Before you read this article feel free to check out the first three articles in this series.

How to Be Guranteed a Job After Graduation

Freshman Year Career Plan

Sophomore Career plan

So far we have talked about a number of experiential educational opportunities.  Let me emphasize that I am a true believer in the classroom learning environment but real life experience cannot be found in a classroom.  I guess the exception might be if you are going to be a full time researcher or professor but if you are planning on working in corporate America you need to obtain as much real life work experience as possible to realize what you are passionate about.

Some of the items we have covered thus far include:

• Consulting with Career Services
• Career assessment tests
• Meeting with your academic advisor
• Local company visits (company tours)
• Job shadowing experiences
• Writing a resume
• Company Research
• Summer Internship
• School Year internship
• Job fairs
• Networking events

Co-Ops

For this next year of schooling I would recommend focusing on a co-op work experience that will span the school year and the summer.

A co-op is an internship with a company in your field that spans the school year and throughout the summer.  A good co-op can last a year or longer.  I cannot think of a better way to land a full time job after school without having to go through the job search process than a co-op.

Many institutions will have a co-op department or facilitator.  Make sure you find that out within your school.  Also, a co-op can be a great way to get credit toward graduation.  Some schools will even give six to 12 credits depending on how long your co-op is.

I know co-ops are very popular within more technical fields such as engineering but even in education the student teaching experience could be considered a co-op.  Even if your school does not offer an official co-op experience I would recommend trying to work with your career services or professor to set-up a co-op like experience with a company in your field.  This is nothing more than ensuring that the company will guarantee you employment during the semester and throughout the summer.  When you are interviewing with the company try and make that clear that you are interested in a long term relationship with them if everything goes as planned.

Please understand that even if the company commits to a long term experience there isn’t a legally binding contract that will prevent them from going back on their word.  The fact is businesses change rapidly and that can cause them to change their mind on keeping you on for the whole commitment.

A co-op is a great experience that all college students should consider.

Internships

By this time in your college experience you should have had one or two internship experiences, maybe during the school year but most likely during the summer.  If you haven’t done an internship yet make sure you work with your career center and network of friends and family to try and land an internship during your junior year or at minimum the summer between you junior and senior year.

Benefits of an Internship

• Short term experience with a company in your field
• Your get PAID!  Show me the money!
• College Credit
• If you don’t like the company you can leave at the end of your term and never have to think about them again
• EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE, EXPERIENCE!!!
• An internship is also a great way to figure out that you don’t like what you are studying in school.  The earlier you figure this out the better.  For example, an internship may make you realize that you hate accounting even though you are studying to be an accountant.  Get out before it is too late.
• An internship can help you find your passion in life and not just a job!

Finally, please consider continuing your efforts in the 11 items mentioned above.  These items are really apart of your four year plan and should be continued the whole way through.

The final installment in this series is the Senior Year Career Development Plan!

Stay tuned!