Join/Renew
After nearly two decades within higher education, I have encountered countless students who come to me in their final weeks before graduation, desperate for a crash course on career development. Similarly, plenty of recent graduates have expressed frustration about not having career prospects, even though they had seldom given attention to career services during their time at university. While this is not true for everyone, and many students take their career development seriously, there remains a group of students who do not focus on this until they need an opportunity.
In today’s ever-changing and increasingly competitive job market, it is vital that students begin their career preparation early in their educational journeys, ideally as soon as their first year. This can be in the form of early career guidance, creating a professional résumé (that will be updated over time), starting a LinkedIn profile and learning how to use this platform optimally, attending career events to learn about industries and the various roles available, registering for soft skills workshops, or attending career fairs.
This type of career exploration will encourage students to begin building a professional network that can be leveraged after graduation, and my advice to others in career services is to provide students with opportunities to learn about industries, about companies and their specific roles, and talk to corporate representatives. This will not only empower them to make educated decisions about their future career paths, but it will also build their confidence to speak with employers – by their third year, they will have the poise to naturally talk to recruiters and increase their prospects of securing their desired internship.
Besides, not every student enters college knowing what they want to do after graduation. Exposure to companies and learning about their line of work and potential roles they’re recruiting for would help students discern if they are interested in a particular field. Learning about these jobs from companies will help students make healthy, informed career choices in the future.
Additionally, it is never too early for students to begin building their soft skills through activities outside the classroom. The first year can be overwhelming for students as they navigate university life and try to adjust to the new environment, but participation in clubs, organizations, civic engagement, and learning communities can improve their first-year experience and allow them to meet other students. These practices will also begin equipping them with skills such as teamwork, communication, time management, and leadership that are sought by employers.
In summary, as career professionals, here is how we can encourage students to begin their career development journey in their first year:
- Meet with a career advisor. Students can discuss why they selected their major, their dream job, and where they see themselves after graduation. The career advisor should assist students in navigating these ideas because the purpose is for students to better understand themselves professionally. If the student has yet to decide on a major, the career advisor can assist through a career assessment, discussing interests and aspirations, or helping the student create a mind map that could include branches of skills, favorite subjects, interests, values, and activities, among others.
- Develop a draft of a professional résumé. In its early stages, this résumé will likely include more high school than university achievements and details. This is completely normal, as the intention is to develop a format that can be edited and updated as the student progresses through their education. As they develop professionally and academically, participate in campus (or off-campus) functions, and build their skills, they will begin removing irrelevant information and replacing them with new achievements.
- Attend corporate events. It is so important for students to learn about as many companies and their operations as possible because students may have incorrect perceptions about certain organizations and industries. Hearing directly from company representatives can provide more clarity and an accurate representation of what the company and its employees do. This enables students to realize if the kind of work is of interest or if they need to pivot and seek something more appropriate for them.
- Participate in soft skills workshops. Like many others, our career center offers workshops on a wide range of topics, such as résumé-writing, career-readiness, emotional intelligence, networking skills, effective negotiation, and conflict resolution. Oftentimes, these workshops are led by professionals in the industry, and while I encourage students to gain these skills through hands-on experiences on campus from engaging in clubs, projects, and volunteering, there is also great value in formal training by industry and campus professionals.
- Network. I cannot stress this one enough. This can be practiced through corporate sessions, career fairs, campus events, and even LinkedIn. Students should really be encouraged to start talking to employers in their first year; to listen to the information they provide about their companies and the roles they recruit for; and ask meaningful questions that can help them grow. Furthermore, the confidence that can be developed through effective networking over time, will go a long way in setting students up for professional success.
- Attend career fairs. While students may not receive an internship offer in their first year, the career fair is a great setting for them to learn about various industries and jobs and to start building those networking skills. In my experience, many of the same company recruiters attend the career fair every year and often remember those first-year students who asked the good questions. When they see the student engaged each year, it shows them that they are serious about their careers and learning to make informed decisions.
- Share other career center resources. I recommend that every career center promotes their services in various ways to make students aware. As career development professionals, we have a responsibility to market our services to students and encourage them to engage in career preparedness as an integral part of their university experience. Some ways in which I promote my unit’s services is through email and social media, as well as by engaging campus clubs and organizations.
Overall, students would greatly benefit from developing their career knowledge and competencies earlier in their educational journey. Universities can assist by increasing awareness about the center’s services, incorporating career-focused segments into first-year experiences, and introducing career-readiness and career-related skills into the classroom. Career development is not only about securing a job, but rather about building self-awareness, confidence, having a smoother transition from student to professional, and preparing for a successful, fulfilling future in the real world.
Remind students that it’s never too early to begin exploring career opportunities and connecting with employers. The road ahead may be a long one, but starting early will give them an advantage, and ensure they are ready when the right opportunity arises in the future.
