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How do you get a good job in your major after college?
A lot of people I know who graduated college are having a hard time getting a job. Some people say its about your connects, so were does college come in?
#engineering #careers
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8 answers
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培培’s Answer
Clear your career goals, and prepare a good resume for yourself, choose a good word of mouth recruitment platform, with new preparation for the interview, search for some interview skills before the interview
Bryan Bogardus
Executive - Chief Operations and Customer Experience Officer
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Bryan’s Answer
Pursuing a college education is certainly a great path to landing a job and starting your career. While your education is important, as you note, having the ability to network and establish connections is very important. Realize, that networking is a skill and college gives you an opportunity to develop those skills while also making connections that may help in your job search. Remember, the relationships you develop in college can lead to making connections in the industries or companies you may be interested in joining after college. Most of your friends in college have family members and friends who are in the working world. These connections can lead you to internships and/or jobs in a wide range of industries!
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Madeline’s Answer
All of this advice is great but I would also suggest you think beyond your professional experience and educational background - your first job does NOT pigeonhole your career. Where you start is not where you end. Be open-minded and if opportunity knocks at your door, answer it!
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Donnebra’s Answer
Internships! They build a healthy relationship with a company but also allow you to gain the necessary experience to qualify for most job in your field.
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Paris’s Answer
It is true that some jobs pretty much require that you know someone high up, and that is unfortunate. However, that's not the case for every job. If you go to college, make good grades, and throw in some extracurricular activities or clubs (or a relevant part-time job), you will stand out in the application process. Also, going to college gives you time to make connections with professors who are experts in their fields.
Jen Taylor
Wireless Engineer with experience in SP, RE and Network seeking management role
6
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Jen’s Answer
I would highly encourage you to build your wheel house while in college. Go for internships and summer jobs with companies you want to work and learn from. Create relationships with your instructors. Be active on Linked In, follow the companies you think you can learn from. Attend anything your college offers for meeting companies or extra lectures. Take the time to talk to anyone willing. You have lots of time to market yourself and make great connections. This is valuable. Also work with your college, use their resources to assist in your job hunt. Letting people know about you is just as important. For my last 2 jobs positions I was asked by managers to apply. Hard work is noticed! Good luck.
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Peregrin’s Answer
As other's have stated, there are many good options for getting started. A network of contact is very important. Not just to get started in your career, but to continue to advance. Professors, classmates, internships or even paying jobs all help get started and the habit of networking will sustain you through your career. This would be true for any major in college.
That said, it also depends what you are studying in college. If you are a computer science major and really enjoy coding, there are a lot of options available for the tangible coding skills you can develop. As you move out of some of the more specific majors and into Liberal Arts or even some of the sciences where your studies are more theoretical, then you have to think a bit more broadly about your goals. In political science there are many internships and volunteer opportunities around campaigns, in sciences, there are many volunteer opportunities around trials. The more you know about your interest, the more likely you can find the opportunities.
In an entry level position, it is as important to be able to explain how you can apply your college career (not just your course selection, but the ability to apply your learning and how to learn) to any task. Critical thinking, analysis, well thought out writing are all critical skills that can help you get started almost anywhere. If you want to be a senior software engineer or a senior systems architect some day, you need to be able to know how to research and clearly articulate what you can do. That can come from an role as a Business Analyst or Developer position. English majors can work on communications teams in almost any company, Econ and Business majors could find starter jobs in most large consulting firms.
The start of your career is just that, the start. In large companies you can have opportunities to grow into many different roles, in smaller companies or start ups you will gain experience in broader areas that will help you figure out what makes sense next.
That said, it also depends what you are studying in college. If you are a computer science major and really enjoy coding, there are a lot of options available for the tangible coding skills you can develop. As you move out of some of the more specific majors and into Liberal Arts or even some of the sciences where your studies are more theoretical, then you have to think a bit more broadly about your goals. In political science there are many internships and volunteer opportunities around campaigns, in sciences, there are many volunteer opportunities around trials. The more you know about your interest, the more likely you can find the opportunities.
In an entry level position, it is as important to be able to explain how you can apply your college career (not just your course selection, but the ability to apply your learning and how to learn) to any task. Critical thinking, analysis, well thought out writing are all critical skills that can help you get started almost anywhere. If you want to be a senior software engineer or a senior systems architect some day, you need to be able to know how to research and clearly articulate what you can do. That can come from an role as a Business Analyst or Developer position. English majors can work on communications teams in almost any company, Econ and Business majors could find starter jobs in most large consulting firms.
The start of your career is just that, the start. In large companies you can have opportunities to grow into many different roles, in smaller companies or start ups you will gain experience in broader areas that will help you figure out what makes sense next.
Updated
Zoë’s Answer
If you are a student -athlete or putting yourself through school and don't have much time for internships - Get to know your professor's! Although it sounds way to early - start forming relationships with your professors as soon as freshmen year. Go to Office hours, participate in class, and do your best to study hard and get good grades. If you can prove you are a hardworking and curious student throughout your four years at school, professors will be eager to connect you with their contacts in their respective industries!