So you have done all of the work in college and you’ve just crossed the stage to officially become an alumni. The problem is you have to face the real world and more than likely get a real job, If you aren’t going to grad school full time.
This post here is going to share with you some of the tips that I used to get a high paying job straight out of college. One of the first things is to make sure you choose a marketable and attractive major. I actually addressed this in another blog. The other big thing is to make sure that you aren’t being underemployed. I want to help you find those needle in the haystack jobs that will set you miles ahead of you competition.
Like always here is the video for your viewing pleasure
Utilize Career Services
This is almost like a gold mine when it comes to having people work to find you a job. The workers here have connections to employers all over the country. Companies always contact career services whenever they are planning on visiting the campus. So you can get a leg up if you know the people working in that office.
Even if you aren’t looking for a job currently, these services that you already pay for can help you perfect your interview skills, and improve your resume.
Some schools even have satellite sites for career services depending on the major. When I was in my engineering school we had a distinct career and professional development person that was just for engineers. She would always let us know when companies were looking to hire, or if they were hosting a social event.
Network in the Early Years
When you are a freshman and sophomore, you might not think it is important to go to career fairs, and the events that companies put on. But that is the most ideal time to go. As you approach these events in your early years, you start to build relationships and connect with people you can leverage when you start to actively look for a job.
Practice makes permanent. If you practice interacting with employers when you don’t need a job. You’ll start to understand what you need to do when you are actually looking for that future employment.
Going to career fairs and other events are not the only thing that can put you ahead. You should also participate in contests that test your knowledge for your field. If they are having a case competition, or a hackathon participate because it will expose you to new people and a different atmosphere. Something as small as a side project on your own time will make you stand out from your peers.
Know What to Look For
Anyone can work a low wage job. But after you receive your college degree you want to shoot for the high paying jobs. Getting the best job you can catch. When you are looking for a future employer make sure that you don’t sell yourself short. Look for jobs that are going to pay you what you, and your degree, are worth.
When looking for a job, the pay rate is not the only thing that matters. Location and benefits should also be taken into consideration. The benefits that a company offers you could make or break the work life balance that you could potentially have. So just make sure you check them out before accepting the offer that they give you.
Internship or Co-op
An internship or co-op is when you go work for a company for a couple of months to gain experience and get a little extra change. This is the single best thing you can do to get in good with a company. If you come in and do good work for them they will more than likely have a full time position waiting for you upon your graduation.
The best advice I can give you for this, is to not take an unpaid internship. You are worth your time and effort. And if you go work for a company for free it tells them that you don’t mind working for less than you are really worth. Taking a shadow is ok, just not unpaid labor.
Life Outside of School
When employers look for future employees of course they have to have the skills and the degrees. But the one thing that a lot of people overlook is social skills. They want to look for people that they can see themselves interacting with in the office. You have to be able to connect with them on other things besides academics
I recommend joining various clubs and organizations on campus that show you aren’t just in the books 24/7. Because you wont be at work 24/7. I even remember when I was applying, someone told me that they often try to avoid people who have 4.0 GPAs because it shows that they don’t have time for other activities. Not saying don’t make good grades. Just have some other outside activities on your resume.
Rob’s Opinion
My journey first started when I was a sophomore and I realized that if I wanted to get ahead in my field, I had to do an internship or a co-op somewhere. I started looking at the companies that recruit heavily out of my school of engineering. The main company wanted me to commit to three alternating semesters with them.
I could not do that because it would delay my graduation too much. I then found the company that I am with now. The type of work was also something I was curious about before becoming a co-op. After my co-op I had a better idea of what I wanted to do. Upon completing my schooling I was hired by the company I was a co-op at. They offer a lot of benefits such as me pursuing my masters degree for free.
All of this is possible if you start now. You have to start early in order to benefit from it in the future. I want you all to be successful so comment down below if you ever have any questions, and I will do my best to answer them.
