When pursuing your studies at a College or University, one starts to think about life the day after. And it is OK because what you decide will impact your future to a large extent. A career is not a job, understood as a mere survival tool. A career involves your interests, passions, inner drive that push you through life. 

   A college education allows you to enter and advance in a very competitive job market. But that is not enough. Your skills and experience from college have to translate into an efficient and effective job search plan that requires a different set of skills and knowledge. Without one, your search may become exhausting, frustrating, and overwhelming.  

   Therefore, investing in a tidy and proper search will save you grim moments in the future.

Essential tips to help you start your professional journey

Talk to professionals. 

   If you can talk to a professional in the field of your interest, it will help you get first-hand experience on job details such as the scope of action, expertise, hard and soft skills, specific training needed, average salary, and other personal insights.

Contact your college or university career services center. 

   Ask your college career services about OCR options on-campus and off-campus, informational sessions and interviews (with people already employed in the field of your interest), networking events, career fairs, workshops, etc.       Also, at the career center, they will guide you through the steps of a career plan by, for instance, refining documents, helping with your job search, building social media profiles, and mock interviews.

Seek On-Campus Jobs

   Trying part-time jobs on campus can give you the expertise at the same time a salary, as little as it may be.

   The most traditional way to get a job on-campus is by checking the internal job postings on the university careers website. This will be highly competitive, though. 

   Also, you may want to try the Students’ Union for volunteer work. It is a way to start. You get to know people and your bosses, and then it will be easier to learn about new openings.

Visit Employers’ Websites

   Search those places where you would like to work, explore their websites, and follow them on social media. Alerts will keep you updated not only on job postings but also on fairs, news, etc., and you will get a better grasp of their culture, too.

Visit the Website of the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics

   The BLS is an excellent tool not only for starters. It is useful for anyone who wants to learn about labor force activity in the U.S. 

   Within the Bureau, The Occupational Outlook Handbook provides information on most U.S. jobs, including duties, work environment, education and training needed, average salary, and projections for future demand. 

   If you feel that your future is in education, teaching in particular, first of all, you should be clear about how the system works and the requirements for teaching positions at different levels. Consider lecturing or subbing for a feel of what it is to be in front of a class.

For more information, click: How to get your first teaching job in a college.

   It is worth mentioning that education is not limited to teaching at a college or university. There is a wide range of opportunities you may want to consider in the fields of psychology, accounting, technology, to name a few.  

Follow the link for more information on Technology Jobs in Education.

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