10 Ways To Advance Your Career Now | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Adulting

10 Practical Ways To Gain Hands-On Experience That'll Advance Your Career Before It Even Gets Started

You know about internships, but did you know all the other practical ways to get your first job out of college?

63
10 Practical Ways To Gain Hands-On Experience That'll Advance Your Career Before It Even Gets Started

In This Article:

If you're reading this, you probably feel like you're in the hot seat right about now.

Your resume is daunting.

You're feeling the pressure that every soon-to-be college graduate feels.

Don't get me wrong, post-college life is thrilling, but it's also incredibly terrifying if you don't have a job lined up and your resume is minimal at best.

But you're also not alone. Everyone around you is in the same boat or has at least been there before.

And while all your college professors tell you about the importance of internships, not everyone tells you these 10 practical ways to gain experience.

1. Volunteer Your Time

Giphy

Hardly anyone will turn down free help. Find a place to volunteer your time even if it's not even close to your field. You'd be surprised how much you learn and how many people you meet.

2. Start freelancing.

Giphy

You'd be surprised how many people hire freelancers for their projects. Starting on Upwork or other bidding sites might be too difficult at first, but this is where you have to be a little bolder. Do your research, find developing businesses, and offer your services

3. Join a club on campus.

Giphy

So this tip is mainly for those still in college. Being on the leadership for a club on campus gives you certain responsibilities that develop your skills. If you're not involved and you still have time, get involved.

4. Shadow someone in your field.

Giphy

Chances are you know someone in your field and if you don't, you know someone who does. Your professors have connections and there are ways. Ask for an hour or two of their time to interview them and then ask to shadow them or if they know someone willing. Again, a little boldness required.

5. Temp everywhere!

Giphy

Contrary to most college students' beliefs, you're not going to get your dream career on your first try. Send your resume to temp agencies and figure out what the best fit for you through there. It gets you a lot of experience and taste of a little bit of everything.

6. Start your own business.

Giphy

So many people talk about one day opening up their own business when they have the resources, but time is a resource and this is a season in your life that you'll find a lot of it. Do your research, figure out how much it takes to start, and do it! Yes, sounds a lot easier than it is but you'll learn what you can and your portfolio will grow.

7. Accept the jobs you think are beneath you.

Giphy

If you think that flipping burgers and taking orders are beneath you, you just said goodbye to valid customer service experience...just saying.

8. Learn to take a break.

Giphy

If this isn't obvious for you yet, then it's time to take a break from the application process.

9. Steward your resources.

Giphy

Yes, this doesn't sound like hands-on experience but if you don't learn how to balance out your life now, throwing in a career isn't going to help you.

10. Network, Network, Network

Giphy

No matter where you are, network. This helps you practice effective communication and it'll also help you get a job even if it takes a while at first.

Finding a job can be a disheartening process. But it's important to remember that it is, in fact, a process. It'll take time, but don't give up. You'll be surprised what you can do in the process that'll get you to where you want to be.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Gilmore Girls
Hypable

In honor of Mother’s Day, I have been thinking of all the things my mom does for my family and me. Although I couldn’t write nearly all of them, here are a few things that moms do for us.

They find that shirt that’s right in front of you, but just you can’t seem to find.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

10 Reasons To Thank Your Best Friend

Take the time to thank that one friend in your life you will never let go of.

3893
Thank You on wooden blocks

1. Thank you for being the one I can always count on to be honest.

A true friend will tell you if the shirt is ugly, or at least ask to borrow it and "accidentally" burn it.

2. Thank you for accepting me for who I am.

A best friend will love you regardless of the stale french fries you left on the floor of your car, or when you had lice in 8th grade and no one wanted to talk to you.

Keep Reading...Show less
sick student
StableDiffusion

Everybody gets sick once in a while, but getting sick while in college is the absolute worst. You're away from home and your mom who can take care of you and all you really want to do is just be in your own bed. You feel like you will have never-ending classwork to catch up on if you miss class, so you end up going sick and then it just takes longer to get better. Being sick in college is really tough and definitely not a fun experience. Here are the 15 stages that everyone ends up going through when they are sick at college.

Keep Reading...Show less
kid
Janko Ferlic
Do as I say, not as I do.

Your eyes widen in horror as you stare at your phone. Beads of sweat begin to saturate your palm as your fingers tremble in fear. The illuminated screen reads, "Missed Call: Mom."

Growing up with strict parents, you learn that a few things go unsaid. Manners are everything. Never talk back. Do as you're told without question. Most importantly, you develop a system and catch on to these quirks that strict parents have so that you can play their game and do what you want.

Keep Reading...Show less
friends
tv.com

"Friends" maybe didn’t have everything right or realistic all the time, but they did have enough episodes to create countless reaction GIFs and enough awesomeness to create, well, the legacy they did. Something else that is timeless, a little rough, but memorable? Living away from the comforts of home. Whether you have an apartment, a dorm, your first house, or some sort of residence that is not the house you grew up in, I’m sure you can relate to most of these!

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments