The final countdown to graduation has begun! Now is the time to make the most of your senior year. Collegeboxes wants you to be prepared for your future career and help you maximize your senior year. We have provided 10 tips to help your future career and enjoy the rest of your college experience.
1. Clean Up Your Social Media
The easiest thing you can do, and something you can do immediately, is to refine your social media. Employers have begun looking at applicants’ social media to gain a better understanding of their personalities and interests. Also to gauge if the applicant, as a whole, would be the right fit for the job and company culture. So, ensure there is nothing on your social media you would not feel comfortable showing to employers.
You can take this one step further and create your own website. Creating a website that showcases your professionalism will impress employers. With your own website, it will allow you to showcase more than just your work experience. Include school projects, your hobbies, a gallery, and anything that can help employers understand your whole self and professional identity.
2. Develop Your College Network
College is the perfect place to network, as you can meet people from all over the world. Have you ever heard the phrase, “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know?” Well, that statement has some truth to it.
You never know where the college students you meet will go, but they could become useful contacts later. So, meet as many people as you can and try to develop long-term connections, as it could help your future career and endeavors.
Be sure to network with professors or colleagues in your department and seek out a mentor. Building a close relationship with someone in your field or finding a mentor can help you refine your skills and learn new ones. Having a mentor is excellent for reference letters, which can give them a chance to speak about your skills and work ethic. Which can be beneficial when trying to get that job offer.
3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Many students have a universal resume and use the same one for every job application. Avoid this common mistake. Instead, slightly edit your resume and cover letter to fit each job opportunity’s description.
Tailoring your resume and cover letter will quickly highlight to employers your relevant skills and experience. This helps you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool and helps employers see you’re the best candidate for the job.
4. Utilize College Services
If you are unsure how to tailor your resume or feel it is not getting traction, you should use your college’s career services. Contact a career coach to help you revise your resumes, cover letters, and interview skills. Help them understand the types of jobs you are applying for and they can explain what those employers will be looking for. Many have real-world experience applying to jobs in several fields and can help you craft the perfect application.
5. Perfect Your Elevator Pitch
When you get in front of those employers or recruiters, be prepared. Having your elevator speech nailed down will help you make a strong first impression. An elevator pitch will give employers a basic understanding of your background but will make them want more.
A great elevator pitch will show why you are the best fit for the job. It will also introduce yourself, explain what you do, highlight what makes you unique, and end with a question or call to action. This will help you establish a connection with anyone and mostly lead to a conversation.
6. Gain Experience or Learn New Skills
For credit-rich students in their last year of college, you may only be taking a couple of classes and have a lot of free time on your hands. A piece of advice is to fill that time with a part-time job, internship, or even take an extra class. Doing any of these can show your ambition or enthusiasm for a particular field or subject.
This may sound obvious but try to get an internship to gain experience early. You can also think of internships as just dipping your toes into a career. Internships will give you insight into whether this is a career or company you would like to have in the future. However, gaining experience through internships will help you stand out from the rest of the applicants in the future.
Even if your credit requirements are full, you can still learn something new. Taking an extra class to learn a new skill can show your curiosity to employers and your willingness and passion to learn. Look for classes with topics related to your future career to bring a greater skillset and insight into your job.
7. Leverage On-Campus Recruiting
Most universities will host on-campus career fairs, showcases, or expos. Several companies and recruiters will come to your school looking for potential new hires, which can help you jumpstart your job search. This is a great opportunity to explore different companies and career paths.
These events will give you a chance to make a strong impression with the recruiters face-to-face and get your foot in the door. Be sure to have your elevator speech ready and resume copies in hand to have a great first impression with recruiters.
8. Nurture Your Social Life
Working on your elevator speech, tailoring your resume, and applying for jobs after college can be a lot, so don’t forget to enjoy college life. Have fun, go out with your friends, attend local events, and make your last year one to remember.
Take the time with you and your friends to revisit some of your favorite local spots. Go to your favorite restaurants around campus and savor the food one last time. Go to a favorite spot on campus to study or have a picnic and soak in the atmosphere. Revisiting your favorite place with your friends will often bring back good memories and help you appreciate all that your university has to offer.
9. Enjoy the Student Section Experience
It will be the last year you’ll be able to sit in the student section, so why not take advantage of it? Be sure to go to any university sporting event you wish to see and enjoy the spirited student section while you still can.
Most universities distribute student section tickets in one of two ways. One is that students can claim free tickets until the student section is full, so make sure to get them early.
The second is universities offering to purchase semester passes where students can access any sporting event during the semester. Check out your college’s athletics page to determine which plan works best for you. So go and enjoy one of the best traditions in college sports and cheer alongside your classmates.
10. Get Everyone’s Information
You’ve made so many great personal and professional connections while in college, so make sure not to lose them. Next time you see a colleague take the time to get their information to stay in contact after college. Consider making catch-up calls or scheduling network meetings to help increase the longevity of these relationships.
Any of these relationships could help develop your professional career and opportunities or even lead to career success. So ensure to take care of them.
You’ve made so many great personal and professional connections while in college, so make sure not to lose them. Next time you see a colleague take the time to get their information to stay in contact after college. Consider making catch-up calls or scheduling network meetings to help increase the longevity of these relationships.
Any of these relationships could help develop your professional career and opportunities or even lead to career success. So ensure to take care of them.
With graduation right around the corner, the last thing you should worry about is moving from college. Collegeboxes’ Direct Shipping Service can make this process a breeze. You pack your items, and FedEx will pick them up and ship them directly to your destination. Collegeboxes Supply Kits make it even easier by ensuring you have all the tools and materials for the move.
So, focus on enjoying your last year in college, and leave the rest to us.