Another student advices
A student wrote to me: “There are many unemployed college graduates in my country and as a second year student, I am very worry. Although I study computer science which according to you is a good field with many job opportunities, but how do I make sure that I will have a job when graduate? What can I do to improve my chance of getting good job? Please advice.”
Answer: One of the most important things you can do when still in school is to get actual work experience. Although any experience is better than none but a job in a software company will help you to have experience in the area that you are seeking work after graduate. The best way to do this is to work part-time during school year or find full time summer intern that will provide you the opportunity to have work experience in the industry.
You also need to develop soft-skills. Some schools provide soft-skills training, other may not but you could build teamwork skills by participate in school activities, and volunteer activities. You may join the school computer club, robotics club, or students clubs that allow you to improve your soft-skills. And do not forget that sports are always a good way to build strong teamwork skills too.
College is also the time for individuals to mature, to develop character, and be more responsible. Therefore friendships and relationships are key factors that can help you in your future career. Relationships developed in school NOT ONLY help you to overcome many obstacles BUT ALSO can become the friendships that last a lifetime. However, you need to select friends who have the same vision, career aspiration, and education goals. They can motivate you, encourage you, and support you in achieving your education goals. Through these relationships, you learn to be a better person, a responsible and caring person as you have someone to share your views of life or your dream with. Beside friendships with other students, you also need to build relationships with professors and counselors who can offer mentoring opportunities and career guidance too.
You should develop a good habit of reading materials outside of what the school requires such as market trends, technology trends. You may want to follow global as well as local news to ensure that you have a broader knowledge about the world surrounding you. The more things you know, the better you will become and the more ready you are for future job. Try to learn at least one foreign language so you can read news and technical articles in other language. We are living in a fast changing and connected world; you need to know about market trends and job opportunities in other countries too. It will help you if you want to get a job with foreign company or work in other country too.
Beside technical courses, it is important to take additional courses which can compliment your career. If possible, you may want to take one or two courses in business such as business law or management in order to adequately prepare you for the business world. Every school has a career center which offers students a variety of workshops, trainings and job fairs to help them write their resume, learn how to perform in job interviews, and guide them to find internship opportunities before graduation. You should take full advantage of what the student career center has to offer.
The fact is with career planning, you can complete college not only with a degree, but also with some working experiences that will help you get good job and build a strong career that may last a long time.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
