During the course of my daily and weekly workload, I have the opportunity to work with my fair share of both recently graduated college students as well as students anticipating graduation. The biggest issue traditional college students (as opposed to working professionals who enroll in concurrent programs in the evening, or who go back to school later in life) face is a general lack of work experience. It becomes a catch-22 for many, because even a good number of entry-level positions require some experience, but how do you as a new grad gain experience without an opportunity?
The key to gaining professional experience while in college is to be proactive, and start early. Worrying about it during your last semester or two weeks before graduation does not qualify as starting early. Ideally students want to start thinking about ways to gain work experience the moment they step foot on campus. When graduation day arrives, and it comes times to find a real job, new grads who have some form of work experience most always have a distinct advantage over those who don’t. It makes a difference.
But how do you as a college student gain work experience while balancing academic responsibilities? The following are 7 ways that you can gain experience while in school, and that will profit your resume and your career in the future:
Internships – most are unpaid, but they provide an invaluable opportunity for hands-on learning in “on the job” experience. Internships provide the opportunity to put knowledge gained in the classroom and from textbooks to practical use. If you can afford to take an unpaid internship over a summer, or while concurrently taking classes, the value on a resume can springboard your career once you dawn the cap and gown. Sacrificing now will mean more money later. In many instances, interns who do well during this trial period (which is exactly what many employers view this as) may have the privilege of being offered a position upon graduation. And hey, you may even be able to gain some credits for it too.
Volunteer positions – not only can volunteering be of value to members of your community, but it is also a great way to explore career options while still in school. Just as you may have been directed to participate in community service projects and volunteering endeavors to boost your college application, these same activities provide value to your resume. In addition to opportunities to network, you may also be fortunate enough to pick up a mentor.
Unpaid positions with the school – these are usually pretty easy to find with your school, and thought they are unpaid, keep in mind the point is to gain experience. They also offer much more flexibility than other options as schools are usually more willing to work with class schedules than outside entities may be.
Part-time or full-time jobs in the summer, or during the school year – obviously if you can get a job that relates to your major, a part-time or full-time job is a tremendous benefit to a student. It can be challenging to balance work hours with school, but it is not impossible (I for one worked full-time throughout college). A job may be a necessity for many to in order to diffuse tuition and living expenses. Whatever the case, and whatever the position, look for opportunities to develop skills that will be of worth in your career down the line. Teamwork, communication, leadership and planning are all aptitudes that can be conveyed on a resume down the road.
Professor’s Aide – particularly for students who have a major in a discipline where classroom experience is valued, serving as a professor’s aide can only serve to bolster that resume once graduation time rolls around. Not only can hands-on experience be cultivated in student instruction, but you may also qualify for financial aid to pay for your studies as well.
Start your own business as an entrepreneur – now not every college student can become the next Bill Gates or Mark Zuckerberg, but transforming an idea into a small business can give you experience that will translate into worthwhile job skills in the future. You may even find yourself with the next big idea, like Facebook (Zuckerberg). Companies such as Dell, Time Magazine and Google were all started by college students; not too shabby.
Co-op jobs – these are great opportunities because they can provide you hands-on experience while you gain a few more academic credits. Most can also be classified as paid internships as an educational program in which students alternate periods of academic study in the classroom with periods of full-time co-op employment in positions related to their academic and career interests.
Regardless of what form of experience you choose to pursue, it is important that you do something. New graduates who have taken opportunities to complete an internship, balanced a part-time job, volunteered, or even started a side gig have more to offer a prospective employer than those who have not. I see it in the hiring every day. If you are currently a college student, or are planning on starting this fall, explore the options available to you and make a choice to pursue what you deem best. Don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a counselor, a professor or your peers for advice or assistance. Planning beyond just the GPA and/or extra-curricular activities can give your career a boost before you step foot off campus.
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