5 Ways to Land Your Dream Career

We all go to college to get a good job. That’s a no-brainer, right? However, getting the career of your dreams is a little more complicated.

Having a good job and getting your dream career are two very different things. Going to college will likely get you a good job, but to get your dream career, there are a few extra steps you need to take to set yourself apart from the crowd.

1. Keep those grades up!

I won’t be the first or the last person to tell you this, but keeping your grades up is crucial to impressing future employers. Not only does keeping your grades up show that you’re smart, but it also shows that you have the motivation and determination to succeed and excel, qualities that every employer wants in an employee.

Getting your dream career might require you to compete with thousands of applicants for one position. In these situations, the difference between a 3.5 and a 3.75 college GPA could be a deciding factor in which candidate lands the job.

2. Get an internship. (Or two. Or three.)

Many colleges require students to get at least one internship in order to graduate. That’s a pretty manageable task. Since it’s likely that most people will have at least one internship under their belts after they graduate, it would be wise to go above and beyond by getting two internships, or even three. The more experience you have, the better your application will fare, and the more likely you’ll be to land that dream career.

3. Maintain good relationships with your professors.

A lot of people can master the first two steps I’ve listed, but many people forget about this crucial third step. When you’re up all night studying for a huge test or racing through piles of homework, your professors might not be on your nice list. However, these are the people who will be writing your letters of recommendation in the future, and you want them to think highly of you.

I’m not saying you have to bug them endlessly to get their attention; I’m saying that asking questions every once in a while or staying after class to talk about something interesting your professor discussed will help them remember you more favorably when it comes time to write recommendation letters.

4. Get involved on campus.

There are hundreds of ways to get involved on a college campus. You can even get involved with an organization that relates to whatever dream career you desire. If you’re a mathematics major, get involved with your school’s math club. If you’re an English major, write for your school’s literary magazine. If you’re a political science major, run for an SGA office. These endless options for involvement will not only build your resume, but will also allow you to network with new people and build lifelong friendships.

5. Develop your leadership skills.

Leadership skills are becoming more and more essential in the modern job world. Competition for jobs comes from all around the globe, and if you really want to get that dream career, you’ve got to demonstrate solid leadership abilities.

Don’t have any leadership skills? You can join leadership societies on your college campus, or you can take leadership classes that might allow you to earn a leadership certification. This may require you to get out of your comfort zone, but it will all be worth it when you finally get the career of your dreams.

In short, landing your dream career will require you to go the extra mile while you’re in school. Putting these simple tips into practice will get you that much closer to the better-than-a-good-job career of your dreams.