From Education to Employment: A Surthrival Guide

With only four years of undergraduate studies to figure out a potential career— college can be a stressful time for many students. While we have all been conditioned on the academic side of higher education, the road to securing that dream job is not quite so clear. If you want to not only survive the path to employment, but to thrive on it, there are a few steps you are going to have to take on your own. 

Start now. Whether you are a freshman just beginning your undergraduate career or a fifth year senior, there is no time like the present to start making moves. When you are considering a job you might have for the rest of your life, you can never start too early. The earlier you start, the more time you have to consider your options.

Begin from within. Figure out what you like. This may sound easy, but many people force themselves into a career they simply do not mesh with on a personal level. Study your everyday interactions. A journal can be helpful. Take note of the things you do on a day-to-day basis. Keep track of those interactions, activities and tasks that were not so fun and those that inspired you and made your day better. These insights can be extremely helpful in the process of finding a career that you will truly be happy in. 

Do more than just research. Of course, good research is one main aspect of any job search, but when it comes to your career go out and try something new. Interested in accounting? Go job shadowing or attend a hands-on accounting class. As with anything, you cannot really know if you like something until you actually do it.

Network. No matter what you choose to do, you need to have people there to help you along the way. Get to know your classmates and professors. Even if you do not need help or have any questions, attend those office hours. Show your professor that you are serious about your academic and future professional career. They can be a wealth of knowledge about the subject. Remember, your professor was in the same boat as you at one point. Attend that career fair. Get your name out to those recruiters and establish a connection that may lead to something bigger after graduation. The people are there. All you have to do is make the choice to ask them for help.

Don’t stress it. Above all else, have fun. While it can be stressful, college is the time for you to spread your wings and soar. Believe me, you are going to run into some challenges on the way, but overcoming them will only strengthen and empower you to keep going. Failure is necessary for success. If you want to land that dream job, you are going to have to work for it. No matter where you end up after college, if you find something that adds value to your life and contributes to society in a meaningful way—that is all that matters. 

By Danny Holland - Danny is a senior public relations and advertising major and the Communications Intern for the Division of Student Affairs at The University of Southern Mississippi.