Take a second to consider life after college. Yes, it does exist.
While it’s a sad and sometimes scary reality for those of us not yet willing to give up Raynor all-nighters, free LIMO rides and student discounts, it’s a reality we will all have to face someday – and some of us sooner than others.
We may not think about it as we’re caught up in our daily classwork, but it’s inevitable and more often than not blatantly obvious: We need jobs. For some of us, graduate school will prolong that necessity. However, we all must grow up someday (sorry, Peter Pan).
It’s never too early to start honing in on that job search. We often think finding a job is strictly a “senior year activity,” but planning a career takes time and is something we can begin as early as freshmen year.
We should be proactive in landing that dream job, or at least a job we’re comfortable with straight out of school. While we have daily activities to worry about, we should all be interviewing, gaining experience, working on our resumes, attending workshops – anything that can help us in the long (or short) time we have until that day after the graduation caps and Silly String fly.
We don’t have to be proactive alone, however. Marquette University’s Career Services Center is dedicated to helping us choose careers, and we should fully take advantage of the free services.
CSC offers students a laundry list of services related to career paths and jobs. For instance, there is the Kimberly-Clark Online Career Library, which has over 50 documents on what
CSC offers as well as guides for just about anything related to finding a job or internship.
CSC also has career fairs, counseling appointments, seminars, walk-in help, resume and cover letter assistance, the MU Career Manager Website and interview preparation. They handle on-campus interviewing and offer general guidance on personal skills, major choice, research and networking.
Not all of these services will be applicable to everyone. There are hundreds of majors available for us to choose from, and each corresponds to a field to pursue upon graduation. But while looking for a job is specified for each field, and the process may be different, the goal of employment is universal.
Some disciplines need to be focused on a career path, while others need job experience and others need specific skills. Some fields require looking as early as sophomore year into what you’ll be doing after senior year, while others allow a little more time and freedom to decide where you want to end up.
According to CSC, learning how to conduct a good interview is essential across all disciplines, and everyone needs to know how to network. Talk to your parents, relatives, upperclassmen and graduates you know. Talk to your professors or your current boss. You never know who can guide you to that perfect opening in the one field you want to work in.
And, of course, look your best all the time. First impressions may seem cliché, but they’re crucial to your impression with future employers, and who doesn’t like to look good?
Marquette also provides us with one of the best networks available to us, so use it. Hundreds of thousands of people have graduated from this university, so chances are one of them is bound to be in the field you want to dive into and willing to help or hire you after graduation. Look to see if your college offers a mentoring program, or even just ask around about alumni in your field.
Furthermore, once you get an internship, don’t think your networking is over on Day One. Make connections. Try to find a mentor at your work. Seek out positions and let people know you’re interested in long-time gigs. They may not have any right away, but don’t give up.
Lastly, don’t assume your adviser, family friend or professor will — or can — find you a job. Marquette has many resources to help, but only to a point. Regardless of when you start or where you end up, one of the easiest ways to begin the job search is to look for yourself.