Advice For Students Entering College

Many students enter college not knowing what career they want to pursue. It’s okay not to know exactly what you want to do after college; however it’s important to get involved in activities that will help you learn about different career fields and decide on a particular direction.  Don’t stress yourself out thinking it’s the end of the world if you haven’t decided on a career, but the truth is that you’ll be able to target your activities and education advantageously if you figure out what you want to do sooner rather than later. You’ll be able to cater your course work, internships and activities if you have an idea of what you want to do post-graduation and you’ll have an edge over the competition when applying for entry level positions.  You’ll also save time and money if you end up deciding in the future that you should have gone into a different educational or training program.

As a college grad; I absolutely loved my majors, however if I had known in college what I know now about my career field, I would have chosen my majors more strategically because it would have better prepared me for jobs in the field and given me an edge over the competition.  

 Consider these 2 tips when entering college and remember, don’t procrastinate when it comes to thinking about your future! 

Don’t wait!  I know college is an exciting time for independence, exploring different activities and having fun with peers but today’s job market is tough. You need to take college seriously and think strategically about what you want to do after graduation.  Unfortunately a lot of colleges focus on providing you with knowledge, research and analytical skills rather than specifically teaching you the skills needed for a particular career.  It’s vital that you take it upon yourself to think about what you need for your future career and find out who to talk to and what steps you should take to help you get there. 

Get involved! This is one of the most important things you can do while in college. Get involved in campus activities that interest you including clubs, professional associations, research and conferences, to name a few; Seek out job shadowing and internship programs every chance you get; Get to know your professors as well as career guidance counselors and don’t be afraid to ask questions about opportunities and advice in order to better pursue your career! 

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About the Author: Amanda Ryan is a Program Development Associate & Senior Resume Writer at RedStarResume. Amanda is a highly skilled resume writing expert and career expert who also specialises in creating, writing and developing career content, working alongside student and graduate job seekers and developing career content for newsletters, partners and career websites.

Do you have a career related question or require a resume writing service? You can contact Amanda directly via the RedStarResume website!