Preparing for life after college, from your first year to your final year
Whether you’re in your first year or your final year at CU Boulder, it’s common to feel uncertain about what the future holds. You may know what you want to do after graduation, or you may have no idea, and that’s okay! No matter where you are, here are some steps to take at every stage of your academic journey to make progress on your goals and get ready for life after college.
First year: Discover and explore options
Many students in their first year at CU Boulder aren’t sure what they want to do after college, and others may change their minds after their first semester. This is the time to explore and discover new interests.
Whether you’re deciding on a major or looking to get involved, it can be helpful to talk things out with someone. And it’s never too early to connect with Career Services. Career development advisors can help you explore options and provide resources to help you succeed during your time at CU and beyond. Additionally, taking assessments can help you learn more about your interests and personality to find a path that’s right for you.
Second year: Learn about areas of interest and prepare
Whether you have career goals in mind or you’re considering professional or graduate school, take steps to learn and prepare for your future:
- Consider working a part-time job on campus to gain experience and explore areas of interest. This can include athletic training, marketing, research, customer service and more.
- Look for volunteer opportunities to gain experience, build skills and support a cause that’s important to you. Connect with the Volunteer Resource Center to check out some options.
- Create or update your resume and have it reviewed by a career development advisor.
- Attend virtual workshops to get tips on resumes, internship searching and more.
- Set up informational interviews to get a deeper knowledge of jobs or industries you’re interested in.
- Attend career fairs and events and set up your free Handshake account to learn more about internship and job opportunities.
- Meet with a career development advisor if you’re considering medical school, law school or other graduate programs to learn about timelines and preparation.
Third year: Gain experience and get organized
It’s common for most students to get an internship in their third or fourth year of college. Even in these uncertain times, many companies are still hiring and offer remote-work opportunities. Begin by doing some research into companies you’d like to target for internships this year. Career development advisors can also help you make a plan for your internship search. Here are a few more tips to help you get ready:
- Complete your Handshake profile. Handshake is the best place to start looking for internships and jobs. Students who have a completed profile also have a better chance of meeting one-on-one with employers at virtual events.
- Update your resume and your LinkedIn profile.
- Attend virtual workshops to get tips on resumes, internship searching and more.
- Practice your elevator pitch to introduce yourself to potential employers.
- Prepare for interviews by developing responses to commonly asked questions and practicing out loud.
- Attend career fairs and events.
If you plan to attend graduate or professional school after graduation, here are a few things you can do to get organized:
- Research graduate school programs that align with your educational and career goals.
- Become familiar with admissions procedures. Find out if you will need to take a standardized test for admission, and plan to take it at an optimal time.
- Begin obtaining letters of recommendation from faculty for your graduate school applications.
- Meet with a career development advisor to learn about developing application materials and drafting your personal statement.
Final year: Finish strong
Finding employment can take anywhere from six to nine months. With this in mind, it can help to begin your job search process as early as possible.
Career fairs and networking events are organized to overlap with peak hiring times. Prepare for these opportunities to meet with potential employers:
- Research companies and organizations you wish to pursue for employment.
- Polish your resume and update your Handshake profile.
- Practice your interview skills. Consider scheduling a mock interview with a career development advisor prior to big interviews.
If graduate or professional school is your next step after graduation, take any required standardized tests as soon as possible. You can also have your application and personal statement reviewed by a career development advisor and a faculty member.
And remember—Career Services is here to help you at every stage of your academic journey. Learn more and get started with Career Services.