I think everyone should make resolutions and goals. Why? Because they give you something to strive towards. Resolutions, to me, feel like they’re a lifestyle change while goals have an end (when you reach  them). If you wind up changing your lifestyle along the way through a goal, well, that’s just a bonus then.

Well Sejal, how can I make career goals when I’m not even sure what to do? (Maybe that’s your career goal right there: figuring out what it is that you do or don’t want to do. Ruling something out is almost as important as picking a path.) If you’ve already picked a career path, then challenge yourself to reach new personal/professional bests or strengthen your career expertise.

If you’re not quite sure how to tackle a professional goal, personal goals are just as helpful. Setting goals helps you become focused and disciplined; both are characteristics that will help you in any profession you choose. I’ve also found that when you’re happy and satisfied in your personal life, it carries over to your professional life too!

I made a list of goals that at first blush seem more personal, but if you think about them, they can also help with my professional growth and work/life effectiveness. So here’s me taking the second step in goal setting: share them. (The first step being setting goals.)

• Take the GRE. When I graduated from college, I felt pretty confident that I wasn’t finished with my formal education yet. (Informally, I’m always growing and learning. The day that stops…well, that’ll be the end of me.) By making a commitment to take my GRE this year, I’m taking steps in formalizing my plans to further pursue my education and seriously think about what it is that I want to get out of it. Relation to professional goals: this will force me to think more about where I want my career to go and how higher education would (or wouldn’t) help get me there. 
• Read 12 books. Last year, I said 20 and I read 2. This year, I’m going to be a little more realistic and say 12. That’s one a month and completely reasonable. Relation to professional goals: If I can’t find the time to read a book a month, it’s a sign that I’m too overloaded and something’s got to give. And there’s no rule about what I read–it could be a way for me to learn from other thought leaders and build upon my own knowledge. 
• Floss 3x a week. I’m that girl: the girl the dentist always tells that she needs to floss, but never does. Why? I don’t really know. But I was inspired after reading this blog post on how Ian always uses the time he brushes he teeth to reflect; what a great idea! Relation to professional goals: there will always be tasks that you have to do that you don’t want to. This goal will help me become more disciplined. And who doesn’t like nice smiles? 
• Get my hands DIrtY. Not exactly, but more DIY-y. I have a new obsession (along with the old ones of cupcakes and traveling and …): Pinterest. I like to describe it as a visual way to bookmark the web; at least, that’s how I’ve been using it. Pinterest allows you to “pin” things you come across on the web and add them to a pinboard for you to look at later. You can pin articles that inspired you, cool styles that you admire, rooms or decorations for your dream house, simple remedies for common problems, recipes you want to try, books you want to read, quotes that make you laugh, places you want to visit and so on and so forth. I have a board called, “Experiment To-Do List” of cool pins I’ve come across that I want to try. In 2012, I want to do at least one project a month from this board. Relation to professional goals: I’m on a computer for most of my day due to the nature of my work. Even when I’m supposed to be unplugged, I find that I’m not. This will force me to unplug and truly take a break, which will give my mind the chance to refresh and return to work rejuvenated. 
• Start blogging more, professionally and personally. Professionally I’m a contributor to this blog and I’m the blog editor over at the Jobs@Intel blog . My personal blog doesn’t exist yet, but I’m working on it. (Stay tuned and maybe I’ll share a peek of it down the road.) Relation to professional goals: consistency is key in building your brand. It builds your fan base, it helps your with your brand and it helps expand your network.

Author

Sejal is a Recruitment Marketing Project Manager at Intel. She is part of the team that is responsible for Intel’s global employment brand. This team helps connect candidates with Intel and Intel with candidates using channels such as the Jobs at Intel web site, the Life at Intel microsite and other Web 2.0 channels. Sejal specifically manages theJobs at Intel Blog and Intel’s recruitment Facebook strategy. Originally from Toronto, Ontario (yes—a real, breathing Canadian!), Sejal graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with her Bachelor’s in Communications before starting at Intel in 2008. When she’s not working, you’ll find Sejal working at crossing things off of her Bucket List (which includes skydiving, reading 1000 books and traveling the world), eating cupcakes or spending time with family and friends. To learn more about opportunities with Intel, visit intel.com/jobs, follow Intel on Twitter @JobsatIntel or check out the Jobs@Intel blog!

