How I launched my career in my first year of school
Even when the economy is not recovering from a recession, getting an entry-level job can be a daunting task for many new grads and it has become increasingly important to get a head start on your career while you're still a student.
Here, I share some of my own personal stories as a student trying to gain experience, what makes successful students and professionals, and the steps someone in university should take to overcome competition and start their careers off the right way!
I still remember my first university lecture. I was both nervous and excited, and I didn't have a clue as to how or where I would end up four years later.
The professor congratulated us for making it that far, but told us to look to our left and to our right because one of those people would not make it to graduation with the rest of us. Although cliché, that line still resonates with me because it introduced me to the concept of competition in university: To survive after graduation, you need to start your career while you're still a student!
The realization
As I buckled down for exams toward the end of my first semester, I overheard a conversation between two of my peers during an accounting lecture. They were talking about how, during the summer, they would be working for KPMG.
"Wait a minute," I thought to myself. "They're only 18 and they're about to start work terms with one of the biggest accounting firms in the world?" This was a revelation for me because I realized I also had to keep up with my fellow students in terms of work experience.
What I did
Frightened at the thought of falling behind, I turned my attention to finding out what options I had and where I could start applying for professional internships to build my career.
What added to my motivation was the fact that most of my peers were in co-op programs, leaving me at a disadvantage as a student trying to gain experience.
Here are a few things I did that helped me, and can help you, too:
Talk to students who have already secured summer internships and co-ops
Befriending people from your program, and other programs, too, to build a network is one of the best things you can do as a student. Not only will it enhance your social life, but also it increases your resources and enriches your whole university experience.
Reach out to campus recruiters
I sent more than 50 e-mails and made about 20 cold calls in the hope of getting to know a recruiter or even landing an interview. The good news is my relentless contacting helped me land some hard-to-get interviews, which helped me refine my skills and gave me a taste of the corporate world.
Make use of organizations that help students get internships
I joined one of these organizations and, within a month, I was trained in everything from building a résumé to meeting management at large companies. I was confident, possessed the appropriate business etiquette and had some value-added training to add to my résumé. With all this, I was able to land my first job with a large multinational company - the wheels of my career were finally in motion!
The result
Upon graduation, I had very strong marketing experience on my résumé, as well as the intangible "soft skills" that many employers covet in new grads.
I urge first- and second-year university students to think about their careers early to remain competitive. By doing so, you will not only open yourself up to new opportunities, but you will also develop intangible skills, such as the ability to network, as well as industry and HR knowledge, which are essential to your success.
Tagged with
career,
preparation,
first,
year,
university
| Comments (0)
| 
