College is a time for your student to have fun, try new things, and make amazing memories with new and old friends. Ultimately, though, they are preparing for their future. No matter how far your student is from graduation, they should be preparing themselves to join the workforce after they graduate. Here are five tips to help them along their journey to career-readiness.

 

  1. Develop relationships with professors. For four years, your student’s professors will watch them grow and develop both academically and as a person. Your student will spend countless hours with their professors in the classroom and during office hours. When your student begins looking for a job, they will want to reach out to some of their professors for recommendation letters and networking opportunities within their career field. If your student expects this help from their professors, they should form a relationship with them as soon as possible. The mentors that they gain during their years at Missouri Western will guide them into their career and be a fantastic resource when they need assistance or guidance in the future, too. Your student shouldn’t underestimate the power of a strong relationship with their professors.
  2. Update resume/portfolio regularly. Your student will accomplish many remarkable things and create a lot of outstanding content during their time at Missouri Western. While looking for a job straight out of college, there is no better way to exhibit their skills and knowledge than with a well-rounded resume and portfolio. They shouldn’t wait until their last semester to compile these things. If their degree program requires a final portfolio of work, suggest that your student get a list of required items early so that as they create them, they can save them all in one place. The same applies to their resume. It will be a lot easier to add things as they happen than it will be to try to update everything during their last semester.
  3. Visit the Career Development Center. One of the many free campus resources we have to help your student succeed is the Career Development Center. Career Development can help your student during each step of their career-readiness process. The new job portal, Handshake, connects students with potential employers. Students can even use the portal as Missouri Western alumni. Career Development also offers one-on-one help with resume writing, interview skills and career exploration. Encourage your student to stop by the Career Development Center soon to get help with their career goals.
  4. Take every job seriously. Developing good work habits early on is crucial. No matter what job your student takes on, it is important that they take them seriously. This is the time for your student to try new things. Not all of those things will be pleasant, nor will they succeed at everything they try. That’s okay! Your student should take advantage of the relatively safe environment college offers and take chances they may not have otherwise. Encourage your student to take this time to take some risks and build up their professional skills so they are ready to jump into the professional workforce as soon as they graduate. Each job and volunteer role will present unique learning opportunities for your student.
  5. Internships, internships, internships. There are an unlimited number of internships available to students. No matter what they want to study there are internships available. Encourage your student to research internships, and think about what experiences they need to gain before graduation. Encourage them to talk to their professors and get their recommendations. Also, your student may need one internship for credit, but if they find a second internship later that fits their goals, encourage them to take the chance. Many networking opportunities and career placements happen because of connections made during internships.