Related posts:

1. How You Can Support or Sabotage Your Goals
2. Keep your New Year Resolution (and other goals)
3. Four Essential Job and Internship Resolutions for 2012

Resume writing is (or should be) a very strategic process, and it can also allow for creativity. It’s fun to talk tactics with students.

The one point that I seem to cover with every resume is section headings, particularly the heading for the work experience section. The days of a singular, one-size-fits-all experience section are long gone. Retooling this one section could revolutionize the effectiveness of your resume.

Rethink the section title itself.

How boring is “Experience” for a section heading? Get creative and have fun (if resume writing can be considered fun) with the title for this important section on your resume. Going into PR and have PR-related experience, such as an internship, under your belt? Instead of naming the section “Experience,” title it “Public Relations Experience.” It’s something really small that can make a big difference.

Target your experience for the reader.

The reason that making the small change above is so crucial is that it makes your resume more meaningful to the reader. Because that’s really what it’s all about–the reader of your resume, not you. Back to the previous example, think about how an employer will react to your resume when you apply for a PR job with “Public Relations Experience” right in front of their face. Instead of just showing them you have experience of some sort, you are shouting that you have the exact experience they’re looking for.

Understand that experience and a pay check are not the same thing.

I have seen plenty of resumes that use “Work Experience” or, worse, “Work History” as a heading. For many, this kind of title seems to limit the content to paid jobs. However, what about a long-term volunteer role or an unpaid internship? I’ve seen students downplay relevant experiences because they weren’t paid. A better title might help you approach this section differently.

Author

Laura serves as Internship Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the office of Career & Leadership Development.  In this role, Laura advises students who are pursuing internships, assists employers with intern recruitment, and supports university faculty who oversee academic internships.  She also provides students with job search readiness assistance through presentations, individual counseling, and social media.  Laura earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in French and Political Science, and she received her masters degree in Counseling from UW-Whitewater.  To learn more about Laura, read her blog, follow her on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

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1. Learn to Appreciate Your Own Brand
2. Sky’s The Limit for Summer Career Help
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1. Update your resume at the end of each semester.

Even if you’re a freshman, prepare a resume the minute you get to school. But this is not just about having a resume–it is about building your resume.  You should have new work experience, internships, research projects, community service or activities to add to your resume EACH semester.  Think about this:  You want to be concerned about how you are going to fit everything on one page, not how big the font has to be so you fill the page.  If you are simply going to class and getting good grades, you are not doing enough.  Potential employers want to hire people who have demonstrated energy, passion and commitment.  It is not enough to say you are hard working and ambitious–you have to show it!

2. Look for appealing job descriptions.

Do this regardless of whether you’re actually going to be looking for a job soon. Reading about these job openings will help you understand what employers are looking for in terms of academic coursework and skills.  If you don’t have the relevant qualifications, you can be sure to get them before you graduate.  The same is true for internships – see what relevant background you need to be a competitive candidate and make sure you meet their requirements.

3. Become a social media expert.

Probably all of you are comfortable with Facebook. But from working with a lot of Millennials, I’ve noticed that many just use Facebook for social reasons and their understanding of social medial seems to end there.  The reality is that almost every business is utilizing social media to a greater degree each year and anyone who is knowledgeable in this area will definitely attract more attention as a potential hire.  And in terms of the application for your current and future job searches, social media is a key component for anyone who is looking for a job or a job change.  If you ignore this as a resource, you are missing out on a tremendous amount of valuable information and opportunities to network.

