North Dakota State University

You control your career destiny!! Just going to class and picking up your diploma after four years doesn’t cut it.  You need to become active on and off campus. The following tips can make you marketable to employers and graduate school:

• Keep up your grades
  Employers and graduate schools want candidates with good grades.  Doing well academically not only proves you have a good knowledge base, but indicates a strong work ethic – a standard that employers and graduate schools value.
• Know yourself – identify your interests, skills, values and personal characteristics
  The first step to clarifying your career goals is through a process of self-assessment.  Make an appointment with a Career Counselor in the NDSU Counseling Center to take advantage of the self-assessment instruments they have to offer.
• Become active in extracurricular activities
  Active involvement – not simply membership – in clubs and organizations is highly valued by employers and graduate schools.  Become a leader, hold an office, coordinate an event.  You will develop your skills in leadership, teamwork and communication – skills that are sought out by employers.
• Get involved in community service
  Understand and appreciate the importance of giving back to your community by engaging in volunteer service.  It’s usually one of the most rewarding experiences and recruiters like to see that you’ve volunteered to help your community.
• Develop your computer skills
  In today’s workplace, you must learn how to use spreadsheets, design data bases and produce automated presentations.  Take advantage of computer courses and workshops.  You can also learn on your own.  Make a data base that maintains mailing addresses and phone numbers of all your friends and family.  Learn how to develop your own web page or web-based portfolio.
• Develop your writing skills
  Employers frequently complain about the lack of writing skills among college grads.  Don’t avoid classes that are writing-intensive.  Work at developing your writing skills.  Remember, the first impression you give to a recruiter is typically your cover letter. 
• Complete at least one internship in your chosen career field
  Internships can be the springboard to employment and getting into graduate programs.  Many recruiters comment that when they need to fill entry level jobs, they hire previous interns.  In addition to making yourself more marketable, internships are a great way to explore a career to find out if it is right for you.  For more information, check out the Career Center's Cooperative Education and Internship Program.
• Gain an appreciation of diversity through study abroad, foreign languages and courses
  To be successful at work and in your life, you must stretch yourself and learn about people and cultures different than yours.  Winners in life and work are ones who appreciate diversity.  Open your mind and become more familiar and knowledgeable about different cultures.  Take advantage of study abroad opportunities and the courses relating to diversity.
• Use the Career Center all the years you are enrolled at NDSU
  A sampling of the services available at the Career Center include:
  • Learning to write a resume and cover letter
  • Developing your interview skills
  • Obtaining a cooperative education or internship opportunity
  • Developing a job search strategy
  • Connecting with employers through career fairs and on-campus interviews
  • Accessing electronic job boards and job search resources
  • Personal appointments with Career Specialists

You control your career destiny!  Don’t wait until your senior year to start realizing your career goals.

Adopted from JobWeb.com - Career development and job-search advice for new college graduates.