Eight ways to build your résumé while in college
It’s kind of hard to get a job without experience, right? Your college years are the best time to get experience and build an impressive résumé you’ll be proud to submit to prospective employers as you near graduation! Here are eight ways to get started:
Be a student worker. If your financial aid package includes FWS, RSWP or APS, you have a great opportunity to get experience right here on campus. Offices all across campus have a variety of positions available, and you may even find one that aligns with your major! Visit the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website for information and a link to get started by completing the FAFSA. Look for available positions here.
Get a part-time job off campus. Restaurants, retailers, service industries and more throughout Johnson City and the region have openings for part-time positions, and they welcome Bucs to apply!
Volunteer. Non-profit, health care, social services, and other organizations in the community thrive with the skills, hard work and compassion of volunteers. Look around for organizations that align with your interests and skills and reach out to see what they have available.
And check out Volunteer ETSU! Not only can Volunteer ETSU and ETSU Serves connect you with service opportunities both on campus and in the community, but involvement in this organization gives you the chance to develop leadership skills as you focus on a variety of social issues and plan/coordinate projects like community agency fairs, blood drives and more. ETSU also offers Alternative Breaks and Service Saturdays, and many student organizations have their own official philanthropies.
Study abroad. Taking a semester-long or short-term course in another country can be the experience of a lifetime! Benefits include gaining a better understanding of another culture, developing language skills, making new friends, gaining confidence as you learn to navigate life outside the U.S. (exploring new places, finding grocery stores, using different currencies) and so much more. Visit ETSU Education Abroad to look at available opportunities and sign up for an interest session to learn more.
Take a community-engaged learning course. “Go Beyond the Classroom: Community-Engaged Learning,” ETSU’s Quality Enhancement Plan, is an integral part of the university’s reaffirmation and accreditation process with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. Students have a variety of ways to engage in experiential learning opportunities, including classes with community-engaged learning components, identifying a real-world problem and working to solve it through the ETSU Elevates Pitch Competition, and other community contributions.
Get involved in student organizations. Did you know ETSU has more than 250 student organizations? Join professional organizations in your field of study. Seek out leadership positions in other organizations you may participate in, such as fraternities and sororities, faith-based groups, special interest organizations and more. Membership in student organizations helps you make friends, network, gain teamwork and communication skills, engage with diverse groups of people, and give back to the community while taking a break from the books and having fun!
Get an internship. Internships can give you valuable real-world experience in your chosen field and help you network and make contacts who can help you in your job search. And if you’re undecided, an internship early in your college experience can even help you determine whether a prospective career is the right choice.
Visit ETSU’s Office of Career Services often. Whether you’re a freshman, a senior, a grad student, or even an alum, Career Services can help! Not only can the staff help you take all of the above and craft an impressive résumé – and even tailor that résumé to fit specific job offers – Career Services offers so much more to help you go from enrolled to employed. They host career fairs and networking events, and can also help with career exploration; match you up with internships, experiential learning opportunities and job offers; conduct a mock interview; help you pick an outfit; and take a professional photo for you.
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