4. READ. 

If you really want to show your passion, learn as much as you can by reading.  You can even use LinkedIn to browse various news sources and sign up to receive a digest of articles in your area of interest.  Know about breakthroughs and innovations. Learn which companies are growing and relocating–all valuable information to fuel your search and to show your desire and commitment.

So get started now and good luck! That job or internship is certainly within reach.

Author

Lesley is president and founder of Priority Candidates, which prepares college students and recent graduates nationwide to get hired for their first jobs.   Previously, Lesley spent more than 25 years in executive search, working with candidates from entry level to C-Suite executives in organizations ranging in size from small, family owned businesses to large international organizations.  Her fundamental knowledge of what hiring manager’s look for is the core of what Priority Candidates does to prepare college students/recent grads to get hired now.  An alumnus of Duke University who is based in New York City, Lesley has been featured in USA Today, ABC’s New York Viewpoint with Ken Rosato, ABC News with Art McFarland, The New York Times, NY Nightly News with NBC4’s Chuck Scarborough, eCampus News and John Tucker’s Small Business Report on Bloomberg Radio.   Lesley always welcomes connections via LinkedIn, on Twitter or by email or phone, available on her website.

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Online branding starts now

Personal promotion starts now with everything from your personal hygiene to the way you decorate your living space. Things like posters on your wall, tidiness, and even selecting the right dorm room bedding can be essential for reinforcing your personal image and branding yourself correctly for life after college. The good news is that this entire process can be fun and starting in college will give you a huge advantage over students who wait until after college to consider personal branding and a career.

Most college students are familiar with Facebook and are great at navigating this social media network. Unfortunately, Facebook isn’t the social media network of choice for many business professionals and potential employers. Facebook is time consuming and the truly ‘social’ nature of the service has caused many businesses and professionals to shy away in favor of Twitter and LinkedIn. If you haven’t joined either Twitter or LinkedIn yet, now is the time. Get a head start on this social mountain now while you are in college, so you will be ready to tackle the next batch of employment oriented social networks that have yet to be invented.

LinkedIn is for Research and Personal Branding

Which came first, the chicken or the egg? Applied to student branding this may seem like a senseless question, but is it? Do you really know exactly who you are and what you want to do? If your answer is not exactly, take some time to explore companies via LinkedIn.

This section is accessed through “companies” on any LinkedIn page. It is possible to search using either keywords or the company’s name. This will take you to the company profile section. Here you will find tons of useful information, including specializations, company statistics and company employee statistics.

You will be able to see things like the total number of new hires, current job postings, new titles for company employees and the names of people who have recently joined and left the company and their geographical distribution. You will also be able to see the most commonly attended universities, the highest degrees attained, and the years of work experience by employees in the company.

How do you use the research you’ve just gathered about companies on LinkedIn? Read Part II next week.

Author

Jen Thames is the Brand Manager for RHL.org, leading online supplier of dorm room bedding and residence hall linens. To learn more about her business, click here.

Related posts:

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2. Guest Post from RHL.org: Whether Taxes, or Dorm Rooms, Simple is Better
3. Student Branding Interview: Washington Post Education Reporter Jenna Johnson

It is a fact that major life changes can result in stress–growing up, work/career change, marriage, birth, mid-life, death…  Changes are simply an integral and unavoidable part of life that everyone experiences. It is how you deal with them that determine your stress level. As a college student, you are particularly vulnerable to stress because your life is in a state of flux.

1. You may be on your own for the first time.
2. You may be managing your own budget.
3. You are making decisions that will begin to chart a course for your career.
4. You may be seeking a job or internship.
5. You are striving to do well in your classes.
6. You may be dealing with social issues and relationships.
7. You are juggling numerous opportunities and priorities and having to manage your schedule.

Stress can cause a whole host of physical issues–headaches, nausea, stiff neck, fatigue or sleeplessness…  Over time, these little things can add up and take a toll on the body leading to more serious issues.  As such, there is no time like the present to learn to deal with stress.  Knowing how to cope is a skill that will serve you well through the challenging periods that you are sure to experience throughout life.

