The Voice

The first step to leaving college is working hard while you’re here. If you haven’t heard it by now, you’ll hear it soon: r?sum?, r?sum?, r?sum?!

Sure, the Career Center can help you with developing your r?sum?, but you’ve got to supply the work. College might be the most exciting time of your life, but it’s also one of the most crucial.

There are even classes dedicated to your success. Seminar classes for both seniors and freshmen help students become prepared for the next stage in life. Professors attempt to give students an idea of what to expect, and prepare them for their desired work field. They have already experienced job competition and want to help students make an easier transition.

Some freshman seminar professors require students to join groups on campus. While it may seem tedious, it’s worth it. Full-time students rarely have a schedule that allows for a part-time job, so on-campus involvement really is the best way to get your foot in the door.

Leadership is leadership, whether you’re the president of an on-campus organization or managing a McDonald’s. It all helps.

There are classes available all over the world through study abroad. What better way to take care of business? You can take a required course while learning about a different culture. And has anyone told you about the crazy grants that are available? HOPE covers tuition and there are other grants and scholarships available to reduce the already lowered costs of travel.

Internships are another great way to build your resume, but they require time and consideration. Some students dread organizing the work, then actually doing it. But, again, it’s worth it. Even if you find the career path you thought you were interested in was all wrong, wouldn’t you rather make that decision while you’re still in school?

Most importantly, you just have to work. If you want the best career, you have to spend time achieving your short-term goals-doing the homework, taking the tests and participating in class. It’s a formula for success.

It is never too early to start thinking of life after college. The sooner students start adding to their list of accomplishments, the less time they will spend unemployed.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Oct 1 2004. Filed under Our Voice. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry