Updated 7/30/24
Congrats! You have a college student embarking on a new phase of life… making friends, pursuing a major, and adjusting to being independent. It feels that the job market is in the distant future and they can barely find their way around campus, there is an opportunity for your student to take small steps to plan their career…even as a Freshman.
This post is personal for me. When my oldest son just left for college I was excited about the opportunities ahead of him and a bit sad that he was gone. When he was in the same position as the students we advise, I shared with him a few important tips to focus on at school during his Freshman year. I would be lying if my advice was met with enthusiasm. He rolled his eyes and stared at his phone as we spoke. He kept saying, “I don’t want to hear this right now.”
But here was my reason for persisting…
We advise many college students and grads and their number one regret is that they started the career search process TOO LATE. They wish they took a few steps each year to improve their career search skills. It is much easier in college when the companies come looking for candidates and they can take advantage of the career services office, on-campus recruiting, and job placement services.
Once students graduate, those benefits are not as readily available, and then as a grad, they have to pursue employers and convince someone they are worthy of the job. Learning how to talk about yourself, network, and learn about opportunities can help candidates stand out when seeking that coveted internship or job.
Here are the basics of what a Freshman can do to start:
- Build a Resume
- Create a LinkedIn Profile
- Go to the Career Fair
- Meet Your Professors
- Clean Up Your Social Media
- Keep Up With the News
1. Build a Resume (Yes…a resume!)
One may think that being a camp counselor, babysitter or waiter is not worthy of a resume, but it is. Start highlighting work, athletic, and volunteer accomplishments. It does not have to be fancy or show extensive experience. Join a club or activity in college. This will enhance the content. The resume will evolve as they move through college, but they should always have it ready emphasizing accomplishments to date.
2. Create a LinkedIn Profile
Once a student has a resume, it will be easy to replicate on LinkedIn. This is the number one resource on how to connect professionally on social media. A presence here is important. Students should set up a profile, and connect with friends, family, and everyone they meet at school. The power of LinkedIn is having as many connections as possible to improve search results. Students can connect with employers, industry experts, and alumni to forge relationships that can support the internship and job search.
3. Go to the Career Fair
Before you say, “Freshmen don’t go to the career fair,” consider this – I met with the Director of Career Services of a major university and she stated that employers want to see freshmen at career fairs because they need to build their pipeline of students for opportunities early. It is becoming more common for Sophomores to seek summer internships and employers want to get to know you early on. The main reason for a Freshman to go to the career fair is not only to pursue an internship in the future but to PRACTICE professionally talking about yourself. This takes time and starting early is the key. Access our Free Resources on how to Ace the Career Fair.
4. Meet Your Professors
One of the primary reasons for attending college is for the academic experience—yes, to learn something. Professors may have been in academia for some time and others may have been professionals that moved to teach as the next chapter. These instructors can be mentors and serve as an excellent resource for learning about different careers and getting involved in research projects and internships. They often have a vast network of contacts for job introductions as well. More importantly, getting to know a professor can assist with success in the classroom.
5. Clean Up Your Social Media
It is tempting to share a great time on campus via social media. However, this self-promotion is public to employers and potential contacts as they use it as a resource when evaluating candidates. A peek into your personal life allows outsiders to make judgments about one’s character and values. I strongly recommend removing any questionable or compromising photos ie. holding large red drinking cups, exposing a lot of skin, looking like you are drunk, or cursing in your comments. By all means, have fun, just keep it clean as nothing is truly private on the internet.
6. Keep Up with the News
Read up on major news that goes on outside of campus. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal offer college students digital paper access for just $1 a week. If you want an abbreviated version of the news you can check out TheSkimm or MorningBrew for free. The idea is to get outside the bubble of campus and keep up with what is happening in the world. Staying current on the news, especially in the field of interest, will assist in class, networking, and interviewing.
Do you want to know what my son did?
As a freshman, he had a resume (yes, I proofed it!), and a skeleton profile on LinkedIn with just his name and school information. As much as I wanted him to attend the Career Fair, I am unsure if he attended… some excuse about classes and timing. He cleaned up his Instagram and used ESPN Sports Center as his primary news source. Read how he navigated his college career. He is finishing his final year of grad school and starting the post-college job search. He did take some of my advice such as updating his resume and LinkedIn and has seen the benefit of networking firsthand. He does not always take my advice, and that’s ok too.
The truth is that no one can force a student to do anything. Some want it sooner than others. And some are still adjusting to college life and trying to figure it out. And that’s ok. It’s up to the student! They have to want it!
If you would like to learn more about how Next Great Step helps college students and recent grads get the job, call us at 973-577-6161 or schedule a complimentary Discovery Call today.
