Every college student is overwhelmed with responsibilities and the fear that they're never going to be successful. One of the ways to cope with those fears is to have a plan. Along with that plan comes baby steps. Here are five things every student should have throughout their four years of schooling to successfully reach their goals:
1. A LinkedIn Account
If you've never heard of LinkedIn, now is the time to get one. It's a professional networking site where you can look at companies and their employees and recruiters can find you. You create your own profile and upload your resume, awards, classes you've taken, and much more. Part of the reason I got my first internship at the marketing agency I'm currently at, is because of those connections. My advisor messaged my then future supervisor and told her all the reasons I was suitable for the position. It's also a great way to check out different resume layouts.
2. A Professional Mentor
This person can be someone in your field, or just a person you aspire to be. My mentor is Heather Schlosser and she works for the College of Business. She is also my advisor for the National Society of Leadership and Success here at Cleveland State. We share similar interests and career paths/interests. She is someone who I can go to when I'm feeling stuck. You should have someone who has been what you are going through to give you helpful advice.
3. Your Own Site/Platform
This is extremely important for people in communications and/or the arts, but still holds true for people of all educational backgrounds. Having an online portfolio of your projects, articles, ideas, etc makes you look like a compelling candidate in interviews. It's something where you can show you have experience, yet personality. Take Odyssey, for example: it's an online portfolio that can easily be shared with potential interviewers or recruiters.
4. Confidence
You can have all of the above things, but without confidence - it's hard to be successful. It's crazy to think that future employers will see your worth if you can't see it for yourself. Even when you aren't sure of what you're doing, fake it. There has been so many times where I "wing it" and even though it's not the best method, if it's all you have - go with it. You aren't going to always see yourself in the best light, but make sure you illuminate yourself enough so that others can see it too.
5. Hope
Lastly, without Hope, none of the above matter. Sometimes, for whatever reason, things are out of your control. And while, you shouldn't leave hope to everything, it's okay to just let life take its course. Without hope, I don't think all of the seemingly unobtainable things in the world would have been done. Records wouldn't have been broken, diseases wouldn't have been cured, and mankind would not be as great as it is today.
These five things aren't going to be the magical key of success, but they can help you out with your future endeavors.