So what can you do?  You need to learn to R.E.S.T.

Recharge

Everyone–regardless of how young and fit–needs to take time out to recharge. It is also important to note that not everyone will recharge the same way.  Some need time alone.  Some need time with others.  Some need more sleep, and some might actually need less.

While sleep is essential, it is not necessarily recharging.  It is possible to run all day, fall into bed, sleep all night–repeat.  That does not always alleviate stress.  In fact, it may begin to feel as if you are trapped in a sleep/work pattern.  There is no recharge time in this.

Your mind needs a bit of playtime.  Even if you are getting adequate sleep, you need to learn to take mental breaks and find something entertaining to do.  See a movie.  Play video games.  Read a book.  Go out with friends.  Work on a hobby.  Find and do whatever it is that brings enjoyment, relaxation, and gets your mind off your stressors for a time.  But, remember, you cannot reside in playtime forever.  You need to re-energize so that you can move forward.

Energize

When we are stressed, we can become lethargic and start to lose interest in what we are doing.  We might even find ourselves dealing with a bit of depression (at which point it is advisable to see a mental health counselor or medical professional).

It is important to get mentally and physically energized.  Getting physically energized means exercise.  We should be getting at least 30 to 60 minutes of exercise a day.  We know that lack of exercise can lead to obesity and health problems.  In fact, a recent study suggests that inactivity can even elevate cancer risk.

We also need to get ourselves mentally energized around what we are doing in our lives–schoolwork, job search…  Some people find it helpful to make lists.

Specify

It is difficult to get energized about or even prioritize tasks if we just allow them to float around in our head.  Having only a vague notion of what we have on our plate adds to uncertainty and stress.  So, get a notepad or use your computer, mobile, tablet, or whatever means to specify those things that must be done.  Keep this list current.  Cross off what has been done so that you may see what is outstanding.  Also, add items to the list as soon as they arise.  Maintaining a list helps us see our progress, gives us a sense of achievement and helps us get mentally focused and energized about what needs to be done.

Tackle

Former New England Patriots owner, Victor Kiam, once said that “Procrastination is opportunity’s assassin.”  Thus, when you finally get recharged, energized, and have specified what it is that you need to do, don’t put it off!  Otherwise your “to-do” list will become overwhelming.

Make an accomplishment plan.  Define what 1) is most important 2) is due first and 3) is long-term and will require effort over a period of time.  Put these things on your calendar.  Make certain that you stay on track, tackle your obligations, and make sure that you occasionally allow yourself to R.E.S.T.

Good luck!

Author

As Assistant Director of Recruiting within the Wake Forest Schools of Business Employer Relations team, Lisa’s passion is connecting employers with student talent and creating a positive experience for both. She manages all aspects of recruiting, retention, and systems for the graduate business school.  Her strengths include relationship management, networking, social media engagement, information aggregation, process facilitation and communication. Lisa has been employed at Wake Forest since the fall of 2002.  She has over 20 years of work experience in various roles.  Prior to arriving at Wake Forest, she was an entrepreneur, venturing into web-based international sales and marketing of salvage automotive parts and accessories.  Before that, she was a trust officer in the Employee Benefit Trust area of Wachovia Bank.  Lisa is also a veteran of the United States Air Force. Lisa earned a B.S. in Business Administration from Rollins College and a Masters in Liberal Arts from Wake Forest.  Visit Lisa’s blog, follow her on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

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Don’t let this November go to waste. Here are a few manageable things you can fit in between the holidays and homework to move your brand forward.

Study

That’s it? That’s my first suggestion? Study? Yes, yes it is. While your GPA is not the most important factor in your future career success, it is a piece of the overall image you put forward to potential employers. Your GPA is often a reflection of your work ethic. A strong GPA indicates that you took school seriously and that you put work into your classes. November and December is crunch time for most students, so take the cue and hunker-down with your studies. Wrap-up your fall semester with strong performances in all of your classes.

