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Lesson 25 Senior Year
Senior
Year: Keep your focus!!! End strong.
You
have been goal setting, keeping your attitude positive, networking, imaging
your success for four years. Let’s put
some other obstacles in your way.
I
know many people in the forties (give or take) that hate their job and their
lives. Maybe they are stuck in a job
that goes nowhere, but with a family, a mortgage, car payments, braces,
glasses, health issues, they think they can’t switch jobs and start over. These people are also facing other issues –
like having been out of college for several years, they have lost some of their
technical skills. They have failed to ‘sharpen
the sword’ and feel like they have a mountain to overcome to get back into the field. Or, it might be a female who has taken time
off to raise and nurture a family. (and … a comment, if you ‘hate’ your job –
that also is an attitude issue – adjust your attitude and talk to yourself)!
As
you go off into the work world, really work on what makes sense for you. Do you want to be an entrepreneur? Would you prefer a small or large
company? What about work / life balance? Time it might take to get promoted? Getting experience in multiple areas (aside –
some companies have leadership development programs where you in several
departments over two to three years to really get to know the company).
Time
management: Don’t lose sight of ‘the
prize’ – that is graduation. You may be
out interviewing and could miss classes – make sure you communicate with
potential employers about not wanting to miss classes and with faculty so they
know that you are out interviewing.
In
my experience, most companies like to high new college graduates in fall
semester, so fall semester can be a busy time with interviews and classes. Also, many companies like to hire those that
interned with them the previous summer.
Many
students come into college with advance placement credits. Thus many students might have a lighter
course load during their senior year.
Some students opt for an early graduation and others opt for the lighter
load. I suggest filling the lighter load
with additional experiences. Take more
courses, get an additional minor, take some courses in other departments,, take
a psychology class about getting along with others, take an art class, take a
biology class, take a computer class. In
many colleges, you can take a class as a “Pass / Fail” if you don’t want to
work hard enough for an “A” – but sometimes you will slack off in a pass/fail
class, so taking it as a graded class can keep you learning.
This
year is the LAST year that you are not working until you retire. Find some friends and do a special spring
break trip. Try some other adventurous
activity. Skydiving? Hiking the Grand Canyon?
As
you make that transition to the work place, add to your network. Find new mentors. (And … be sure to thank your faculty mentors –
take them for lunch to say ‘thanks’).
Adjust
your goals for your new life.
And
… continue to give back – and give thanks for those that have helped you on the
way.
Assignment:
- How will you prepare for interviews? Look at websites with interviewing tips. If you have been working on your soft skills, you should be able to be at ease with your interviews. Do your homework on the company. If you know who is interviewing you, check out their LinkedIn profile.
- And … thinking of LinkedIn – is your LinkedIn profile updated?
- Develop new goals
- Develop new mentors and new networking contact.
Quote: “My interviewing style and my approach to
things is that, yes, it's okay to be sincere; it's okay to be yourself; it's
okay to be real.” Eddie Trunk
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