Getting Work Experience

Finding a job after or leading up to graduation can be stressful for any college student.  The job market is becoming more and more competitive after college because of the high demand of work experience expected by employers.  Luckily for me, I took the right steps to get work experience early on in my college career.  Now, while many of my friends are panicking to figure out life after graduation, I have a secured job with a company I am excited to work for.  Having a job locked down sooner than later makes your final year of college much more fun and rewarding. 

No matter how prestigious your college is, it is highly unlikely to be offered the job of your dreams without any previous real world experience.  If you never have had any formal work experience, don’t worry about it being exactly in-line with your career path.  Excelling with any company and putting in hard hours of work is always a great place to start.  Here are some tips to get started:

1.       Get a Job on Campus – There are tons of jobs your campus offers which are available to students.  Campus jobs don’t always pay the best, but they are usually easy and flexible around your class schedule.  Many of these jobs allow you to get homework done at work which is also a plus.  Think of it this way – You are getting paid to do your homework!

2.       Work for Relatives or Family Friends – When trying to get work experience, it’s all about utilizing the sources which know you best.  See if relatives or family members need an extra helping hand during the summer time based on your skill set.  Often times, even if your close acquaintances can’t personally give you a job, they are more likely to go out of their way to help you.  However, it is important to take the job seriously regardless of how closely connected you are to the employer.  Keeping strong relations with family friends can open up opportunities down the road.

3.       Volunteer – If you can’t find a job, volunteering is also a way to get working experience.  For the most part, employers don’t care whether your job is paid or not so a volunteer job can be just as marketable as any paid job.  Also, volunteering shows signs of leadership and responsibility while asking nothing in return.

4.       Internship – If you have a general idea of your career path, see what internships are available around your school's campus.  Ask advice from faculty members or your school’s career center to see what types of internships may be the best for you.  Whether they are paid or not, internships are great because they give you an idea if you want to pursue a similar career path.  Most importantly, make sure you are learning something! An internship that does not challenge you in any way is not worth your time.

**My biggest piece of advice – No matter what type of work experience you have, anything can be made applicable to the job you are trying to pursue.  Never lie on a resume, but think hard about how the skills learned from one job can apply to the next.