Even Freshmen Should Be Thinking about Life after College

July 16, 1998 Contact: Ann Marie Owens, 615-322-NEWS (6397)
[email protected]

Even freshmen should be thinking about life after college, Vanderbilt Career Center director says

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Preparing for a career should begin as early as one's freshman year of college, says the director of Vanderbilt University's Career Center.

Internships, campus activities, networking/mentoring, learning and researching and self-assessment tests are key factors in building a resume, says Linda Bird, who has been directing the university's career center for 10 years.

The most attractive of these steps to potential employers is having related work experience, she says. "You'll be ahead of the game if you have already had experience in your field," she says. "The most competitive people at graduation are the ones who have had at least two internships or related jobs. It just gives them that much more experience."

Another benefit of internships, whether paid or unpaid, is that students sometimes change their mind about their intended career. "It's easier to rethink your career path after a summer job during college then after graduation," she says.

Internships also help college students begin to understand the value of their education and how that contributes to success in the workplace.

Before they decide what field they want to pursue, college students may want to engage in self-assessment tests. Most college career centers offer low-cost career aptitude or personality tests to college students. "I think these give you useful feedback on your personality and how it fits into specific careers," Bird says. "For a lot of people these tests just validate what they already know, and that is helpful, too." Equally important as internships are campus activities. "Students should look for campus activities that give them expertise in a particular field," Bird says. Leadership positions in organizations, whether social or professional, are also beneficial if students intend to pursue careers in management.

College career centers can play a role in helping students identify campus activities that may benefit them. "There's something for everyone," she says.

Networking and mentoring activities are also important. "Any opportunity that is available for speaking directly with someone who does the type of work you are interested in qualifies," Bird says. Such networking can even lead to summer employment opportunities during college. Networking opportunities include one-day shadowing or mentoring programs, professional society meetings, college career center job fairs, alumni networks and students' family and friend contacts.

Another essential to doing some basic career preparation is research, Bird says. Students have traditionally used such resources as college career centers and libraries to research careers, and the Internet is now another resource for career research.

"If you are thinking about a particular career, you should read everything you can about it," Bird says. Bird says there is no magic order to these steps, but the more of these activities college students engage in, the better prepared they are for life beyond the university campus.

-VU-