F E A T U R E    A R T I C L E 5 steps to help you move from campus to career

If you attend a good school and study hard, you're going to get a great job after graduation, right? Not necessarily so! To most students, it comes as a shock that there is so much more that you must do, and even more of a surprise that no one is going to tell you when or how to start. In fact, you need to start laying the groundwork for your career search well before you graduate. The following checklist will help you get started:

1. Diversify your knowledge.

An engineering or business degree may translate readily into the working world, but if you're a liberal arts student, your degree might not actually qualify you for a profession. No matter what major you've chosen, make sure you develop practical skills through elective courses, internships, or volunteer work. Skills that employers value include the ability to analyze statistics, fact checking and proofreading, customer service skill and facility with computer word-processing and spreadsheet programs. It's really a matter of having some foresight and making astute choices. Your choice of an obscure major won't limit your prospects if you are careful to augment it with electives and experience, and then emphasize that practical knowledge on your resume and in interviews.

2. Use the Career Services office at your school.

Don't pass up this golden opportunity - never again will you have this many great resources right at your fingertips. Especially helpful are the career counselors, who can meet with you personally, once or on a regular basis, to advise you on strategies and decision-making. Have them review your resume, and ask for advice on what classes, jobs, or activities you should consider adding to your schedule. They can also give you guidance when it comes to considering and accepting a job offer. In addition, career centers organize on-campus job fairs and corporate recruiting, and hold interview skills workshops so you can practice "selling" yourself and your skills to employers. If you don't have a job offer by graduation, you don't have to go it alone. You may still be eligible to use the career center on campus, or allowed access to online job postings and databases. Contact your school's center to find out what's available to you before you graduate.

3. Find internships for your summer and winter breaks.

Don't just pick the summer job that pays the most; make sure that you will pick up experience as well. The campus career center is a valuable resource for finding good internship opportunities. There are a myriad of programs out there, from working with the homeless, to assisting with book research and editing, to shadowing an alum at a large corporation. Don't overlook an unusual opportunity in a smaller organization that may afford you increased responsibility; focus on the skills that you can develop rather than the title of the organization or position. Internships can lead to jobs after graduation, so always act professional, as if you are a permanent, not temporary, employee. Ask for a reference before the end of the term, and maintain contact with the organization throughout the school year.

4. Make sure that you can get a quality recommendation.

All potential employers are going to want recommendations. What you don't want to end up with is a letter that starts with, "Although I did not know him well·". This type of introductory statement invalidates anything that follows. It's best to develop and maintain relationships with at least two potential scholastic references. Your best options are your academic advisor and a professor with whom you've had two or more classes. Ideally, these professors should know you individually and be familiar with your work, talents, and strengths. Don't wait until your last semester to start; this type of relationship takes time to grow. In addition, you should have recommendations from your work supervisors and coaches/advisors from any extracurricular activities in which you were seriously involved. Remember to ask for your letters well before you actually need them. You want to give them plenty of time to write glowing reviews, which might not happen if you pressure them to have it ready tomorrow. Also, you may be asked to supply some background information which you need time to compile, such as papers that you had written for their class and a description of your other activities.

5. Network.

Talk to everyone you know and let them know that you are looking for a job. Don't be modest - networking is one of the key ways that people find jobs. Collect phone numbers, emails, and addresses of fellow students. Get their parents' information, too; many students move several times in the years after graduation and you can quickly lose touch. Communicate frequently with key contacts, so that your name is fresh in their minds - you never know who might hear of a job opening and think of you. Keep up with your class alumni network or clubs as well; your former classmates may be in the very fields or companies that interest you, and, therefore, may be a well-connected source of information and advice.

You should use all of the avenues available to you to develop a profile that is attractive to employers, and to get access to the contacts and opportunities that exist. With hard work and some creativity you'll be ready to pursue your career goals to the fullest!

By Susan Ernenwein and Alice Hoover

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