5 TIPS FOR STUDENTS STARTING THEIR CAREERS
This week on the blog we hear from our friends at Upwardly Careers. As we gear up for fall, the main theme for a lot of us is back to school or what to do after school. The team at Upwardly Careers takes us through five tips for students starting their careers. Keep scrolling to read the full story!
We’ve all been there. You’re sitting at a family dinner with a few months left in your degree and your favourite relative leans in and asks you, “So what’re your plans for after school?”
Sigh.
It’s not their fault, they don’t understand the stress that the question can induce. They haven’t seen the hours of job searching, resume building, and cover letter writing that you’ve been working on, all just to answer the question of “What’s next?” It can be overwhelming!
Well, not anymore! Here are 5 quick tips put together by the team at Upwardly Careers to help you stay ahead of the game when it comes to graduating so that you can confidently answer, “I am launching my career!”
Create Your Own Definition of Success
Success has different meanings to everyone, so don’t let someone else’s definition decide what makes you successful. Take some time to reflect on what makes you happy and find a way to make that part of your career path. The earlier that you define what success looks like to you, the quicker you can start working your way toward it!
Get Comfortable Outside of Your Comfort Zone
University is such an important time for growth and learning, and what better way to grow than by putting yourself in new situations and experiences? Sign-up for that improv class, join that leadership committee, sing that song at karaoke night! Doors will open up for you when you step outside your comfort zone.
Expand Your Knowledge Outside of Your Degree Requirements
One of the most important things that hiring managers and recruiters look for are students who have gone above and beyond while getting their education. Whether it’s joining a graduate student club or committee, pursuing an internship, or volunteering with a local organization, you’ll want to pursue at least one opportunity during your graduate program in the career field you’re most interested in. This will help you discuss how you’ve put relevant skills to use and made an impact outside of the classroom.
Attend Networking Events of All Kinds
Networking events will be a big part of your future career, so why not get a head start? Think of participating in after class socials, club events, speaker series, and job fairs. Set connection goals and try to meet and add interesting people to your network. Linkedin is great, but so are other platforms, like Instagram. These are always a great way to improve your communication skills and meet like minded people!
Take advantage of Career Services and Recruiters
On-campus Career Centers are great resources for workshops, one-on-one career advising, and work opportunities. Pairing that with a recruiter who will advocate for you in the workplace is an amazing combo. Recruiters are trusted advisors, and at Upwardly we believe in honesty and integrity throughout the whole process. We use a multi-channel approach that incorporates high-touch communication through our texting platform and in person activations on campus to ensure you’re at your best when it comes time to launch your career.
More about Upwardly: At Upwardly Careers, our mission is to disrupt how the next generation of talent is being identified, assessed, interviewed, and hired. We believe it’s time to start advocating for the power skills that new graduates bring to the workforce - collaboration, agility, technical prowess, and optimism - to name a few. We’re creating more entry-level opportunities within established companies every day, and making the hiring process transparent and full of feedback every step of the way! We’re a free resource for students, so come chat with us!
http://bit.ly/upwardlygetstarted
Written by The Upwardly Team
Contact Us
Jackson McDonough, Co-Founder and CEO
jackson@upwardlycareers.com
Dan Palmer, Director Of Recruitment
dan@upwardlycareers.com
