As we step onto our college campuses for the first time, the thought of our future careers may be the furthest thing from our minds. Some of us haven’t even decided on a major yet, let alone what we want to do for the rest of our lives. After spending three or four years being a Theoretical genius or in our word adjusting to life, landing in a dream work environment is become tough these days. Your graduation ceremony signifies the end of an era and the start of something new but you may be left wondering, ‘what next?’

There are a number of different routes to take as you contemplate what to do after university – and everyone’s journey will be different. Whichever path you choose the competitive nature of the jobs market means that it’s important to take full advantage of any free time you have to make plans and start putting them into action.

Things you can do to prepare for it from the moment you walk onto campus are key things to accomplish and help you to plan for your dream career – whatever it may be!

    Follow your heart

I know this sounds corny, but this is really the best way to put it. I have met countless people who had cemented plans during college to pursue what they believed was the most logical, objectively sound career path. However, almost all of these people regretted making a decision based on what made sense on paper. The graduates who find satisfaction are those who pursue their true interests and passions. Many people worry that unless you pursue a traditional career, it will be hard to make money. Some students worry that if they follow their passions they can never make a living out of it. In my experience, however, the people who do what they are passionate about are the ones who make the most money. If you commit to something, then over time you will be successful.

Find your interests

Before you can figure out what you want to do for a career, you need to first figure out what you’re interested in. Start from the ground up–what do you like to do? Do you like to talk to people, or do you work much better alone? What is it that you really enjoy doing?

Discover your skills

While you discover and develop your interests, it is also important to learn and grow your skills. Finding an ideal job will usually happening by finding the intersection of where your skills and interests meet. Find what it is that you’re good at. However, don’t just choose a career base on skills alone; your job should be something that you enjoy, too.

  Be willing to try something out

Many college graduates are worried about finding a career right after they graduate. Many of them undervalue the incredible duration of time in which they will be working for the years to come. It’s important to recognize that your job doesn’t have to be your career. Graduates should be open to trying new things and exploring different career paths. Trying different job roles is an excellent way to discover what your true calling is.

  Network

Networking is the best key to finding jobs, getting mentored, making new friends, and making new professional connections. When students graduate it is imperative that they form a network-based from their school. Being affiliated with a college or university is an excellent way to establish a network early on. Rather than relying on forming brand new connections, utilize the natural network that your school has created for you. Even if you don’t think alumni will have immediate value for you, grabbing a coffee with fellow alum is a great way to meet other people who can help you as you search for a career.

Join campus organizations

Being an active participant in groups and or extracurricular activities looks great on any resume because it shows that you know how to balance work with fun. However, you have to be selective about which groups to join. While there are so many exciting options available, you don’t want to put too many things on your plate.

Be open to opportunities

Realistically, it may not be immediately possible to get a graduate-level job. If something else is available – even if it is a casual or temporary job – try to use it as a stepping stone.

Improve your employability

Work on your employability skills such as writing, administration, team-working, communication etc. You’ll be in a strong position if your job applications can demonstrate these qualities. Also, consider voluntary work as a way of adding to your portfolio of experience and learning new skills. There are opportunities for short and long-term involvement, whether it’s helping out at a local organization or working for a national charity.

Use LinkedIn

LinkedIn is a powerful tool for finding and making new connections. Using it requires effort, but if done correctly college graduates can connect with a plethora of like-minded individuals.

Apply for internships

There are several internship programs now available, many aimed specifically at graduates. These tend to vary from three months to a year. Some offer payment on top of your benefits while others carry accreditation.

Internships are not just a stop-gap on the way to a permanent job: as a ‘taster’ of a particular sector, they can also help you to choose which career you ultimately would like to pursue. Whatever you do, you will gain new skills and experience to add to your CV.

Start making a resume

It’s time to spruce up that resume to send out to potential employers! Don’t forget to add any internship experience you gained during your junior year to your resume. If you’re planning on a career that’s related to your major, add your major GPA as well as your cumulative GPA to the education section. This shows that you are knowledgeable in your field of interest.

Practice your interviewing skills

Interviews can be one of the most stressful parts of the job hunt. Whether they’re over the phone or in person, answering those questions in such a high-pressure environment can be a daunting task. But because interviews are a staple of the job hunt, you’ll need to practice!

Keep looking

The good news for graduate job hunters is that employers are now recruiting all year round. These days, graduate employers are more likely to advertise on an ad hoc basis, as jobs become available or as they get an additional budget for recruitment. So don’t stop looking.

Attend career fairs

The last thing that you can take advantage of is to attend your campus career fairs. These events are specifically catered to graduating students looking for jobs. Career fairs are full of companies looking to recruit some of the best and brightest minds that your graduating class has to offer.

Make sure that you bring along a few copies of your resume and you dress professionally. Surely make a list of attending companies, so be sure to target businesses you are interested in before you go. Research the companies and be sure to ask relevant questions at the fair.

Networking with potential employers could make or break your job search. You want to appear personable and enthusiastic because employers want to hire people they want to work with who are passionate about the job. Making a good first impression in person could open up opportunities for you.

Create a job-search action plan

You’ve already made many great strides towards that future dream job, but there’s still work left to do! One thing is to make a specific job-search plan.

Your job-search action plan details things like the kinds of jobs you’re interested in, the specific companies you want to target and the number of applications you’ll send out per week. Spreadsheets are a great way to stay organized. Update these spreadsheets as you start the job search. You can create two: one to plan your search and another to track your progress. The first is your timeline, where you list out how many jobs you’ll apply to and when you’ll do so (For example, you apply to five jobs per week). Once you’ve targeted companies you’re interested in, put them on your timeline starting with application deadlines that are approaching fast.

You don’t have to wait until your senior year if you start to plan from the beginning of the freshman year for your future career. Whether you come into college knowing what you want to do or you have absolutely no idea what kind of job you might want, working to accomplish these steps throughout the year can help put you on the path to getting that dream job.

For any career related queries and guidance please feel free to write us at hello@vaanahaa.com and let team Vaanahaa guide you to land you in your dream work environment.

Feel free to talk to us, dial: 1800-212-7277 (Toll-Free)