College Keys to Career Success

Introduction ~ What do employers want from college graduates?

1. Cultivate strong academic interests and invest maximum energy in your courses. A record of academic success will be noticed by employers who will assume you are bright, disciplined and capable.

2. Participate in Honors activities and take Honors courses. Affiliate with others who share a passion for academic and intellectual pursuits. These involvements will help make college an intellectually stimulating experience and will demonstrate for employers that you willing to take on challenges. Consult the Honors Forum (http://cms.skidmore.edu/hf/about/eligibility.cfm) website for the latest offerings.

3. Hone your computer skills. Learn how to use word processing, database, spreadsheet, statistical analysis, and presentation software. Get campus jobs helping offices to use technology or work in Skidmore’s Center for Information Technology Services. Complete the free computer skills workshops offered through CITS. Put a stamp on your background which says you are in tune with technology.

4. Develop and document your writing skills. Take on courses, internships and campus positions which are writing intensive. Consider working for the Skidmore Writing Center.

5. Get to know your faculty and inquire about their academic and research interests. Volunteer to help them out with projects if your interests parallel theirs. Later you might want to consider working for a Skidmore faculty member as a paid research collaborator. Association with faculty research is a positive indicator of your scholarly inclinations for graduate schools.

6. Complete a senior thesis/project in your major if possible to demonstrate your research and writing skills, scholarly orientation and willingness to accept a challenge. Developing independent study courses with faculty around an area of intellectual interest is another way to show evidence of these traits.

7. Quantify it! Deliberately take courses with a quantitative dimension like statistics, math and accounting to show employers you can work with figures as well as words. Do some projects or internships with elementary quantatative research. Take on campus positions dealing with finance or budgets like Club Treasurer or teller at the Student Credit Union.

8. Read about a broad range of career fields. Stop by the Career Services Office in Starbuck Center to access a large library of resources. Access information on the Internet through sites like Skidmore’s Career Services Web Site (http://www.skidmore.edu/administration/career/option.htm). Meet with a Career Services counselor to discuss options related to your interests and abilities.

9. Meet with as many professionals in fields of interest as possible and speak with them about the nature of their work. Spend time with them in the workplace observing their work. Get lists of Skidmore Alumni and Parents (http://www.skidmore.edu/administration/career/network.htm) who volunteered to share info through our website.

10. Gain experience in fields of interest through jobs and internships. These experiences will allow you to develop skills and demonstrate interest in different fields. You can access over 2,000 internships (http://www.skidmore.edu/administration/career/interncentral.htm) through the Career Services web site.

11. Develop leadership skills by becoming actively involved with clubs and organizations (http://www.skidmore.edu/studentorgs/sga/clubs) on campus. Show employers that you have the character and maturity to make your school a better place.

12. Seek out and collaborate with a broad range of students from different ethnic, racial and religious backgrounds. Employers are looking for managers and leaders who can relate to diverse populations across culture and other boundaries. Cultivate friendships and work on academic/club projects with others who are not like you.   Consider a study abroad experience.

13. Get involved with your community! Volunteer your services to local organizations. Skidmore has an SGA organization to help students engage in volunteerism – Benefaction. Contact our campus volunteer coordinator for suggestions about organizations.

14. Final Hot Tip - Apply for jobs working in Skidmore’s Career Services Office and gain an insider’s view of job and internship opportunities.