One of the most common
life ambitions people have is achieving a successful career. Who doesn’t want
to be the next Mark Zuckerberg, Elon Musk, Bill Gates, or Warren Buffett?
This quick and simple
guide will reveal some small things you can do during your post-secondary years
(or even high school, if you want a jumpstart) to help make a big impact on
your career in the future.
1. Go Out
There and Meet New People!
They say that you’ll
meet more new people during your post-secondary years than at any other time in
your life – and that’s true. Every new class, semester, and year will also
bring you new faces and friends.
One of the best things
you can do to set the stage for your career is to meet new people. Yes, you
heard that right. No matter how lazy or tired you feel, get out there! Say hi
to the person sitting next to you in class, join student clubs and associations,
and participate in campus events!
These faces won’t just
be your new friends and study buddies – they’ll also be your connections and
help build your network. It’s a small world after all, so you never know who
knows who! Your new classmate could be the bridge to the hiring manager at your
dream company.
2. Be Social
and Attend Networking Events
Tying in with the
first point, networking events are the perfect place to meet new people. These
events provide you with the opportunity to connect with professionals, meet
students who are pursuing the same career path as you, ask industry questions,
and learn a few tips and tricks along the way.
Because you obviously
need to network at networking events, these events will also give you a chance
to practice your communication and speaking skills, which are invaluable skills
that today’s hiring managers are looking for. Plus, attending a networking
event that’s related to the industry you’re interested in presents a
preliminary glimpse of what the environment is like.
For some great
networking event tips, check out Forbes’
list!
3. Take a
Co-op and/or Practicum Program
Co-op and practicum
programs are some of the best offerings that post-secondary institutions offer
– so take advantage of them while you can! When else can you easily switch
between jobs within a few months?
While you have access
to co-op and practicum programs, explore what you like (or don’t like), the
industries you’re interested in, and what kind of working environment you like
best. You won’t be able to easily switch between jobs without employers having
commitment concerns about you once you’ve graduated.
Plus, there’s a chance
that your co-op and practicum placements could hire you full-time after your
semester ends so you could already have a job lined up before you officially
graduate.
We hope this quick guide helped you realize how you can maximize your time and the plethora of resources you have available while still in school. For more articles like these, see our collection of stories here.
