The first year of university is a time to find your bearings, explore and get comfortable in a new space. So, when my first year ended so quickly, I was shocked. I was in my second year already and realized that I didn’t have much valuable career experience under my belt yet. It felt like the clock was ticking, and I was falling behind. With so much going on around me I felt overwhelmed and lost, not knowing where to start.
So, here is a little survival kit to help you in your career preparation! Hopefully these four tips help make career advancement feel a lot less intimidating and more accessible.
1. Get involved
When I was originally applying for internships, I looked at my empty resume and realized I didn't have any valuable experience. It was a classic catch-22: I needed experience to get a job, but I also needed a job to gain experience. It was overwhelming. Then I discovered that joining extracurricular clubs at York and volunteering would be a great way to build that experience!
Pro tip: A co-curricular record is a personalized university-verified record of all the approved activities you completed while at York. Build up your co-curricular record by joining your college council or a student club you might be interested in, or volunteer around the campus or in your community.
2. Edit your resume
Now that you have some valuable and enriching experiences, highlight your strengths and add them to your resume. Identify the skills that would increase your employability in your chosen field, relevant courses that you've taken during your studies and even certificates or certifications. You'll be surprised at how much you can include!
Pro tip: Think of your resume as a list of your skills, with examples of when you applied those skills. The Career Centre offers great resume and cover letter writing workshops to help you showcase your strengths and assets to potential employers.
3. Put yourself out there
Now that your resume is ready, it is time to put yourself out there! Start applying for roles that interest you, network and talk to people and seek mentorship from those who came before you. York offers a variety of career fairs, which are excellent opportunities to meet people and learn more about different industries.
York even has its own job board for on-campus employment and work-study positions that you can do during your degree.
Pro tip: Download LinkedIn to build your personal brand, make connections, sign up for career seminars and explore job postings.
4. Ask for feedback
If you are still unsure about your next move or not seeing the results you want, book a one-on-one session with a career counselor. I did it, and it made everything feel so much easier! They gave me personalized advice, helped me practice for interviews and reviewed my resume. It is a terrific way to get the specific guidance you need.
Planning out your career - and even figuring out what is next in your academic and career journeys - will always feel a bit overwhelming at times. Trust me, we have all been there. Just remember that everyone's journey is different. If you keep putting in the work, you will make it!