During your college years, it can be easy to focus on the specific classes that you are taking and not think about the future. However, even college experience can have a great affect on your career through internship and networking opportunities. Here are some job hunting strategies that will help you take advantage of internship and networking during and after your time at college.
Get an Internship
Every college student should try to take advantage of an internship opportunity. An internship is usually an unpaid part time position that earns you college credit as well as experience in your desired career field. You can often find information about internship opportunities from your college’s website. Most colleges have an entire area of their website dedicated to helping their students find internships and jobs. Check this part of the website throughout the year, but especially between January and April, when many companies are looking for interns for the fall semester. You also may be able to find an internship through a job fair that is hosted by your college. You could also try applying for an internship through a company’s website. While an internship may mean that your semester will be much busier and you will have to cut down on fun extracurricular activities, it can be a very beneficial time for college students. Not only will an internship give you valuable job experience that you can benefit from (and put on your resume), but it could also lead to a permanent job offer from the company!
Build a Network
These days, networking is a crucial aspect of finding out about job opportunities and getting interviews, but it is also an area of the business world that can be easily overlooked by college students, who often view networking as a strictly social activity. Networking in a business sense means building connections with people who are involved in your future career field as well as those who know people in the field. It can be easy to cross friends and family off the list of potential job networks, but they may have friends who can help you get a job. It is very important to start building connections even during your first few years at school. Your professors and classmates could even help you get a job interview in the future. However, in return it is also important to treat any networking potential with care and respect. Networking is not just using people to further yourself. It is more about building mutually beneficial relationship.
Use valuable job hunting strategies such as interviewing and networking to further your career even while you are still in college.
