Career Advice

One of the biggest mistakes students make while they’re in college is not developing meaningful, long-lasting relationships with their professors. For many students, connecting with professors outside the classroom is a daunting process, but there are many reasons why it’s worth taking that extra step to make a new connection.

Being an intern usually means two things: you’re the youngest person at the company and the lowest man on the totem pole. While this isn’t usually a bad thing, it does get more complicated when after-work events like happy hour start to pop up. If you’re not 21, you feel immediately excluded. And if you are 21 you’re still not 100% sure if you should go. It’s the ultimate #adulting challenge, and can result in major work faux pas if you’re not smart about it. However, happy hour or “grabbing drinks after work” can be a good opportunity to get to know your coworkers a little more personally, and also make a long-lasting impression.

Good news: You’ve got your application reviewed at your dream company. With your foot now in the door, the company wants to set up an in-person interview with you (yay!). You start preparing, making sure you know all the important things about a company, as well as common questions that come up in interviews. But some things – like knowing how much eye contact to make with an interviewer –can be a little harder to prepare for.

When it comes to navigating career fairs and other on-campus recruiting events, students often receive the same set of advice – bring your resume, dress professionally, and be friendly. But how do you stand out among the crowd of your business-casual, resume-toting peers?

Informational interviews are the perfect way to get a better idea of a position or a company while simultaneously positioning yourself for any future job openings. The interview is mostly a chance for you to expand your knowledge and get a better feel of a job or industry, but the person you’re talking with will likely be taking stock of your professional potential, too.

Congrats! You’ve scored your first job offer out of college – now what? Even though it’s your first “real world” job, there’s still room for negotiation when it comes to salary, benefits, vacation days, and more.

You’re definitely not alone if the idea of networking makes you nervous. Striking the balance between formal and informal conversation, asking the right number of questions and sneaking in a humble brag is not always easy. But the major key to successful networking isn’t trying to follow a predetermined script or taking it too seriously. It should still be a normal conversation – just with a career focus.

When thinking of the typical startup location, two things usually come to mind: a college dorm room, or Silicon Valley. Pop culture has ingrained in us the idea that innovation starts in a dorm room or a garage, and then moves on to Silicon Valley when it’s ready. The reality, though, is that innovative new businesses are popping up everywhere across the country and taking the startup stereotypes back from Silicon Valley.

Your internship is coming to a close and a new semester is on the horizon – you’re probably already thinking of being back on campus and how you’ll balance classes, clubs and a social life. But if you’re a junior or senior, you also might already be thinking of next year’s internship or job and how to get it.