Career counselors are an invaluable resource for guidance as you prepare to enter the workforce. As a college student, you have likely stopped in to pick up a few tips for your first college job interview or to grab an application for an internship. However, one thing you may not have considered is how you can use your school’s career service center to grow in your career long after graduation.
The counselors at your college or university can help you identify college alumni resources that will provide guidance as you map your post-college work life. Whether it’s professional mentorship, networking opportunities, or access to job postings, career counselors understand the needs of college graduates and how to connect them with the right people and organizations.
Better yet, they continuously look for ways to help alumni grow in their careers. Your college professors and supporting staff invested a lot of time preparing you for the working world. You better believe they care about your success.
Here are just three of the ways career services at your school can help you down the road:
Job search services
Using the correct job search platforms and tools is essential for job seekers in today’s competitive job market. Career services can provide a variety of job search tools to help graduates find a job that is best suited to specific skills, experience, and interests.
Popular job search platforms such as Indeed, LinkedIn, and Glassdoor provide powerful search capabilities that enable job seekers to rapidly find open positions from a variety of sources. However, niche job platforms, like CareerShift, can help you hone in your search even more effectively.
With guidance from alumni services, job seekers can not only find positions that match their skills and experience, but also get a better understanding of the job market and the kinds of positions that are available as different industries evolve. Career service professionals are familiar with the resources available and can point you toward those that match your needs.
Recommended Reading: 4 Practical Ways to Sharpen Your Online Interview Skills Before Graduation
Resume building and references
Another benefit of connecting with a career counselor through alumni services is that they can help you craft an effective job search strategy. They can advise you on how to use online job boards best to find roles that match your experience and pay grade, online and in-person networking events, and other tactics to find the perfect job for you.
Consulting with career services at any shifting point in your career is a great way to understand the job market and what employers are looking for. By talking to a career counselor, you gain valuable advice about what steps you need to take to get the job you want at this specific junction in your career. Alumni services can help you create a resume, cover letter, and other documents to help you stand out in the current job market.
It’s important to remember that there are numerous avenues for alumni support after graduation. From resume updates and cover letter writing to professional career fairs and job search workshops, career services provide assistance to make the job search easier and more rewarding.
Recommended Reading: Put a Stop To Post-Graduation Job Search Stress
Networking connections
Alumni services can be invaluable in helping you establish connections with industry professionals to earn referrals to advance your career. Counselors can provide networking assistance to connect alumni with potential employers connected with the college or university and provide resources and training on interviewing skills for specific roles or even companies.
In addition, career services can provide information on professional career fairs and conferences where job seekers can meet potential employers or HR representatives, and learn more about available job opportunities.
Finally, using alumni services as a source for tools, advice, and guidance on how to adjust to life after college is invaluable whether you’re a recent graduate, unexpectedly unemployed, or just looking to change directions in your career. They can provide you with tips on how to manage your finances, how to create a budget, and how to stay organized while you embark on a new job search.
Overall, connecting with a career counselor in alumni services is an essential step for college graduates. They can provide insights about the job market, advice on how to stand out in the job search, and tips on how to streamline a successful job search whether you’re recently graduated or a long-standing professional.
