Do you have a dream career? Are you still figuring out what you want to be when you “grow up”? Wish you had some college career advice in your corner?
No matter what stage you’re at, the college experience offers dozens of opportunities to discover or pursue your career. From club activities and service-learning to networking with professionals and classroom projects, you have countless chances to spread your wings.
No department has its finger on the pulse of employability like the Career Center. We caught up with five Career Center Coordinators to get their top tips for pursuing (or discovering!) your dream career while you’re in college.
1. Discover Yourself First
“Before anything else, you must get to know yourself. As a first step, I recommend coming to the Career Center to take one of our assessments. That’s a great way to discover who you are. Knowing your strengths and weaknesses will help you on your journey of self-exploration. In addition, you’ll get a list of suitable careers that might match your personality.
Everybody has some idea about what they might want to do — or at least what they like and don’t like. People particularly know what they don’t like, so these assessments can confirm certain careers you might be thinking about or even help you to discover new and interesting ones. From there, a Career Center Coordinator can help you look into the career path of study.” –Dr. Cathy C.
2. Explore Your Interests
“Set a timer for 10 minutes, and brainstorm a list of hobbies, activities, clubs, and classes that you enjoy (or have in the past). Now reflect on the skills, abilities, and knowledge that you utilized for each interest. Think about how to connect the dots between your interests, strengths, and a career.
If you feel like your interest list isn’t long enough, maybe it’s time to join a new club or volunteer. Bring your interest list to the Career Center so we can assist you in exploring careers!” –Lisa H.
3. Get Hands-On Experience Through Service-Learning
“Service-learning is a great option to learn about your chosen career path. Service-learning is volunteering with a local non-profit organization or with local, state, or government entities. These hands-on opportunities can help you decide if a career is right for you.
Skills learned by participating in service-learning carry over into the classroom and future employment. Check out the Community Partner Directory to see if you would be interested in volunteering with any of these organizations. There are opportunities in animal care, child care, crisis care, disability/accessibility services, education, environmental, and health care, to name a few.
If you were considering a career in the health care field, for example, you could choose service-learning with one of our medical- or therapy-based community partners and experience what it’s like to work in the health care field. When you engage in service-learning in your selected career pathway, your education becomes more meaningful. Don’t miss out on these amazing opportunities.” –Heather A.
4. Network, Network, Network
“As a college student, I would often hear the term networking, but didn’t quite understand what it meant. To put it simply, networking is about making connections and building professional relationships. Why is this important?
To begin with, networking is a great way to get noticed. Showcasing your professional abilities makes you stand out, which in turn can lead to job offers or an increase in career status. You may also find that contacts you’ve networked with are willing to provide you with a referral or serve as a mentor. Interacting with other professionals keeps you informed and involved, which is necessary for career development.
Feeling ready to network? The Career Center offers plenty of opportunities to practice your skills! I encourage you to attend our hiring events and network with employers. You can also begin connecting with employers right now using our online job board, Handshake. Remember, your Career Center Coordinators are here to help you succeed. By taking advantage of these networking resources, you can grow as a professional and learn how to advance your career. Happy networking!” –Nicole M.
5. Visit Your Campus’ Career Center
“I was once a dual-enrolled student at EFSC, completing my Associate in Arts. I planned to transfer to UCF for a bachelor’s degree in…something. Honestly, I was so lost on my career path, it took me a lot of research and time to finally pick a last-minute major. I also had a lot of questions like, “What’s the difference between an A.A. degree and an A.S. degree?” I hardly realized EFSC had a Career Center, and at the time, I definitely felt too shy to make good use of it (100% introvert on the MBTI, here).
Now that I work at the Career Center myself (ironic twist of fate!), I realize how many resources I had right in front of me (and that the people who work here are super helpful and easy to talk to).
If you find yourself asking questions about your future — which major is right for you, how your hobbies can become careers, where to get hands-on experience, ways you can get involved on campus, or how to write a winning resume — there’s a one-stop shop for all of that and more. Whether you want to visit in person, via email correspondence, over the phone, or through Microsoft Teams video chat, the Career Center is a for-life resource — even after you graduate from EFSC.
My college career advice? Don’t make the career journey alone. Reach out. Help us help you!” –Casey C.
Get in Touch with the Career Center
Ready to start your career journey at EFSC? Visit the Career Center web page to access 24/7 resources, contact a Career Center Coordinator, and learn how you can begin honing your career-readiness skills with college career advice from the experts.
We look forward to working with you!
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