Young adults attend college for various reasons and roll in the hay in several ways. Some choose social reasons, some to satisfy their parent’s expectations, others for the challenge, but most students see college as how to get their employment objectives. They are going through college in ways they believe will help them achieve those goals.
Importantly, students curious about launching their careers can improve their outcomes by better understanding their target employers, how they think and what they expect of school graduates.
Wise students understand that they earn employment success, one semester at a time, as they are going through college. They know that good jobs won’t just fall under their laps; so, they’re willing to figure hard and smart.
Employers have needs and expectations for every job opening. to assist them to choose the simplest candidates, employers will want to ascertain and listen to how well each applicant has performed and what they need to be accomplished both within and out of doors of the classroom.
Seniors and up-to-date grads must understand that they’re going to be competing against other qualified candidates. That’s why it’s important for beginning students to develop and follow an employment plan that provides them the knowledge, experience and successes which will interest and impress their target employers.
With that in mind, first and second year students might want to believe the subsequent questions:
- Have they identified their field of interest?
- Will they devote the time, thought and research needed to develop a step-by-step employment plan?
- Does their plan involve the identification of target jobs and target employers?
- Have they chosen the simplest major, minor and electives for his or her employment goals?
- Will they research their target employer needs and expectations for the roles that are of interest to them?
- Will they immediately begin to include those employer needs and expectations into their on-campus and off-campus activities?
- Does their plan involve gaining some job-related work experience before they graduate?
- Does their plan require them to create relationships with potential references in their field of interest? (Professors, Employers, Alumni et al. who add their field of interest)
- Does their plan require them to create an inventory of successes and accomplishments in their field of interest?
In the job market, average students can often outperform students with better grades by doing the items that allow employers to ascertain their potential. in fact, grades are important to employers; but, grades are just one aspect of student potential and aren’t always good predictors of success on the work.
Few jobs require only intellect. Most good jobs require employees to acknowledge needs, make decisions, take action, get things done, affect multiple and difficult tasks, overcome obstacles, collaborate with and build relationships with others and contribute to the success of the organization.
When job applicants can provide stories and samples of their successes and accomplishments both within and beyond the classroom, they’re going to stand out from the competition.
Employers like to talk with references who have first-hand knowledge of the student’s attitude, personality, work ethic, experience, knowledge, skills, performance and accomplishments.
What those references say will always influence the utilization decision a method or another. Therefore, college students must constantly search for ways to demonstrate the desired performance and outcomes that are wanted and needed by their target employers.
