Standing out from the crowd

By Sarah-Jean Murray

Since I am graduating this upcoming May, all I've been thinking about it is the end of college and the start of my professional career. How will I be able to stand out for the other 30 people in my major graduating at the same time as me with the same experience not to mention various grads across the country that may have more experience. How do we, as grads, stand out from our peers?

• Find hands-on learning opportunities - This may refer to anything from internships, independent studies with professors and freelance work. Not only does it boost your resume but it will also give you valuable experience that will help you with your future career. This gives you the unique edge over other applicants and could get you the job. Having these opportunities will also solidify your future goals or help you decide on your future career path. 

• Take classes outside of your major - As Liberal Arts students we are required to take core classes to fulfill our degrees. This may seem like a huge pain but in reality this is making us well-rounded individuals. You may even find another subject you are passionate about and pick up a minor or another major. There are many exciting classes offered that usually can be taken by students of any major. Also consider taking classes that will help your "soft skills" such as communication, public speaking, finance and general business.

• Networking - This is one of the most important aspects of college. Network with your peers, network with alumni and network with faculty. Any contacts you make could potentially get you a recommendation or a job in the future. There are many events happening on campus that can help you get out there and network. 

• Know how to talk about yourself - When being interviewed, you will be asked questions about yourself. It may be uncomfortable to talk about yourself but you will have to ask questions such a "Tell us about yourself" and "How would you fit into this company". Knowing what you want to say about yourself will make the interview process smoother.

Of course there are many things you can do to make yourself to stand out from the crowd but gaining extra experience in your field and getting to know your peers are two of the top things you can do while still in college than will help you in the future.

Source: http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/10/30/10-things-college-kids-must-do-now-to-snag-a-job-post-graduation/