Written by Mathangi Mahalingham - Career Outreach Ambassador with Student and Graduate Employment
Preparing to start college in itself is a daunting task. However, building your career is more than getting a degree. In the beginning, my focus was getting my assignments done on time and working towards a higher GPA. Employers, I realized much later, look for more than high marks and passing exams. College is all about getting your degree or diploma, but it can also be about making connections and learning to solve real-world challenges. Here are 5 things I wish I knew before starting college and using my college experience to prepare for my career:
Transferable skills:
While your degree or diploma is important for a career, it does not solely determine one’s career path. Developing transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, critical thinking, problem solving, resilience and others can go a long way in making one an ideal candidate for a job. Most program learning plans will contain Learning Outcomes and Essential Employability Skills. It is important to skim through these and identify how could one leverage these skills successfully. Extra-curricular activities such as participating in sports, clubs and societies, part-time jobs or volunteering on and off-campus could also help in developing these essential transferable skills.
Career Planning:
Career planning does not start at final semester. Career services at Mohawk college offers a variety of support to students. There are multiple workshops on topics such as resume building, job searching and networking that are essential to help plan a career from first semester of college.
Networking and Personal Branding:
Job boards and fairs can be useful. However, 80% jobs in the job markets are not advertised. The best way to tap into the jobs that are not advertised is through networking. For instance, I found out about CSEP positions at Mohawk College during my orientation, through talking to students who were working with the college. I volunteered at the college to gain experience and then applied and got a CSEP role when the positions opened in Sept 2024. LinkedIn is also a great resource to position oneself strongly online and build a personal brand.
Soft skills as important as Hard skills:
Technical know-how is important. However, soft skills such as leadership, team work, and emotional intelligence are equally important and help in making one stand out. It is key to try and pursue activities to help develop these skills as a student. Taking up extra projects or certifications, starting a blog or a side hustle can help develop these skills and help make you stand out.
Work Experience and Internships:
Internships are a great way to get a sneak peak into a career before graduation. Most companies prefer candidates who have had relevant internships, co-op or part time work experiences.
Continuous Learning:
When all the assignments and exams pile up during the final semester, the one thought that seem to keep us going is- “This is it. It’s done after this”! But- education does not stop at graduation. The reality is, continuous learning is key for having a great career. Affiliating with industry related memberships, getting certifications and online courses help one to stay relevant and remain competitive on the job market.
“You have within you right now, everything you need to deal with whatever the world can throw at you.” – We Bought a Zoo (2011)
