12.3 PLANNING FOR YOUR CAREER

• Take a variety of classes. You’ll want to be introduced to different fields of study.

• Visit your college’s career center in person, and explore its website. You’ll find listings for part- and full-time jobs, internships, co-op programs, and seasonal employment. You’ll also find on-campus interviewing opportunities for internships and for full-time employment after graduation. Attend workshops on advanced résumé writing, internship placement, interviewing, and other job search skills. Participate in mock interview activities to improve your interviewing skills.

• Take as many self-assessments as possible. Talk to a career counselor about your skills, aptitudes, interests, and career plans. Research possible careers that match your skills, interests, and academic major (see the Tech Tip at the end of this chapter).

• Prepare a draft of your résumé and have it reviewed by a career counselor or a professional in your desired field. These individuals can provide you with useful feedback to improve your résumé.

• Create profiles on professional sites, such as LinkedIn. Share your skills and experience with potential employers and make professional connections.

  

  Making Connections Some career fairs may be specific to disciplines such as health care, information technology, or business. Others may be specific to the audience, such as this career fair for military veterans. Attending events like these is part of planning for your career. Career fairs give job candidates the opportunity to make a strong first impression with potential employers.

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• Get involved in clubs and organizations. Take on a leadership role in a club or organization that connects with your interests.

• Attend your college’s career fair. Employers in the area visit your campus to hire students. Get to know more about the employers who hire graduates in your major. Some career fairs may be specific to disciplines such as health care, information technology, or business.

• Build on your strengths and develop your weaker skills. Whether in or out of class, find ways to practice what you are good at and get help with what you need to improve.

• Network. Connect with instructors, family members, and friends to find contacts in your fields of interest so that you can learn more about those areas. Participate, if possible, in mentoring programs hosted by alumni (past graduates of your college). Spend the summer completing internship, service-learning, and co-op experiences.

• Volunteer. Whether you give of your time to a nonprofit organization, a school, or a business, volunteering can help you explore careers and get some experience in an area that interests you.

• Do occupational and industry research for your field or for geographic areas that interest you. Look for all the career options within and beyond your field.

• Visit work environments in person. Explore career options through informational interviews (interviewing to find out about a career) and job shadowing (observing someone at work with his or her permission).

• Get a job. Many students already have jobs when they enter college. Holding a job, especially one related to your major, can add to your classroom learning. In any job, though, you learn essential skills such as teamwork, communication, and time management that are important to employers!

• Conduct an audit of your own online presence. Make sure nothing inappropriate is posted about you on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or other social media outlets.