Does the new year have you looking to pursue new professional career goals? It may seem like a career is a ways away, but you can be taking steps now to prepare you for a better transition in the next few years after graduate from collegiate life, and onto a meaningful career. Check out these steps to help boost your professional presence sooner than later!
1. Perfect your resume and cover letter
Your resume is something that you will need for the rest of your life. Your resume and cover letter are worth putting in the extra time to help set you apart from the rest of the crowd. The content itself may always be changing depending on what situation and job you are applying for, but the general format and language will be the same and it is important to establish how you want to appear to future employers. It is inevitable that you will eventually have to submit these documents to jobs and internships in the future so it is important that you do not wait until the last minute to make these and be confident with them.
2. Have coffee with an upperclassmen or faculty member
Whether you have declared a major or you are undecided, it is always nice to get to know your colleagues and faculty. You can ask questions like what made you pick this major/job, what was your education/career path, or advice that you would give to a person starting out in the industry of interest. Students and faculty are almost always willing to give you insight and help aid you in getting to where you want to go.
Photo courtesy of Pexels.
3. Create a LinkedIn Profile
What’s one more social media site? Check out LinkedIn to create a profile and start connecting with colleagues, faculty, alumni, and professionals in your field. This is a site to communicate your “professional identity” to others. You can check out job and internship listings and keep up with current events in the workforce.
4. Learn a new skill
One of my professors once said, “always be innovating yourself.” This means that you as an individual should always be adding new skills, interests, and knowledge to yourself to make you the most qualified person for the job/internship. It could be keeping yourself up to date with the newest technology, learning new skills like a language, how to code, or learning to practice yoga. Even if your career or major has nothing to do with these things! You never know when these skills can be useful in your job and it may really surprise someone important that could lead to a promotion or other opportunity.
5. Meet with a Career Coach
Take a walk down to the new Center for Student Success! Make an appointment with one of the career coaches in the Career Education Center to take a look at your resume, talk about possibly summer internships, or do some career diagnostic tests. They are always willing to answer your most pressing career questions. The Career Education Center on the Simmons website is also a great place to gather information.
Photo courtesy of Simmons College Campus Newsletter, 1/17/18
6. Invest in some professional clothes
Skip the new going out clothes this month and opt for some more professional clothes! These clothes that frequently include pieces like dress pants, a blazer, a dress, or a collared shirt are sometimes a bit more expensive, but if you can pick up a piece one at a time (when they are on sale), it will be more convenient when you score an interview and don’t have to go out and buy an entire new outfit.
None of these things may be the way we want to spend our down time, but all of them are great ways to help you start and continue your professional development. Never be afraid to ask for help or for others opinions when it comes to being a professional because everyone was in your position once!
Header photo courtesy of Pinimg.