When college students first embark on their college journeys, the last thing on their minds is where they will work upon graduation. Too many years and parties lie between the beginning of college and that point. And while that may be true, it is also a little known fact amongst college freshman that the earlier they start building their resumes for post-college working life, the easier it will be for them to get the job they want.
Having a degree doesn't necessarily mean a job will be waiting for you. Even if the degree prepares you for a specific job, you still have to compete with countless other applicants for specific job openings.
Employers are looking for motivated individuals who do more than the bare minimum to get through school. Going to class and getting good grades is often not enough to beat out other contenders. A student with pretty good grades and relevant work experience sometimes stands a better chance at landing a job than the student with excellent grades yet nothing else to report on a resume.
How Do You Know Where to Begin Building Your Resume?
So what should a new college entrant do to begin prepping for the real world? The first thing should be to nail down exactly what you like to do. The neat thing is, there are so many directions you can go with every single degree. For instance, someone with an accounting degree can work in public accounting, corporate accounting, accounting and finance recruiting, as a professional writer, or even as a college instructor. All of these jobs require the same background, but the actual day-to-day work is extremely different for each one.
Once you nail down exactly where you want to begin upon graduation, the next step is to brainstorm what kind of qualifications a potential employer would be looking for in a new hire. The easiest way to do this is to look up a real entry-level job description for that exact position. The job listing should explain what is expected of a good candidate. This will give you an outline of the goals you need to achieve over the next few years.
When you know what an employer will be looking for, then try to figure out which kinds of jobs will give you the right type of experience. The goal is to figure out what type of internship or part-time work will look good on your resume. If you are stumped, get in touch with someone who works in that field. If you can’t network your way to a contact (for instance, through a relative or friend), then don’t be afraid to cold-call your way into a meeting with the right person. You shouldn’t have a problem finding at least one successful professional willing to give you advice as you plan your college career.
Internship positions may have requirements like a minimum GPA and participation in extracurricular activities. Your college’s career guidance office should have information on specific internships or other related work.
Bulking Up on Resume-Building Extracurricular Activities
After you nail down a tentative goal plan for obtaining work experience that will look good on your resume, start thinking about other things that will help you stand out above the crowd. Extracurricular activities always look good on a resume, especially when you are an active participant in an organization.
As you decide which organizations to join, consider how you can become involved beyond simple membership. Aim for quality, not quantity here. Serving as the treasurer of a business fraternity and co-chair of another student group looks much better than simply being a member of four different organizations. Be smart about this, and the time and effort you put into these activities will certainly pay off when it comes time to find a job.
Stand Out Above the Crowd with an Awesome Resume
Many students don’t take their job search seriously until their last semester in school. This is a sure way to increase their odds of not lining up a job before graduation. Don’t be one of those students; actively participate in extracurricular activities and seek out summer internships, co-op arrangements, or part-time work in a relevant field. When it comes time to interview for your first job outside of college, you will be able to stand out above the crowd.
Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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