Nail down your self-pitch

Being able to concisely state who you are as a future professional and where you are headed with your prospective career is a key skill. If you haven’t already developed your self-pitch, now is a good time to work on it. At this point, it’s not about preparing your self-pitch for career fairs or networking events, but it’s for spending time with your family around the Thanksgiving holiday. As usual, you’ll get questions about school and your future plans. Be ready to answer those types of questions head-on to derive the greatest benefit…

“Network” with family

As you’re answering the inevitable future and career questions from family, enlist their assistance in achieving your goals. Do they have any contacts in the field you’re pursuing? Get tips and collect referrals to professionals in your field. After Thanksgiving weekend, begin reaching out to those professionals, and I would suggest trying to set up meetings or informational interviews with them over the winter break. Family friends, people who would be considered warm contacts, will likely be more receptive to your request and will hopefully be willing to take time to connect with you. Ultimately, this can help further your internship or job search.

Make the most of what remains of the fall semester with these three simple things. You’ll thank yourself that you did.

Author

Laura serves as Internship Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the office of Career & Leadership Development.  In this role, Laura advises students who are pursuing internships, assists employers with intern recruitment, and supports university faculty who oversee academic internships.  She also provides students with job search readiness assistance through presentations, individual counseling, and social media.  Laura earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in French and Political Science, and she received her masters degree in Counseling from UW-Whitewater.  To learn more about Laura, read her blog, follow her on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

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2. Set Your Branding Goals for the New School Year
3. Take Your Campus Job Seriously

It’s about connection

Homecoming is built around connections, particularly the connection to a place. Alumni return to reconnect with friends and memories. Current students develop a deeper connection with their school as they celebrate the traditions and festivities special to the university.

When it comes to your career, connections are key. How often do you hear about the importance of networking? And don’t forget the old career adage: “It’s not what you know, but who you know.” Take advantage of the connections you can make through your university, particularly with alumni. Alumni are warm contacts. You already share something very important with them – your university. I think it’s highly appropriate that LinkedIn launched the new “Classmates” feature–a tool to help you network with alumni of your university–right in the midst of Homecoming season.

It’s about competition

Who can forget the centerpiece event of college homecoming: the football game. But beyond the game, the week leading up to it is often full of competition among student groups. On my campus, student organizations compete in a variety of activities, from games to “Yell Like Hell” and, of course, the parade. The competition is always friendly and is all about school pride.

Competition doesn’t go away once you hit the workplace. While it might not be competition around who built the best float, it could be competition for work assignments or even positions. As cutthroat as workplace competition can get, take a lesson from the goodness of homecoming and keep it friendly. Not only will it make you a respected professional, it will make you a better person.

It’s about celebration

The parade! The big football game! Homecoming is all about celebrating your university and showing off your school spirit. Homecoming is such a fun time on a college campus.

How does this translate to your career? Simple–celebrate the professional you are becoming. Celebrate your achievements. Celebrate the amazing experiences you get to have–studying abroad, scoring a great internship, being elected as an officer to your student organization. If you don’t celebrate you–your accomplishments and your aspirations–who will?

Happy Homecoming to one and all this fall!

Author

Laura serves as Internship Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the office of Career & Leadership Development.  In this role, Laura advises students who are pursuing internships, assists employers with intern recruitment, and supports university faculty who oversee academic internships.  She also provides students with job search readiness assistance through presentations, individual counseling, and social media.  Laura earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in French and Political Science, and she received her masters degree in Counseling from UW-Whitewater.  To learn more about Laura, read her blog, follow her on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

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Those were the words my sister uttered when I asked her about what she was planning on including in her resume.

Many people who decide not to work while pursuing a degree may feel the same way she did–void of any way to demonstrate the value they can add to a potential employer. But a resume doesn’t have to include only experience you have gained while being compensated.

