3 Career Steps for College Sophomores
I was working with a college sophomore a while back who was applying for a Summer White House Internship. This college sophomore was clearly an outstanding student in high school. His resume showed strong involvement in extracurricular activities. However, there was a sharp decline in college involvement in his freshman year and in his sophomore year so far.
Although the transition to college is challenging, it is important that college students take career steps every year they are in college. Sophomore year is a perfect year to jump into career activities on campus.
Although the steps listed below will take relatively very little time, they will give college sophomores a career advantage when they need it the most at graduation.
Here’s a rule of thumb for college resumes: after your sophomore year, there should be very little, if any, mention of high school activities. Your college activities in your freshman and sophomore years become more important.
Career step #1 for college sophomores - Do some personal career research and exploration
College students are often very unclear about values, interests, skills and abilities as a freshman (we like to call this your V.I.S.A.). As sophomore college students, this self awareness becomes very important. The sophomore year is a perfect time to complete career assessments that will help college sophomores translate their college major into future careers. Career assessments that identify values, interests, skills and abilities will help college sophomores know, for example, what type of internship or summer experience to pursue. College sophomores can access free or low cost career assessments in their college career centers or this online career center. We have a list of career assessments here.
Career Step #2 for college sophomore - Get involved with career professional associations
There are many groups and clubs on campus where college sophomores can connect. Many of the campus clubs and organizations are about social and community activities. There is nothing wrong with that type of involvement, but sophomores should also become engaged in student chapters of national professional associations or student organizations related to their college majors. Most professional associations offer low cost membership fees for college students. Many campus chapters of professional associations have speakers, host job fairs and information sessions. It is a good way as a college sophomore to meet with people from a profession you may be thinking about.
Career Step #3 for college sophomore - Start thinking about a longer term career plan
Too many college students wait until they are about to graduate from college to develop career plans. Let's face it, college is not all about being serious and extra long-term planning for the future. However, thinking about a career plan and life beyond college doesn't have to mean charts and graphs and serious discussion as a sophomore college student. It means thinking about the fact that you have two summers to go before graduating. How do you want to spend those two summers? Is an internship or summer program part of your plan? How do you want to spend spring break? Partying in the Caribbean or planning for at least one alternative spring break experience? Remember, if you want a competitive advantage at graduation, part of your college experience has to include building valuable skillsets.