Play the "Student Card" to Launch Your Career!

When I was in college, all I knew was two things: I was broke and that I came to get my degree so I could get a decent job. As a first generation college student, I moved 500 miles away from home, hoping to get a good education, but didn't exactly know how I was going to do so. At 18 years old, I had so much to learn about life and how to jump start my career, but didn't know where to start.

After graduating (during the recession, of course), I was unemployed for a while and jumped around from job to job because I didn't really know what I wanted to do. I would have hoped that the past 4 years had prepared me for the moment I graduated, but I was more alone and lost than ever. I still didn't know what I wanted to do, didn't know how to find a job, and didn't know how to approach people to give me one. When I did ask people to help me, they wouldn't give me the chance because most of the opportunities were for college students; I should have learned by the time I graduated.

Looking back, I had a fun time in college, but I didn't take advantage of the resources to help propel me in my future career. If I were to do it all again (which I did in grad school), this would be my advice:

Attend Office Hours. Oh man, if I had a penny for every office hour I DIDN'T go to, I'd be rich. Poor jokes aside, professors are one of your best resources. Not only can they help you understand the class materials and help you get that A grade, but they are the industry experts! You don't have to talk to them simply about what they teach. Get to know them professionally and personally to create a working relationship. They will not only become your teacher, but your mentor, advocate, and references.

Join Student Organizations. There's nothing that made me feel more connected to a school and peers than to join a student organization. Not only was there a social benefit, but attending meetings can help increase knowledge about different fields, roles, and get an insider into company culture that is more cater towards your interest; often information you can't get in class. In addition, your network is all in one place. Who knows if one of your peers can refer you to a future job or if a recruiter that is speaking that day is hiring?

Ask for Informational interviews. As someone who is young and starting to learn about your passions and how you can pursue them, pull the "student card". Most professionals like talking about themselves and mentoring the younger generation. This is your chance to ask them questions about how they got to where they are, about the industry, the company they work for, and any advice for you. Who knows, this person may be a new network for your dream position!

*Look for professionals through professors, school alumni network and LinkedIn. It's okay to reach out if you don't know them; just make sure you have a connection whether it's a common interest, alumni status, etc.

Get a Mentor. This person has been there, done that. They can help guide you through the process to help you take better control of finding your career. They can also help provide you with important networking contacts and introduce you to people they are close to. Like your professor, they are also an inside source into specific industries or job questions you may have. When you're graduated, it might be harder to get a mentor because they may want to help someone just starting out.

Participate in Internships. When you don't have any experience, you may often find yourself choosing things from hearsay. However, once you test it out yourself, it may confirm it is best suited for you, or that you're going a different route. That is what an internship is for because it is 2-3 months that you can test out a position before you start committing full time.

Use School Resources. Guess what? You already paid for your school resources like academic advising, career services, and health services in your tuition so make sure you take advantage of them! If you don't use them now, it could cost you at least $60/hr to hire a consultant. All of these are catered towards the college demographic at your school so professionals are more targeted to work with you and your needs.

Take advantage of Student Discounts. Oh man, I hated my ID picture, but I didn't care when it helped me save money! When you attend a professional conference, they will often times give you a huge discount. Why does this matter? Attending conferences will help you meet and connect with new networks, including finding that mentor or internship! However, conferences are not the only events you can get discounts for. From conferences to discounts to free food, I made sure to whip out my student ID to make sure I can alleviate an empty wallet.

As a student, you may not realize all the resources you have to launch your career, but take a look at what is provided and take advantage of them. Now is the time to play the "student card" where you can play the young and naive part to seek advice from knowledgeable professionals. use this chance to find a mentor, get that internship and take advantage of discounts!

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• Blog: Find Your Peanut Butter: www.findyourpeanutbutter.com
• Book: Find Your Peanut Butter: The Transferable Skills of Dating and Job Hunting