What would you suggest doing in college to be able to get a job immediately out of it?

Hi Haley,

Great question. Although, I suggest looking at this a bit differently. Rather than preparing to secure a "job" outside of college, I would prepare for securing a "career". The difference, to me, is that a career means doing something that you're passionate about, fulfills you long term, and also makes you money, so that you don't waste time and energy on doing something that doesn't make you happy.

Here's what I recommend: Focus now, in high school, on identifying what interests you and what you're good at so that you can align those things with a career path worth pursuing. Ask yourself the following things:

1. What class do you find most interesting?


2. What are you most passionate about and why?


3. What subject/activity are you really good at?


4. Which jobs have you heard of that you can see yourself doing?


5. Do you like working with a team or independently?


6. Do you work well under pressure/with a deadline, or with more flexibility and time?

After answering these questions, ask professionals (on CareerVillage!) what career options align with your interests/skills.

Once you've found a career(s) that you think would be a good fit, look for and apply to colleges with majors that specialize in that field. Once in college, participate. Join clubs, become a leader, do well in classes, build a network, get an internship (all relevant to what career you've chosen).

Lastly, start the job hunt early. Those who start applying and interviewing a few months before graduation are the ones who actually have a job lined up when they graduate. And if you've done the work to determine what career you ultimately want, you will be way ahead of most of your peers, and be able to land a job that you actually like and that will set you up to reach your professional goals.

I hope this helps. Please ask any follow up questions you have. You're doing the right thing by thinking and asking questions about your future now! Best of luck Haley.

I agree with Phi N., the very best way to work while in college is work study, and/or volunteer within your local community. Either will assist in building a concrete start to a resume well needed in any competitive work field. Start with volunteering/summer youth employment, and then apply for work study during the first semester in school: good luck!

Hi Haley,

I am going to actually disagree with one piece of advice above. Trying to choose a career while you are in college is overkill. Do not be afraid to take on a few "jobs" along your college career. I have been a hiring manager and recruiter for open jobs where we have had candidates straight out of school who had zero experiences working in professional environments. Do not ever underestimate the power of any customer service job. Learning how to deal with people, navigating a professional environment, and being able to communicate professionally are critical to success in ANY field, and along the way you will probably start figuring out what you are passionate about. Getting a job along the way also teaches you about work ethic, accountability to others, and interpersonal relationships.

Good luck!

Matt

Summer internships are a fantastic way to get your foot in the door at a company/business/nonprofit. You learn their culture and can see if it resonates with you, plus they get to know you and your skillset and personality. I think a lot of companies hire from their intern pool because they are already knowledgeable on the role.

Doing well in your chosen major is always good. Stay healthy, stay energetic. School is a great place to learn.

Another idea is find employment during college. Many colleges have internship and coop programs, and one related to your field of interest could be both a great education and be very valuable experience in the future job market. It'll certainly make you attractive to employers but more importantly it's great at helping you see the many opportunities out there.

In my freshmen year of engineering school, I had some experience in arts and drafting and got a part time job off campus for a book publisher in their graphic arts department. As it happened, that was when computer typesetting was still new and they were pioneering use of the early Apple Macs in publishing. Later I got a co-op position with a major manufacturer and got experience in design and on the shop floor. Many people I've met have way cooler stories, including starting their own firms and non-profits. And many did well by just staying focused on their school and clubs.

What ever you do, do a good job. But critically do not let it distract you from doing great at your primary work, school!

I think the best way to prepare yourself to get a job after college is to work/intern/volunteer while you are in college. You'll want to take a look at any opportunities that fit your course of study and your interests. It will be invaluable to you to get out in the community and meet professionals, get working experience (even if it's not the field you end up working in), and this helps to build your resume. If you can't find a paid job there are many opportunities for college students at non-profits and even on-campus to volunteer or intern. You will gain a lot by working in as many new settings as you can and this will likely help steer you in the right direction career-wise as well. Good luck!

From an interviewer perspective, I would look at the resume and see whether the applicant's experiences and/or knowledge would fit ,or can grow, into the role our team is looking for.

There are combinations of ways to approach this in my experiences.

1. Having real-world experience in the role/job/career that you're looking for. You can sign up for internships and volunteer at events to build on relevant experiences.
2. Having the knowledge of the role and industry through your studies (formal college or even internet searches). Being able to speak to the industry, the pain points that occurs for the company and how you would try to address those problems speak volumes when interviewing.
3. Moving to another geographical location to gain the experience you want and need, and relocate to your desired location after you've gained experience. This may not be ideal but this could help accelerate your career experience if you're having trouble securing a role in a city with limited job opportunities compared to the supply of roles.

Hope this helps!

Hi Haley! As a recent grad, I remember asking myself the same question. A few things a companies look for when hiring a candidate is GPA (are they focused on their studies and performing well), do they have leadership experiences, and are they passionate about what they are doing? I will emphasize the latter first - find something you are passionate about. When you love what you are doing, working hard towards your grades, your leadership experience, etc., come naturally. Also, dabble in the industries you are interested in early. Find summer internships and get "real world" experience. This not only looks great on a resume, it also helps you shape what you want to pursue at the end of your college career!

Hi Haley,

Have you taken the time to look into internships? Often times these can be done while you are still in school and they will work with your schedule to provide a reasonable work load. I was able to complete my internship remotely, so you can try searching that way as well.

Another strong tip, start applying early! Often times it takes a bit of time to hear back from companies so as you start hearing back and interviewing write down how it went. Things that went well during the interview, strong questions to ask, ect. This will help long term as well.

Good luck!

I would suggest really focusing on landing an internship or having relevant work experience prior to leaving college. Having some type of background or proactive behavior to go and get a job during the summer says a lot! If you're not able to land an internship, I would find a way to be resourceful with your time in school and outside of school. Make sure to stay involved in different activities, committees, or clubs so that when you go to an interview, you have stories and anecdotes to draw upon!

Goodluck!