Take the example of my sister. She thought she would have a very sparse resume given that she didn’t have any jobs or internships while in school. But I knew that her experience in her sorority would be critical to building a demonstrated background in leadership.

Look around you. Opportunity is there.

The great thing about college life is its diversity. I remember when I attended college (back when you actually sent letters to your friends, not emails, and the word “text” was only a noun, not a verb), my campus was plastered with banners about political clubs, community focused organizations, and religious activities that students could get involved in. They were calling for commitments of volunteerism and leadership. No matter what kind of student, your background or your interests, you could find a group to be involved with.

Sororities and fraternities are great ways to gain leadership experience. Over her four years at college, my sister led canned food drives, organized volunteers, managed money, and created presentations to increase club membership. On Sept. 11, 2001, she was part of a team that collected donations for victims and their families, an effort that was spotlighted in the school’s newspaper. As bullet points in her resume, each of those activities showed leadership, initiative, and an ability to manage.

No money? No problem.

Just because you aren’t getting paid for them doesn’t mean activities like these should be ignored. If you have led a team of volunteers, you can demonstrate how you organized a team, how you communicated a message and implemented a plan to ensure your goals are achieved. Keep in mind when writing a resume that a recruiter will be considering many other students or graduates with the same educational background you bring to the table. You need to clearly define what sets you apart from the people who sat around you in class. A resume is not the time to be shy. (Search resume tips on StudentBranding.)

College can be fun. It will be a learning experience. Most important, it undoubtedly will be a springboard to your future. Use your time wisely because that cap and gown comes quicker than you realize.

Author

Michele is a Senior Recruiter for Sodexo, a world leader in quality of daily life solutions that contribute to the progress of individuals and the performance of organizations. As a former assistant director at the University of Maryland University College’s Career and Cooperative Education Center, she’s no stranger to students trying to plan their careers. During that time, she worked with non-traditional college students to gain school credit for on the job work experience. Michele also taught seminars on job searching, resume writing and interview techniques, and partnered with local employers to help students gain employment. At Sodexo, she has continued her interest in shaping student careers by serving as a mentor to an intern in the company’s Future Leaders Program. Michele began her recruitment career in 1999, joining Sodexo in 2008 where she recruits for a range of food, facilities and environmental services positions. Michele holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Maryland College Park (go Terps), is a charter member of a Baltimore area Toastmasters chapter, and a Certified Internet Recruiter (CIR) and Certified Diversity Recruiter (CDR). When not giggling with her two girls, Michele enjoys writing … and watching the Yankees win, much to the dismay of her husband. Join her on LinkedIn or just Network with Us at Sodexo.

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24 hour/365 day commitment

In my opinion, students interested in becoming a campus ambassador for a company should consider their decision very heavily.  When you decide to represent a brand while on campus, you don’t have the option to just “clock out and go home”.  You are the brand’s representative in the classroom, in your dorm room, and even at parties.  You are personally selected by a company because you align with them and their brand.

Should you decide not to do your fair share during a group project or perhaps overindulge at a social function, your actions now not only are a reflection on your personal brand; it’s also a reflection on the corporate brand you represent.

Living the Brand

Actress Jennifer Aniston is one of many celebrities that are paid to represent a specific brand.   One of the brands she represents is “Smart Water”.  Although she is featured in “Smart Water” print ads, she is also photographed constantly by paparazzi when she is not working.  I always find it funny that when the paparazzi “catch” her in airports, on the street, on vacation, or in other various settings, if she’s carrying or drinking a bottle of water, it’s always “Smart Water”.  As a result, the brand receives informal advertising and subliminal reinforcement with those who see the paparazzi photos that Jennifer Aniston doesn’t just represent “Smart Water”; it is part of her everyday life.

