You have spent two, three, four or maybe even more years acquiring the knowledge and skills to begin your career in the “real world”. As graduation day comes ever closer, many students panic because they just don’t know what to do next. Following these simple next steps will help you begin the transition from student to professional.
1. Utilize the services that are available to you for free in your local Career Services Office: Excellent programs are available for students in their graduating year. These programs are designed to not only help you land your first job but also identify what would be a good fit for you based on your skills, personality and values.
2. Not sure what you can do with your degree, talk to your Alumni Association for more information about mentorship programs. Find out what professionals with a similar degree are doing, how they found their position as well as suggestions on how you can market yourself effectively in their industry. Alumni are very interested in giving back and have volunteered to share their experiences so we encourage you to visit your Alumni Association and ask about these valuable programs.
3. Don’t forget about your Professors and Teachers. Many of these individuals keep in touch with past students or can provide contacts to employers that can be extremely helpful as you decide what to do next.
4. Start your job search efforts NOW! Your final term is a busy time to start anything new (so for all you first year students reading this avoid the pressure and start the process now) but taking small steps such as the ones listed above, will actually save you time in the end. For example, attend a Company Information Night and ask questions, reach out to an Alumnus to find out more about their organization or their position within the company – you’ll be pleasantly surprised by the results.
For more information on how to prepare for these conversations, visit your local Career Services Centre and Careego’s Career Resources Tab!
Patricia Polischuck-Diver
Career Coach