The "job" of building a career
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Posted By: Robin Dear on December 26, 2006 The subject I'm about to discuss is just as relevant for the soon to be freshly minted degree holder as it is for the high school senior or the "veteran" alumni. We've all heard it said at some point in our lives. We may have been guilty of saying it ourselves at some point. What is the "it" that I'm referring to? The "it" is the commonly held belief that simply going to college and getting a degree will assure you of a job in your field of preference. While this is partly true, there are conditions that decrease the chances of this happening. More than the economic upheaval caused by 9/11, outsourcing of American jobs to Asia and Mexico, or the choice of one's major and college or university attended, lack of preparation for one's future career has derailed more individuals than all of the scenarios mentioned above. How many of us attended college with people who were brilliant, but are now employed as fry cooks, janitors, hospital orderlies, or sales associates-for the most part, jobs with no career advancement potential. It is understandable if one holds such positions temporarily between the transition period shortly after graduation, or even as a second (part time) job to purchase something special or pay additional bills. It is when such employment becomes a regular, permanent fixture of a graduate's life that something is indeed wrong. I can speak so extensively on this matter because it's been true in my own life. You see, the worst thing in the world that you can do is start working on a resume and running to the college career placement office for internship or company recruiter information during Senior year. You may be the rare individual who comes across a company that is looking to hire a Senior with no work experience and OK grades, but for the most part, the internships, co-ops, and entry level positions will go to those who PREPARED AHEAD. If you listen to nothing anyone else may have to say, I beg you to pay heed to what I'm sharing. Preparation for your career starts the minute you hit that college campus. Every student, no matter his or her rank or grades in high school, begins college with a 4.00 GPA. Even if you are a freshman who is not sure of what you want to study, start building a firm foundation for the career you will enter after graduation. Don't wait for career building opportunities to happen; create your own destiny. This may mean volunteering at a local company, school, or social services agency doing things you aspire to do in your future career. It is the rare company, agency, or individual that will refuse your services as a volunteer. But, you may say, I'm not sure what I want to major in just yet. Not a problem, though it will become a stumblingblock if you are a sophomore and still undecided. It is during the sophomore year that most companies start hunting for students to fill internship and co-op positions. ALL students, regardless of major, need to learn how to effectively use both Mac and Windows operating systems, as well learn one programming language. Computer technology is here to stay, and no matter what your major, you create more opportunities for yourself when you diversify your skill set. Make the career placement office your main pit stop as a FRESHMAN. Volunteer in order to gain relevant experience. Regularly check out sites like Studentjobs.gov for temporary, summer, and year-long employment opportunities. Be flexible and keep your options open. Sometimes, students are afraid to leave their town or state, even though there are little or no job opportunities for them there. It can be tough leaving familiar surroundings, but you will feel even worse when the job opportunity that was pretty much yours for the taking is given to someone else who WAS flexible and willing to relocate. Opportunities don't always come around a second time, so keep that in mind. For the graduate who has long since graduated and is stuck in a dead end job, as they say in the Army during boot camp, "About face!" You are going to have to do a 360 degree turn. If your skill set is really weak, you need to take night or weekend courses (if available) in IT technology or business courses that will show potential employers that you have something relevant to offer. Also, don't jump ship from your current employer just yet. You may be able to stay within your current company doing something more along your line of interest as you improve your skill set (ie, you've been a sales associate at Target for 8 years. You recently completed a course for certification as a database administrator. Target will more than likely hire you as the new DBA, since you're already a Target employee, familiar with their company culture, and it saves them the time of wading through hundreds of resumes by hiring from within the company). I hope this information is both encouraging and helpful to someone out there who needs it. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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