The big idea behind Centennial College’s education is to give you a preview of your career, but you'll still need to be prepared to make the leap between school and the rest of your life. Graduation will be upon you before you know it, and if you want to get your career rolling, there's certain things you can begin doing now. Don't panic, though. By getting an early start now means that you don't have to rush when the time comes.
Properly create a network
The good news about “networking” is it involves the socializing you've already been doing. The new friends you have met in your program will be the first connections in that network you'll be forming, who one day may be able to link you up with a job. All you have to do is stay in touch. Exchange phone numbers, emails, become friends on socials and focus on maintaining those connections.
But don't just limit those connections to your peers. Teachers are a good resource, too, especially since so many Centennial College instructors are industry professionals, too. Outside of school, you can expand that network to include people who are involved in the career you want to enter, even if you're just emailing them to declare yourself a fan of their work or organization.
Begin your job hunt ASAP
You'll be applying to a lot of jobs at some point, and sending plenty of resumes out. Starting early is a good way to cut down your post-college employment gap. And even if your first application is a perfect match, it takes a long time for a company to process, interview, choose and hire an employee. So if you want to jumpstart your career, there's nothing wrong with starting the process near the beginning of your final semester. And if you haven’t graduated yet, then your education section can show an “anticipated graduation date” on it.
Make use of your school's resources and do your research
If you didn’t already know, there’s a ton of Centennial College career resources on campus to assist you in your job hunt, including our own Career Centre designed to link students to jobs, as well as help you develop resumes, interview skills and other essential things. If you haven't already seen what we have to offer, now's the time to research it.
Speaking of research, if you can think of some specific companies or organizations you may want to work at, you should do some research into them, and not just to find job listings. This can be useful for getting a sense of their corporate culture, seeing what they look for in an employee, and tailoring your resume and cover letter to their company's needs and style. Showing that you've done that research is proof of your commitment – which can give you an advantage when it comes time to choose the final candidates.
Investigate and modify your online footprint
Your online footprint is what you've put on the internet about yourself, and what employers can find by searching your name on Google or social media. Now's the time to delete or lock down embarrassing photos and messages, and replace them with an impressive, professional online profile. It’s not just damage control, but it can also look impressive, showing hiring managers that you've mastered social media. And while you're doing that, setting up a personal website with an online portfolio of your work is a solid investment of your career-building time.
Once school ends, you'll be off a guided path. College will set you up for career success, and provide you with guidance and direction, but it's up to you to take the next step and put the skills you've learned towards that career you've always wanted. If you start now – with an idea of what your game plan is when you graduate, and how you're going to advance your career – then you’ll be able to make a new path that’ll take you to success.
Written By: Anthony Geremia