Whether your graduation is looming or you’re trying to set up that perfect internship, it’s never too early to begin career planning. Although students often wait until after graduation to build their resume and begin interviewing, UNCG’s career planning resources are most convenient for full-time students.
Seize the day with the following tips, along with support from Career & Professional Development (CPD), and you’ll be on your way to earning an enviable salary before you cross the stage for that hard-earned diploma.
1. Polish Your Resume
Motivated students frequently update their resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV) for prospective employers, but others may not know the difference between these important documents. This is where CPD can help.
Don’t wait until your fourth year to assemble a document that lists your experience and skills. Create your resume early, then adapt it to your professional goals and growing accomplishments. CPD’s website is full of resources to help you design your resume and edit it to perfection. CPD partners with Handshake to provide mock interviews so you’ll be prepared to nail those meetings with prospective employers.
2. Dress for Success
No matter how informal your dream job’s office culture may be, every interview is an opportunity to “suit up,” but this doesn’t mean you need to spend a fortune to do so.
Recently, CPD organized a professional clothing drive and hosted a pop-up shop to prepare students for their interview season ahead. Staff at CPD curated donations and decked out their space with racks and mirrors, so students could ‘shop’ for business wear. In addition, The Bryan School partnered with JCPenney for Suit Up, an event to help students find appropriate attire for internships and first jobs at discounted prices.
The timing for these events was perfect as most attendees were preparing for the upcoming career fair on campus. If you missed them, don’t worry. CPD has suit jackets that they loan out for such occasions to make sure all students are dressed to seal the deal.
3. Cast a Wide Net
It’s wise to always be open-minded when looking for internships and jobs to build your experience. Remember that it never hurts to apply. You’ll learn more about corporate culture, opportunities for advancement, and unexpected perks at the interview stage. Keep in mind that you’re in control of whether the job is a good match for you. Remember, too, that the more interviews you complete, the better you’ll be at selling yourself and finding your career path.
Campus career fairs are the perfect place to cast a wide net and practice networking skills. CPD is holding their Spring Fair on February 26 from 1:00-4:00 P.M. at the Kaplan Center. Almost 200 employers will be there to recruit UNCG students and alumni for a range of internships, full- and part-time positions. Register today and scroll the list of employers you’d like to meet. Dress professionally, bring multiple copies of your resume, and keep your mind wide open. Your future employer is waiting!
4. Always Be Networking
Networking isn’t just something you should do when you’re looking for a job. The most successful people are always making connections. Not only are their eyes open for mentors, but also for strong prospects for their teams, and collaborators with reciprocal skills.
Networking extends beyond business to social connections and exists face-to-face and profile-to-profile. Be aware that every person you meet could be an opportunity for professional progress, and don’t be afraid to invest in an event where you could meet someone to help advance your career.
Triad Business Journal’s Mentoring Monday event held annually on UNCG’s campus is a networking investment for women in business. The event, with keynote speakers and one-on-one speed-mentoring sessions, connects successful local businesswomen with young professionals in the Greensboro area.
Mentoring Monday is planned for February 24 from 8:00 to 10:30 A.M. at Fleming Gym. The ticketed event is $50 for young professionals, but CPD encourages UNCG students to attend by offering a free registration through Handshake with a special code. Click here for all the details.
5. Perfect the Art of the Interview
Events like the Career Fair or Mentoring Monday are great rehearsals for those all-important interviews. In fact, every time you’ve presented to a group for a class or club, met with a professor to get extra help, or struck up a conversation with a professional has made you better at interviewing.
Jump on large and small opportunities to think on your feet, solve problems, and sell yourself as a skilled teammate. You’ll find these opportunities in the most unexpected places, and they all improve your professional profile.
Like networking and keeping an updated resume, improving interview skills is also an ongoing task. Don’t sweat the near misses. Just learn from your mistakes and move on. Professional development is a marathon, not a sprint, which is why CPD continues to offer help to alumni after they graduate.
“Every experience builds toward your next opportunity,” says Megan Walters, director of CPD. “The sooner you think about career planning as an ongoing task, the better you’ll be at it.”
Story by Becky Deakins, University Communications.
Photos by Sean Norona, University Communications.
