Each year you should be taking steps to prepare for a successful transition directly into a career or on to graduate or professional school. Below are some ideas for what you can do each year to help prepare you for life after graduation.
Students
What can you be doing to prepare for success when you graduate? Each year you should be taking steps to prepare for a successful transition directly into a career or on to graduate or professional school. Below are some ideas for what you can do each year to help prepare you for life after graduation.
- Getting involved in campus clubs and activities
- Job Shadowing
- Conduct informational interviews with professionals
- Begin building connections
- Start networking
- Practice good time management skills
- Major and career exploration
- Set-up your Handshake account
- Find a mentor
- Take part in the STEP program
- Leadership Development
- Volunteering
- Take advantage of research opportunities
- Network
- Continue building connections and relationships
- Begin to consider internship opportunities
- Consider studying abroad
- Research potential careers
- Declare a major by the end of your sophomore year
- Update your Handshake profile
- Take on leadership opportunities
- Complete an internship or experiential learning
- Have a well-polished resume ready
- Know how to write an effective cover letter
- Network
- Continue strengthening established relationships
- Practice interviewing
- Write down your career goals
- Create a LinkedIn account
- Be in the habit of getting on and ultilizing Handshake to discover opportunities
- Stay involved with campus clubs and activities
- Attend career and internship fairs
- Considering graduate or professional school? Research the steps for applying
- Continue to build your network
- Attend career and internship fairs
- Keep your resume updated
- Gather references contact information
- Reach out to networks about job opportunities
- Have letters of recommendation ready
- Reach out to networks about job opportunities
- Heading to graduate school? Be aware of deadlines for submitting application materials
- Continue to regularly check Handshake
- Keep your LinkedIn profile up to date and current
Why Participate in an Internship and/or Experiential Learning?
Year after year, employers report preferring candidates with work experience. This can include an on-campus job, internship, research position, volunteering, or a leadership position with a student organization. Participating in experiential learning and/or an internship will help you to learn about career options that you didn’t even know existed. You will also have the opportunity to meet people who could become valuable mentors and professional contacts later. The Ohio State Marion Career Services Office recommends you begin to translate your academic interests into desirable job skills. Interested in an internship or want to learn more about the requirements? Please contact me at MarionCareers@osu.edu or call 740-725-6334 to make an appointment.
