Your professional career may seem like miles away when you start college as a freshman, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be thinking about your career plans. Do not worry; you don’t need to figure everything out right away, but you can start developing skills and making connections. Here are seven career preparation tips for business majors (and all majors!) To keep in mind when starting college.
# 1. Build your network
This is the most important step. You will likely rely on a career service center to find your first job, but every job you find for the rest of your life will involve your network in one way or another. Building your network begins during your first week of orientation and never ends. Contact other students, teachers and professionals and be curious! To ask questions. Offer help. Networking is a two way street. The College of Business hosts several networking events throughout the semester. Go to them! Plus, use LinkedIn for digital networking when in-person isn’t possible.
# 2. Volunteer
When you interview, companies want to see the experience. They also want to engage with caring and passionate people. You can show both skills by volunteering. When you volunteer, try to be consistent. Don’t show up just once. Volunteering on a regular basis can help you develop an assortment of different skills and may even allow you to serve on the association’s board of directors.
# 3. Get an internship or part-time job
It is essential for every student. This can be on campus or off campus. In fact, he can do almost anything. The goal is to develop skills relevant to professional jobs that might interest you. Each job is an internship. Don’t worry too much about getting credit for it. The two most important aspects are the acquisition of skills and the remuneration! Jobs can be found at the College of Business Career Fair held in October and February and on Nevada Careers, the College of Business’s employment site.
# 4. Join a student club
There are great student clubs affiliated with the College of Business like the Business Student Council, Delta Sigma Pi, Black Business Student Association, and the American Marketing Association. Join one of these clubs and participate actively. If you are looking for a managerial position, you will develop leadership skills that are transferable to paid jobs. You will also help the College of Business to become a more vibrant place for students.
# 5. Participate in a global program
The world demands global cultural literacy. Almost every business has a global look, whether it’s a global operation or leveraging the global supply chain. Participation in the Nevada Global Business program will help develop these skills on weeklong experiential trips. All of our programs are 3 credit classes and count towards graduation. If you are looking for something on a semester basis, there are some great options for studying abroad outside of college, but make sure that credits count towards degree progression.
# 6. Start a business
Everyone needs a concert next door. From the MBA graduate with an automotive retail business to the accountant who helps with taxes, odd jobs can help you pay bills or vacation. Starting a business shows entrepreneurship, initiative, and empowerment to those who may interview you. It also shows that you know how to navigate the complex waters of government paperwork! The Nevada Small Business Development Center at the College of Business can help.
# 7. Take ownership of your career development
How you choose to engage, how you decide to develop skills, and how you exercise your passions is up to you. It takes time. It is much more difficult to be successful when you wait until graduation to start. Start your first year. Attend career preparation events. Talk to employers, even those who don’t seem to be in the professions that interest you. Your years of study are spent learning, make the most of it. No one else can do it for you. Let us know how we can help you.
Contact the College of Business Career and Corporate Outreach Center for more information or email Jim McClenahan, [email protected].