We seniors are about to finish our final semester of college, and the next four months of our college career will be fun, exciting, stressful, and scary. Transitioning from the “college world” to the “real world” will not be easy for us; however, it will be rewarding. All we have to do is stay ahead of the game with these five simple and easy steps to prepare ourselves for the professional world.
1. Make sure you have an updated resume…
If you are unsure about how to create a professional resume, ask your career center on campus. The career center is a great place to start because the staff knows what should and shouldn’t be on your resume. Your resume should be ONE PAGE ONLY because future employers don’t have the time to read about what you did in the month of June as a sophomore in high school when you were sixteen years old on the second page of your resume. Your resume should highlight all of the accomplishments you completed during your college career. Simply put, keep your resume concise and relevant.
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2. …along with a detailed and genuine cover letter
Sometimes writing cover letters can be overwhelming because how can you really tell a future employer what your strengths and experiences are through a letter? A way to get yourself noticed from a cover letter is to be creative and keep your writing genuine. Perhaps instead of a letter, write an employer a story about an experience that changed your life, or a song about why you think the job would be a good match for you. Even try making a YouTube video as a way to get noticed because sometimes a creative approach is better than a standard approach.
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3. Have profiles on employment websites
Job-seeking websites are a good place to start educating yourselves on potential employment opportunities. It’s important to set up a profile on the website so you can receive updates when new positions are posted. Some websites to look into are Indeed.com, LinkedIn.com, MediaBistro.com, and Idealist.com, which are all good places to start your search.
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4. Dress to impress in a professional setting
Believe it or not, people always remember their first impressions of you, so you want to make sure you are dressed like a professional. You should have options to choose from such as blazers, pants, dresses and skirts. Stores such as H&M, J Crew Factory, Target, and Nordstrom Rack have a wide selection of work clothes to choose from so you can look and feel your best as a young professional.
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5. Stay Calm
Starting the next chapter of your life after graduating college will be overwhelming but you will be okay. Don’t forget what’s important to you and always work hard. The “real world” can be scary but also beautiful.