Written by Nirveen Dhaliwal, Talent Attraction Coordinator, Regions West, KPMG LLP
We all know post-secondary to be a place where you pursue your passion, meet lifelong friends, and gain invaluable experiences. This is a time for you to find who you really are, and to take the next step in reaching your career goals. Often times, we are so focused on attending classes, studying for tests, getting together for group meetings, and working part-time, that we don’t really ever slow down enough to take it all in. If I could go back, here are three things I would have told myself:
- Network! Network! Network!
You have probably heard your Profs, parents, friends, or career centres talking about networking. This is a great way to gain insights into the industry you are hoping to get into and to start building your connections. Your school will have so many opportunities for you to attend career fairs, or go through mock interviews, you just need to take them! Take the representative’s business card, follow up, or ask for a coffee chat – the one on one face time makes a world of a difference – you are now a personality and not just another name on a resume. Your one conversation with them can potentially lead to a job opportunity!
- Utilize Career Services
You have a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips. Schedule a meeting with your career services office, and ask them for advice – even if you think you don’t need it. Have them review your resume, go through your cover letter, and set you up with mock interviews. They may even help schedule a mock interview with a potential employer – you gain a connection, and valuable interviewing feedback! Career Services reps typically have strong relationships with organizations, and also are kept in the loop with major industry changes – definitely take the time to sit down with them and map out what your career goals are, they can help you take the first step!
- Get Involved!
Join clubs (especially your major’s club), participate in Case competitions, look into opportunities with groups such as Enactus, and volunteer for events! All of these are bonuses on your resume – they are the experiences that are going to set you apart from your peers. Everyone will have the same educational background, but these experiences show initiative and that you went above and beyond to gain the most value from your time in post-secondary. As an added plus, most of the skills you learn from getting involved are transferrable skills. You can use them as examples when talking about leadership skills, or presentation skills, or critical thinking skills!
You have so many resources available to you when you are in school – so slow down, and make the most of this journey!