I feel it’s the same for a campus ambassador.   I’m not saying that campus ambassadors need to wear their company branded attire every day or always have the company’s logo front and center.  Ultimately, I am encouraging you to consider that once you sign on to represent a company on your campus, you have to live the brand and the image it represents, which is why it’s important to ensure that a company’s mission, goals and values align with your own.

Brand Loyalty

Lastly, if you are going to be a company’s ambassador, please be sure that this is the company that you want to work for after college, or where you see the potential of a long-term professional relationship.  Last semester, I interviewed the ambassador of another hotel company and just didn’t understand how a student could stand up in front of their peers and say positive things about an organization, encourage others to apply for opportunities within the organization, but then interview with me, their organization’s often perceived “competitor”.

There’s a ton of responsiblity for those that hold the title of Campus Ambassador.  Their credibility on campus depends upon how genuine, passionate, and loyal they are to the brand they represent.  This is why I encourage those who are interested in the role to consider the decision carefully, recognizing that being a Campus Ambassador is more than a title, it’s a lifestyle.

Author

Ronisha is one of Hyatt’s College Recruiting Managers.  Hyatt’s College Recruiters visit more than 30 college campuses each year recruiting top talent at hospitality programs across the country.  A graduate of The Ohio State University, Ronisha begin her Hyatt career as a Human Resources Corporate Management Trainee.  During her ten years with Hyatt, she has worked at Hyatt Hotels in Orlando, Maryland, Virginia and New Jersey.  To learn more about opportunities with Hyatt please visit hyatt.jobs, follow Hyatt on twitter @hyattcareers, become a Hyatt Facebook fan at Hyatt Hotels and Resorts Careers and follow the Campus Recruiter blog at hyattrecruiting.blogspot.com.

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No matter what the work is, every job is important. Even seemingly simple, boring tasks can have an important impact on your brand and your career ahead.

Prove that work ethic

The more I learn about generations, the more I realize that every young, up-and-coming generation is knocked for a lack of work ethic. My baby boomer boss remembers the “lazy” label when his generation entered the workplace. Lazy was a big part of people’s impressions of Gen X in the ’80s and ’90s. And the label has since resurfaced to be applied to Millennials. Accurate or not, this negative stereotype could impact how a future employer views you. (See my previous post on this exact idea.)

Put work ethic concerns to rest by being a superstar student employee. Whether it’s answering phones, making copies, or running errands, do it without complaint. Offer to help with little things around the office, especially when you don’t have much to do. While many people say they have a strong work ethic, it’s much more important to demonstrate it through real examples. If you work hard, you’ll have plenty to talk about.

Move up that ladder

Some campus jobs require a little more experience to secure them. Take, for instance, student leader jobs. Many of these types of roles either require or prefer you to have more experience around campus. So if you think that your basic campus job is irrelevant, think again. It could serve as a stepping stone to more advanced opportunities.

If you work hard and prove yourself to be a responsible employee, it might be possible to increase your responsibilities. Maybe you start out just making copies, but then you are given the opportunity to work directly with a professional staff member or professor on a project. Maybe you start off answering the phones, but you are then asked to coordinate an office’s social media efforts. As people get to know you better and feel secure in your abilities, they might give you more advanced opportunities for growth.

It’s all about who you know

One of the best parts of a campus job is that if you get one early in your college career, it can often be a position you hold throughout your time in school. Working for a prolonged period with the same people gives them an opportunity to really know you. They get to watch your growth as a student and as an employee. When it comes time to find an internship or job, you will have a fabulous reference.

Author

Laura serves as Internship Coordinator at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater in the office of Career & Leadership Development.  In this role, Laura advises students who are pursuing internships, assists employers with intern recruitment, and supports university faculty who oversee academic internships.  She also provides students with job search readiness assistance through presentations, individual counseling, and social media.  Laura earned her bachelors degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she majored in French and Political Science, and she received her masters degree in Counseling from UW-Whitewater.  To learn more about Laura, read her blog, follow her on Twitter, or connect on LinkedIn.

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