Hi there! It's Holly, Director of Professional Development for Price Women and Allies.
Don't know what you want to be when you grow up? Join the club. I'm in my mid-30's and haven't yet ruled out Mermaid Doctor. While there are myriad ways to spend your time in college and grad school, be sure not to push "job search" to the back burner. Here are five reasons why you should start hitting up the job boards right after orientation:
5. You're Surrounded by People with Diverse Career and Life Experiences
If you've ever been to a party where you don't know a lot of people, you've likely asked the question So, what do you do? And unless you attend parties with Rihanna, you've probably been forced to muster some sign of intrigue when really you're thinking, Did I leave the stove on? or What's the snack situation at this thing?
One of the biggest perks of attending a large, renowned university situated in one of the country's most diverse cities is the wealth of exciting backstories. People come from all over the world to attend Price. As you meet your peers throughout Price, be sure to ask lots of questions. You might meet someone with career experience altogether new to you!
4. You Can Tailor Your Electives to Your Career Exploration
There are loads of different strategies to choose from when planning out your electives. You can go in the direction of content specialization, tangible skills, or attractive new professors (you know who you are). If you start your job search early, you may find that appealing positions require a specific skill set or knowledge area that Price happens to offer only during particular semesters. When you start your job search early, you can plan ahead, test things out, and be prepared ahead of graduation.
3. People Love Talking to Students
It's true. Feel the cool breeze of all the doors opening for informational interviews when you lead with "I'm a student." Maybe people assume you could use a free coffee (correctly, in my case) or feel nostalgic thinking about their own experience as students. Whatever the reason, people are generally eager to impart their wisdom to the next generation of practitioners. If you don't know what the average day of a City Councilmember looks like or what skills you should be honing to become an analyst at a think tank – just ask! But make sure you do your research before you reach out. Going into an informational interview unprepared may come off as a sign of disrespect for that person's time.
2. You Have Access to Multiple Career Development Offices
They'll look at your resume. Connect you to alumni. Coach you through interview prep. Introduce you to new career paths. You name it! Start by booking your appointment with a career counselor through PriceNet.
5. It Just Helps to Be Familiar with the Landscape Before Your Student Loan Lenders Come Collectin'
Sure, you've got a decent LinkedIn profile and you've heard of Glassdoor. But good job searching takes time. And waiting until graduation to start familiarizing yourself with the job landscape could add some unwanted stress at a time when you just want to celebrate your successful completion of a costly degree program! This doesn't mean you should be sending out cover letters en masse your first semester. But start keeping a list of organizations that stand out to you as you research your next paper, then sign up for their newsletters. Websites like Daybook and Idealist send regular emails with new job postings – sign up! If you get in the habit of seeing what's out there early, you'll have a better idea of what you're really looking for when it's time to send that cover letter.
What do you think? Got any helpful tips? Sound off in the comments!
