So, you’ve completed your first year of college. You’re pretty excited about your major, but you can’t help but wonder: How can I improve my post-grad job prospects while I’m still in school? Whether you’re studying to be a certified medical assistant, a registered pharmacy technician or a certified vet tech, there are plenty of ways you can get a jumpstart on your job search while you’re still in school.
Get started on your network
It’s never too early to start building your professional network! A network is a group of people you know, either personally, through work experience or a mutual friend, who are in the same industry or may be able to help you professionally. Being able to tap into their expertise and connections as you search for a job will be invaluable. And the Internet makes it easier than ever! You connect via email – asking someone you both know to introduce you – or make requests using LinkedIn.1
Pay attention in class
This may seem obvious, but it’s really important that you actually pay attention in class. While you may have been able to slack off in high school and still graduate with good grades, the things you are learning in college are important for your future career success. Medical and health fields in particular require a set of specialized skills, which is why you are attending college in the first place. If you listen to your instructors and study hard, it will serve you well in the future.2
Complete an internship
Your future employer will be looking at your resume to see if you have any experience, and completing an internship is the perfect way to make sure that you do! Although the position may be unpaid, there’s nothing like on-the-job training to prepare you for the working world. Internships are an easy way to set yourself apart from other applicants, so try to complete at least one during the summers that you are in school.3
Learn a language
This will require extra work outside of the classroom, but learning a language can improve your employment prospects considerably. We live in an increasingly multicultural society, and being able to speak a language like Spanish – or at least know the keywords that pertain to your industry – looks very impressive on a resume.4 1 SimplyHired, ‘How To Improve Your Employability While You’re Still in College,’ April 10, 2013 – http://blog.simplyhired.com/2013/04/how-to-improve-your-employability-while-youre-still-in-college.html 2 LearnMore Indiana, ‘How do you prepare for your career while in college?’ 2013 – http://www.in.gov/learnmoreindiana/2610.htm 3 Levo League, ‘4 Steps to Prepare for Future Job (While You’re Still a Student!)’ Aug. 30, 2012 – http://www.levoleague.com/uncategorized/4-steps-prepare-future-job-while-youre-still-student/ 4 SimplyHired, ‘How To Improve Your Employability While You’re Still in College,’ April 10, 2013 – http://blog.simplyhired.com/2013/04/how-to-improve-your-employability-while-youre-still-in-college.html
