Your professional career may seem miles away when you go to college as a freshman, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think about your career plans. Do not worry; You don’t have to find out everything right away, but you can start building skills and making connections. Here are seven tips for professional preparation for business majors (and all major subjects!) That you should keep in mind at the beginning of your studies.
#1. Build your network
This is the most important step. You will likely rely on a career service center to find your first job, but any job you find for the rest of your life will involve your network in some way. Building your network begins in your first week of orientation and never ends. Talk to other students, lecturers and specialists and be curious! Ask questions. Offer help. Networking is not a one-way street. The College of Business hosts several networking events during the semester. Go to them! Also, use LinkedIn for digital networking when face-to-face meetings are not an option.
# 2. Volunteers
When you’re interviewing, companies want to see experiences. You also want to connect with people who are caring and passionate. You can show both skills by doing volunteer work. When you volunteer, you are trying to show persistence. Don’t even show up. Regular volunteering can help you develop a number of different skills, and it can even enable you to serve on the board of a nonprofit organization.
# 3. Get an internship or a part-time job
This is vital for every student. It can be on campus or off campus. In fact, it can do almost anything. The goal is to build skills relevant to jobs that might interest you. Every job is an internship. Don’t worry too much about getting loans for it. The two most important aspects are to acquire skills and get paid! You can find job openings at the College of Business Career Fair, which takes place in October and February, and on Nevada Careers, the College of Business’s job board.
# 4. Join a student club
There are great student clubs affiliated with the College of Business such as the Business Student Council, Delta Sigma Pi, the Black Business Student Association, and the American Marketing Association. Join one of these clubs and take an active part in them. As you aspire to a leadership position, you develop leadership skills that are transferable to paid jobs. They also help make the College of Business a more vibrant place for students to get involved.
# 5. Take part in a global program
The world demands global cultural education. Almost every company has a global aspect, be it operating globally or leveraging the global supply chain. Participation in the Nevada Global Business program will help develop these skills over week-long adventure-focused travel. All of our programs are 3-credit classes and count towards study progress. If you’re looking for something semester-based, there are good opportunities to study abroad outside of college, but be sure to credit the credits towards study progression.
# 6. Found a company
Everyone needs a part-time job. From an MBA graduate with an auto detailing company to an accountant helping with taxes, side jobs can help you pay the bills or pay for a vacation. Starting a business shows those you might interview an entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and self-reliance. It also shows you how to find your way around the complex waters of government documentation! The Nevada Small Business Development Center at the College of Business can help.
# 7. Own career development
How you get involved, how you develop skills, and how you practice your passions is up to you. It takes time. It is much harder to be successful if you wait for graduation to begin. Start in your first year. Attend career preparation events. Talk to employers, including employers who may not be in jobs in which you are interested. Your college years are for learning – take advantage of it. Nobody else can do this for you. Let us know how we can help.
For more information, contact the College of Business Career and Corporate Outreach Center or email Jim McClenahan at [email protected].
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