As the semester gets underway, assignments, class schedules and long-term projects get your attention. One course you may not have realized you also have on your plate is Job/Career Prep 101. It is always part of your load, even after graduation. Managing your career and taking advantage of opportunities continues throughout your life. Make sure you understand the basics now and treat your professional development like a class or research project.
Here are your assignments:
Weekly Homework: Add Job/Career Prep time to your weekly schedule, even when you have a job or a very full plate. Taking three small actions a week adds up!
Extra Credit: Take advantage of meeting people, being curious, finding out more ~ be it a conversation in a coffee shop, a follow-up email with a presenter in class, or attending events on and off campus. Get involved in conversations and activities that will support your own learning beyond your assignments. It will pay off.
Vocabulary: Choose language that motivates you! “I gotta get a job” or “I have no clue,” is Eeyore-think. We can all get discouraged, but don’t get stuck there! Practice the language of possibility: “I wonder how that person got started;” “I am going to contact X organization;” “I am exploring career options “ (vs. being lost). Keeping positive is essential to moving forward in the world of work.
Final Project: Reflect on what you learned, what the next step is and take action! The 4 Year Plan can support you each year at UVM.
Daunting? Come drop in at the Career + Experience Hub to meet with a career counselor to help develop your strategy!
~Holly