Professional Development

During our Junior and Senior years of college, we start thinking about our future. What job are we going to have when we graduate? The sooner you start preparing for your career, the more successful you will be in finding a job right after you graduate.

Students will do whatever they can to prepare for their futures, by completing resumes, applying for internships and preparing for interviews. Just hear what fellow blogger Elizabeth did to prepare. As she had mentioned, you do not have to do all this on your own. The Career and Internship Services Center is the place to go for all your professional needs.

LinkedIn Lab

LinkedIn is a “professional Facebook”, where users can connect with friends and colleagues, and apply for jobs and internships. Like Facebook, users will create an account and fill in their descriptions. Unlike Facebook, LinkedIn is entirely professional, so you want to look your best on LinkedIn.

Yesterday, April 5th, USG held a LinkedIn Lab. The event had thee parts – a photo booth, a lunch & learn and a workshop. The event was designed to assist students in creating a LinkedIn account, along with informing them about the best LinkedIn practices.

Photo booth  – part of making a professional account on LinkedIn is having a professional head shot. Students dressed professionally to create a professional image for LinkedIn. First impressions are important.

Lunch & Learn – once you create a LinkedIn account, what do you do? A recruiter spoke with students and presented some of the best practices for LinkedIn users.

LinkedIn 101 Workshop

This workshop informed students about the workings of LinkedIn. It is important to know how LinkedIn is used for job searching and recruiting.

Resume & Cover Letter

When applying for jobs, you will definitely need a resume. A resume includes your education, work experiences and skills. This is important for employers to check if you are a valid candidate. Oftentimes, employers will also ask for a cover letter. A cover letter will highlight skills that you possess that make you suitable for the job you are applying for.

Portfolio

Not every job will require a portfolio, but some will. A portfolio can come in different forms, depending on the job you are looking for. Some jobs will require physical portfolios that show projects you’ve worked on. These jobs tend to be in the photography world, but again it depends on the job. Some jobs will require an online portfolio, a.k.a ,a website. A lot of art and design jobs may require an online portfolio, so employers will have easy access to your work.

When creating a portfolio, only include your best work and keep your portfolio as up to date as possible.

Everything I mentioned are some ways to help you prepare yourself for your future career(s). As an undergrad, I am taking these steps myself. Remember, if you have any additional questions about resumes, cover letters, internships, etc., check out the Career and Internship Services Center for advising.