Universities exist to educate, not to teach students the finer principles of the labor market. As such, many young people look for ways to get into a career mindset before they graduate. This frame of mind helps to make the transition into adulthood pleasanter. 

But what’s required? That’s the topic of this post. We look at some of the ways students can put their career caps on, even if they’re only in the first year of college. 

So, what can they do? Let’s take a look at their options. 

Research The Field

The first thing to do is to start researching fields and find out what they want from budding students. Companies often have a specific list of requirements (often outside of their official advertisements). 

If you can research these, you automatically give yourself a leg up over the competition. For example, if you know how to use industry-standard software when other candidates don’t, you’re much more likely to get a job. 

Develop Skills That Count

At the same time, you also want to develop skills that matter to companies. Knowing what’s in demand is essential. Don’t just rely on universities to provide academic education. That’s not sufficient for most positions. 

If you notice there is a skills gap between where you are now and where you want to be, work toward filling it. Don’t leave it to chance. Keep pursuing certifications and volunteering and organisations until you know you are ready to go out and do the work for real. 

Build Your Network

Another pro tip to get into a career mindset before leaving university is to build your network. You want a group of people you can rely on the moment you enter the job market. 

Make sure you attend industry events and hand acquaintances your business card. Provide information about what you do, what you want to achieve, and your ideas. You can also link it to your social media profiles and website to provide the people you meet with further information about what you do. 

During interactions, show enthusiasm. Make people believe that you are excited about decades of corporate work in front of you. Show that you’re ready to give up a simple life for commitment to the cause. 

Showcase Your Achievements

Showcasing your achievements can also help (but you need to be a bit careful). Making it clear that you already have experience in the bag will put you ahead of 99% of other applicants. 

If you can prove that you’ve been proactive, that should help you enormously. Writing research papers and even starting a brand yourself can all help for specific careers. However, be careful not to waste time. Only work on projects you think will put you ahead of other candidates at job interviews in the future. 

Use Your Communication Skills

Finally, don’t put your communication skills on the back burner. Focus on making them better so you can thrill and wow colleagues once you get into the interview. Take advantage of public debating societies and public speaking opportunities where possible.