College is about to end. Whether you’re staying in the safe cocoon of graduate school or planning to emerge as some sort of winged creature, chances are you’ll want to find a job. Below, in no particular order, are some steps toward starting that process.
(Note: Much of this advice applies when researching internships, too. Enjoy!)
Start at the career planning and placement office. These offices are called many things at many schools, but they all exist to help you figure out what you’ll do after college and where you’ll do it. (Really! Seriously! Not too many people who sit behind desks want to hear all about your stories, your crises, your hopes, your plans. These people live for it. They love it. Ask them anything. No joke. Well, maybe don’t ask them who you should marry or whether those pants make you look fat, but you get the idea.) Find out where this office is on your campus and acquaint yourself well with the people in it. They’ll direct you toward resources for the next steps.
Take aptitude tests. Not the SAT, of course – thank the saints and angels you’re done with that! – but the Myers-Briggs and similar personality tests. You can find these at career placement or at another counselor’s offices. Tests can help you evaluate your own talents and personality traits. Sometimes, the feedback will even include suggestions for careers that might fit you. (Steer clear of quizzes in beauty magazines; they will only lower your IQ.)
Find out about career fairs. Though these are often more heavily weighted toward opportunities for business or finance majors, humanities majors should attend them anyway. You’ll never find more employers gathered in one place, all with the same goal in mind: to hire someone as smart as you. Even if you don’t want a career in these areas, and just want to work for a year or two before pursuing other goals, the career fair is the place to be. Don’t let it intimidate you!
