How to work on advancing your career when you’re still a student
Career development 101, student to student
Being a student is a challenge in itself, trying to keep up with all our assigned readings, studying for exams and also, you know, having some semblance of a social life. For that reason, students often wait until they graduate to start thinking about their career.
But as students we are already in the middle of our careers right now!
If that last sentence just stresses you out, don’t freak out. The good news is you don’t have to know exactly what you want to be “when you grow up” — you can be an active participant in your career journey no matter what stage you’re at.
But where does one even begin? How do you start to work towards something that can seem so ambiguous? These questions can be confusing and sometimes even paralyzing to students. How do you start working towards these seemingly impossible goals?
Lucky for us Arts students, we don’t have to figure it all out alone. Amber Nicholson is a Career Development Officer in the Faculty of Arts, and it is her job to help us start thinking about these questions and how to begin working towards these goals.
Students who come to see us [career development staff] are often feeling really unsure about what career options exist for them and how their skills ‘fit’ in the professional/post-graduate world. I like to work with students to break that down a bit so they are thinking less about “what will I do with the rest of my life?” and more about “what can I do right now?”.
The key is taking small, purposeful steps, taking time to reflect on what they learned from each new opportunity and then continuing to take informed next steps.
Careers aren’t built in a day or by waiting around for lucky breaks…you need to take action….but that doesn’t have to mean taking scary or huge steps. Start early. Be proactive. Test things out (we have great career service resources on campus to help you!), and be mindful of self care.
The idea that we have already started our careers can be really daunting, and it’s so easy to feel like you’re already behind. Certainly the earlier you start getting experience, the better. However, there are always ways for students to improve themselves (and their resumes!).
With Amber’s advice in mind, here are some ways you can start working on your career, at any stage.
1. Volunteering
Volunteering can be a great way to make connections on and off campus.
The skills you gain volunteering are equally as valid as the ones you get from paid work, so don’t downplay what you have accomplished while volunteering!
Need a place to start? Consider volunteering on campus for organizations like Students Union, or jack.org., and for off-campus, check out all your options with Volunteer Alberta.
2. Arts Work Experience
Get involved in an experiential learning opportunity, like Arts Work Experience (AWE) and gain paid, full time experience, beyond what one might learn in the classroom. It’s a great option for students who are interested in having substantial full time work experience before graduation.
AWE is hosting an information session on January 23rd, where you can hear former AWE participants talk about their experiences in the program!
3. Community Service Learning
Community Service-Learning (CSL) is another experiential learning opportunity for students to go beyond classic course work, this time by incorporating community-based experiences into their curriculum.
Students can get involved with local not-for-profit organizations, and can complete a certificate in the process! CSL is a great option for students who want to get involved in the community and make connections, while still working towards credits for their degree.
4. Job Shadow Week
As a Job Shadow Week participant you’ll get paired with one or more community-based professionals and visit their workplace for 1–4 days during Reading Week. We students are always short of time, but with the short length of placements, Job Shadow Week is the perfect low-risk way to explore a career or company in a limited amount of time.
Applications for Job Shadow Week in February are open now! (But they close on January 20th so don’t wait to register!)
5. Speaking with professionals
If you know somebody who has a career you admire, or who works in an industry you’re interested in, why not ask them about it? Having coffee with someone and picking their brain about their career, and getting tips they may have for someone interested in a similar path, could be a great way to not only find out insider information about the industry, but a great way to expand your network!
Speaking with professionals can be as involved or as casual as you want, which is great for students with hectic schedules. If you don’t know anyone in your personal life, try looking on LinkedIn or on UAlberta Switchboard! The U of A Career Centre has some great tips on how to build your network too!
6. Access the U of A Career Centre
Speaking of the Career Centre, they have tons of resources about, you guessed it, careers. One of my favourite things about the Career Center is that the advising appointments they offer to help students at any point in their career development journey. Students who need help identifying and overcoming obstacles, or want guidance and resources when thinking about what their options are might consider Career Advising, where as students who are already in the job search process may be more interested in a Resume, CV, Cover Letter, and Application Form Critique or practice with a Mock Interview. If you would like to improve your online presence, a LinkedIn Profile Critique might be right for you!
Whatever you’re looking for, career development-wise, the U of A Career Center is a good place to start. And why not take advantage of these resources while you’re a student? Advising appointments are subsidised for Arts students, but be sure to book your appointment early, as they book up fast!
My own personal final tip for getting started with career development is so simple, I honestly didn’t know if I should include it…
7. Check your email!
I know we are constantly being bombarded with information, and it feels impossible to keep up, but trust me on this one. Every Friday the Undergraduate Student Services office sends an email that looks a little something like this…
I won’t lie- this email used to go straight into my trash bin, until I realized the value it actually holds. It is a curated list of the most important things that are happening in our Faculty, from events to award applications to job postings and much more.
Have you unsubscribed from this newsletter? If so, just request to be added back onto the mailing list.
I’ve had friends ask how I always know what’s going on in the Faculty, and the honest truth is just routinely checking this email, as well as the other department-specific and university updates I get.
So here it is, the best tips on how to begin working towards your future. It’s not easy to choose a path, because there usually isn’t just one! Like Amber said, it’s important we take small, purposeful steps when thinking about our futures, so keep yourself open to new opportunities and take advantage of as many things as possible while you’re a student. You never know who you’ll meet or where it may take you!
Author bio: Madisen is a fourth year English student who finished a year long internship with the Faculty of Arts last April where she learned about the best ways for students to begin career development while in school.
