership experience
3) Get involved on campus: think about clubs for your major!
4) Research opportunities with professors and TAs.
Thank you,
Nikita
Please see below. How college students build their professional development toward entry-level careers, besides internships.
1) Check out linkedIn learning or Lynda.com. some colleges have partnerships with these platforms and this is a great way to get certifications and build your skills as well. You can add them to your resume!
2) Do volunteering opportunities - great way to build leadership experience
3) Get involved on campus: think about clubs for your major!
4) Research opportunities with professors and TAs.
Thank you,
Nikita