ASK A CAREER COUNSELOR

If a student still is not exactly sure of what kind of job they want, where should they start?

Take some time to explore what sort of academic subjects and work roles were of interest to you in the past up until now. Write a timeline of your schooling and work experiences from as early as you can remember to the present day. What sorts of subjects were most interesting to you and why? What ideas have you had in the past of what you wanted to do or be when you got older? Equally important is to take stock of the subjects or careers you know you are not interested in. An important step is to take what you think about and document it somewhere. This process of reflecting and documenting reflections can help you clarify what you want and don't want. Take this even further and talk out your thoughts with another person as they may be able to offer you some additional insights about your strengths and potential career options. Even if a career that piques your interest is not directly related to your major, don't be afraid to document this as a potential area to explore. The exploratory phase is just that; exploratory; so it doesn't need to be perfect. The information gathering phase is often overlooked but is so essential.

When should a university student start applying for jobs if they haven't received their degree yet?

The timeline for job applications is career-dependent, and it is important to get a sense of your specific career field's recruitment process and deadlines. Generally, however, a university student can start applying to jobs as early as 4-5 months before their graduation date. For example, if your anticipated graduation date is in May, you can begin looking for jobs in December or early January. It's never too late to begin engaging in the career exploration process. It's better to err on the side of looking earlier than to wait too long.

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