Isabel
After completing college and getting a degree how can I ensure that I get a job in that field?
I am planning on majoring in plant sciences and I want to make sure that I get a job that is relevant to plants and the environment. However I know that the economy is not the best and being just graduated from college just looking for a decent payed job is hard enough. How can I ensure during my college years that after college I get a job that I like and is relevant? #college #job
2 answers
Morgan Buenz
Morgan’s Answer
Internships are the best way to prepare for a full-time job in any given field! I would recommend talking to your school's career center to find out which companies they already partner with as they can assist with making an introduction for you. You can intern during the summer if you have a full course load or during the school year if you have extra time (most companies offer college credit in exchange for internships as well). I hope this helps!
Great advice! I did internships from my first year of college every year and I met so many great mentors along the way who helped a ton!
Eli Zinman
Austin L.
Austin’s Answer
Isabel, great question. So I just graduate college May 2017 and I face many of the same concerns that you seem to have right now; luckily I was well prepared for life after graduation and was able to mitigate most of the issues that students tend to face upon walking across the graduation stage.
The best way to not be unemployed scrambling for a job upon graduation is to start early way before you actually do graduate. I began looking for a full time job during the second semester of my junior year. While this may seem early for many, I was graduating a semester early and really did not want to move back home while I looked for a job. The earlier the better honestly as this will give you more time to send applications out, write cover letters, polish your resume, and prepare yourself for a flurry of interviews. Waiting until you graduate to start looking for a job is a massive mistake and I have a few friends who did so and went without work for around 6 months. It wasn't the end of the world, but it was not a good feeling to have upon completing four years of college.
Another way to have the best chance in getting a job that pertains to your interests is to get internships while in college that pertain to your field of study and your interests. During my sophomore and junior year of college, I interned three times which all related to my major. I not only gained valuable experience and exposure, but these internships proved to be very valuable for my resume when it came to apply for a full time job. You don't want to approach a potential employer with nothing on your resume, that does not reflect well on your chances of getting hired. You want to be able to show your future employer that you are hard working, knowledgeable, intelligent, and experienced. To do that, you need relevant work experience which can be earned through part time jobs and internships.
I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck finding a job!!
Best,
Austin