If you are looking for long-term career success, then you must plan ahead. While we know you are looking forward to a much-needed break after finals, we encourage you to dedicate just one more day to do these 3 things that will help you build your resume and set you up for your job search upon graduation.
1. Invest in your professional development
Getting your degree is the first step to gaining that dream job. There are also 4 million other students pursuing a degree so how can you set yourself apart from the competition? Invest in your professional development. Take time to refine and work on skills beyond your academics. According to NACE (National Association of Colleges and Employers), the top 3 skills employers are looking for are teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. There are several platforms that make it easy to learn about these skills and more. They even provide you with a certificate or digital badge that you can highlight on your resume or LinkedIn profile. Skillsoft and LinkedIn Learning are two great sites to sign up for an hour course and work on your communication or leadership skills. The Texas Workforce Commission and Metrix Learning are currently offering access to Skillsoft at no cost. Take advantage of this opportunity and hop online here and invest some time in your professional development.
2. Sign up for a virtual work experience with industry leaders
UTPB is now partnered with Forage. Forage allows students to complete virtual work experiences with industry leaders in many areas of interest. This is a perfect way to add industry experience to your resume if you don't have time to complete an internship. Most experiences are less than 6 hours and there is no cost. This is a safe place to explore the professional world of work without ever leaving your dorm room. Here are just a couple of examples of projects that you can explore.
- Global Finance & Business Management with JPMorgan Chase & Co.
- Back-End Engineering with Lyft
- Engineering with General Electric
- Omnichannel Marketing with lululemon
3. Ask for an endorsement or recommendation letter
Did you excel in a class or crush your internship? Ask your professor or manager to provide you with a letter of recommendation or endorse you on LinkedIn. If you request it now, then your performance and accomplishments are top of mind. Chances are they can be more detailed in their examples which provides you with credibility. Anyone can say "They were a good team player" but if you strike while the iron is hot then you might get "They made a huge impact on the team. I appreciated them always speaking up in team meetings and providing a unique perspective. It was admirable how they completed each project before the deadline." Recommendations from professionals like this are gold! LinkedIn even lets you provide a message where you can provide a cheat sheet to the person you requesting the recommendation from. LinkedIn endorsements are also super simple. Endorsements are as easy as a click of a button if you have your key skills listed on your LinkedIn profile. All you have to do is ask!
If you are looking for additional tips or want to meet with a Career Coach contact UTPB Career Services at careerservices@tupb.edu. Career Services offers in person or virtual appointments. Let us help you create a customized plan to help you reach your career goals.
