Career advice for college seniors

I was asked by a friend recently to offer some advice for college seniors who are looking for tips on getting started in their careers. This kind of advice is sought by college students on a regular basis and I thought it made an excellent blog topic. When you are fresh out of college or about to graduate, it can be difficult to know how to get started.

So what career advice would I give to college seniors who are looking for tips on starting a career?

1. Start building a network. Networking is a skill, and anyone can learn how to do it effectively. Smart networking can lead to job opportunities, new customers, mentors, service providers, and friends. Building a network takes time and involves things like joining associations, volunteering, serving on boards, and getting involved in the community. A great book that will help you learn some of the basics is “Never Eat Alone” by Keith Ferrazzi (affiliate link).

2. Create a strong productivity footprint. In my opinion, resumés are dead and have been replaced by what I call a productivity footprint. This refers to the collective online presence that you build through various networks like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, SlideShare, your website and blog, etc. While most job seekers are simply polishing their resumés, you have the opportunity to stand out by publishing articles, displaying your presentations online, gathering LinkedIn recommendations, and generally demonstrating your productivity.

3. Find a good internship and excel at it. Unfortunately, many people view an internship as a low-pressure, low-quality position that is just a way to get college credit or have something else to list on your resumé. However, an internship has potential to expand your network and serve as a stepping stone to greater things. Find a company that is well-respected and well-networked and create an internship proposal for them. Many times, companies don’t want to hire interns because they don’t have a specific job description for the position so create one for them. Think of the most creative and practical ways you can help that company and explain how you can add value with little to no supervision or training, and you will look very attractive as a potential intern. Then, when you get hired, work like crazy to be the best employee at the company.

The job market is competitive, but the good news is, many people will not be willing to put in the time and effort it takes to win the opportunities that are available. If you stay focused and remember these things, you may find that you have a sizable advantage over other job-seekers.

Any other tips you woud like to share? Please post them below!