Campus Advisor

What Should I Be Doing in My Senior Year to Prepare for a Career

By Linda Bates-Parker

Dear Campus Advisor:

I am a fourth-year pre-senior and I am excited and worried. Up to now, I've had to concentrate so much on just getting decent grades and working that I haven't thought about a career. Students in my classes seem to be a lot clearer about what they want to do after graduation. I chose sociology as my major because I wanted to give back in some way to people like me who have had to struggle just to survive. But lately I've been thinking about doing something really different like going into the Peace Corps, where I could experience exciting new things. I have never been on an airplane, never traveled anywhere except to visit family down South. My job as a hostess in a restaurant has allowed me to meet and talk with foreigners, taste different foods and learn about other cultures. I have been amazed at all the people who come here and know so much more about us (Americans) than I know about them. My question is whether it is too late to change my career plans. Am I being silly wanting to go places that I have never been before? What should I be doing in my senior year to get ready for my career?

Erynn

Dear Erynn:

A job is what you do with your days; a career is what you do with your life. As you move into your senior year, you have to contemplate leaving your restaurant job to embark on a career, a series of jobs connected by your passion or life's purpose, your education, your experience and your long-term work/life goals. The fact that you want to help people and go to exciting places are not mutually exclusive goals. But what do you consider exciting places? What do you know about the Peace Corps? It is certainly a viable way to potentially go to places that you have never been, but is excitement your only motivation? Are you sure that this is what you want to do and what it will take for you to get there?

Since you have not interned in a field related to your major, you may not be clear about how exciting and varied some fields in the helping professions can be. Because you have not had an internship, you may be limited in your understanding of the actual work you would be doing. Since you acknowledge that you have not done much career exploration other than choosing a major, perhaps you should spend more time at your college's career center.

Call your career center immediately and make an appointment to discuss your career interests and concerns with an adviser. You will probably be asked to do some self-assessments to identify your interests, education, skills and abilities and align them with potential career options. You may be urged to attend campus career fairs to investigate the Peace Corps and other prospective employers. You might also benefit from doing some career shadowing or informational interviews to get more understanding of the work you might be doing, the markets you may be working in and the places you may be assigned.

Erynn, please know there is a world of career opportunities awaiting you as you move toward graduation. You have a right to be anxious and excited. You should know also that there is also a world of college graduates who will be competing with you for these opportunities. Now is the time to make the transition from college to career. Make no mistake. You are not getting started early, so don't delay. Many students are already scheduling campus interviews with potential employers.

You must work diligently to compete for these global opportunities by clarifying your goals, developing a compelling resume, attending employer information nights and presenting yourself well in interviews. Presenting yourself well requires that you know yourself and your strengths. It also requires that you know what you want to do and what organizations provide these opportunities. And finally, it requires that you have investigated or experienced these career areas enough to articulate your potential to be successful.

You still have time to connect with the professional staff at your campus career center who is ready and able to assist you in mapping out your career plan and job search strategy.

Have a great senior year as you take the first step toward a meaningful and exciting career!

Linda Bates Parker is the director of the Career Development Center at the University of Cincinnati.