Veterans seeking jobs: Vets Reps have your back

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized, Veterans
Veteran Service Representative helping service memeber
Veteran Service Representative helping service memeber

If you’re a veteran or plan to transition out of active military service soon, did you know there’s a nationwide network of experienced workforce professionals dedicated to supporting your employment success? Take a look at how Veterans Representatives can help you find a job that fits your goals and handle any barriers that might affect your success at work.

What are Veterans Representatives?

Veterans Representatives are employment professionals who serve veterans exclusively. Their salaries are paid for through the U.S. Department of Labor Veterans Employment and Training Office, and they are located throughout the country at American Job Centers, and occasionally at veterans hospitals.

Vets Reps are dedicated to serving veterans, transitioning service members, and their spouses with job search and training help, job placement and related resources. Their major focus is directed toward serving those who are economically or educationally disadvantaged.

There are two types of Vets Reps:

  • Disabled Veterans’ Outreach Program (DVOPs) Specialists provide individualized services for veterans and eligible spouses to find meaningful civilian jobs. Eligible participants have significant barriers to employment such as disability, long-term unemployment, homelessness, a criminal record, low income, Vietnam-era service, young veterans (ages 18-24), lack of a high school diploma or equivalent, injured or ill and currently receiving treatment at military treatment facilities. (Title 38 eligibility applies)
  • Local Veterans’ Employment Representatives (LVERs) conduct outreach to local businesses and employers to raise awareness of the availability and benefit of hiring veterans, and facilitate the employment, training, and placement services for veterans based at American Job Centers.

What are examples of services Vets Reps offer?

DVOPs offer a variety of intensive services, including:

  • Comprehensive and specialized assessments of skill levels and service needs
  • Development of an individual employment plan
  • Group and individual counseling and career planning
  • Short-term employability skill development
  • Assistance to obtain vocational rehabilitation services

LVERs efforts to promote veteran employment include:

  • Plan and participate in job and career fairs
  • Conduct job search workshops, and establish job search groups
  • Coordinate with unions, apprenticeship programs and businesses or business organizations to promote and secure employment and training programs for veterans
  • Promote credentialing and licensing opportunities for veterans
  • Conduct seminars for employers, coordinate and participate with other business outreach efforts at AJCs

How can I find my closest Veterans Representative?

You can find a phone number and e-mail address for Veterans Representatives in your area to reach out to for information about services and eligibility. Use the American Job Center Finder to look up your nearest AJC location/s; the Center Information includes whether a Veterans Representative works at that location. Select the name of the AJC office that is most convenient, and a detail page appears with a direct phone number and email address for each veterans rep on staff there, in the General Information section.

For more information on job search, visit the Veteran and Military Transition Center on CareerOneStop. Find your nearest American Job Center for services for veterans and eligible spouses who do not qualify to receive intensive services.

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5 ways to earn college credit before you finish high school

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Happy high school student in classroom
Happy high school student in classroom

Looking for ways to keep college costs down? Cutting the number of classes you take — or even the total years you attend college—is an excellent way to lower your overall tuition bill. Read on for five options to explore.

Dual Enrollment

Dual Enrollment means you enroll in college classes while you are still attending high school. You do all the work and testing of the college class, and you get both college credit and credit toward your high-school diploma. High schools set their own requirements—within the framework of national guidelines—so check with your high-school counselor to see what’s available at your school or in your district. Sometimes you have to have a certain high-school grade point average to qualify. Some schools also offer remote options if transportation or scheduling are barriers.

AP Classes

Many high schools offer Advance Placement (AP) classes in core subject areas like math, English, science, and history. The national AP program is run by the nonprofit CollegeBoard, and includes courses that prepare students to take a college-level exam in more than 30 subjects. IF you pass an AP exam with a certain score, most—but not all—U.S. colleges and universities will offer you college credits in that subject. There is a fee to take the exam, but financial aid is available for low-income families. Some colleges have limits on how many credits you can accumulate through AP exams, and some accept different score levels for credits, so check with colleges before you enroll. Some students find they can earn more than a year’s worth of college credits this way. Learn more about AP from CollegeBoard.

CLEP Exams

Like the AP program, the College Level Examination Program (CLEP) is also offered through CollegeBoard. It includes CLEP exams in many subjects, and high enough scores on these exams are also accepted for credit at many colleges. But unlike the AP program, CLEP does not include classes to help you prepare to take the exams. Instead, you prepare on your own and take the exam at an approved test center. There is a fee for the exam, but financial aid is available. Colleges and universities have different rules about what they will offer credit for, so check with your schools of interest for details. Learn more about CLEP exams form CollegeBoard.

The IB Diploma

Many colleges offer college credit for students who earn an International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma. High schools have to be approved to offer this program, and often one or more high schools in a district will offer it. The program runs for at least two years of high school, so this is something to look into in your first or second year of high school. Learn more about the IB Diploma Program.

College Summer Programs

Many colleges and universities across the country offer summer programs for credit for high-school students. There is a lot of variety in the types of programs. Some offer a full residential program of several courses, and some offer one course at a time for commuter or residential high-school students. Some have very high admission requirements, and others are open to a range of high-school students. Many are expensive, but many are also geared to—and offer financial assistance to—high-school students from low-income families. You can ask your high-school counselor for information about these types of programs, or you can look up individual colleges and universities you may be interested in. Search for colleges and universities at CareerOneStop’s Local Training Finder.

Want to learn more about paying for college? Visit Pay for School at GetMyFuture.org.

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Trouble finding workers? Check out these 8 recruiting strategies

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Businesses and employers, Uncategorized
Portrait of a young woman holding a "hiring" sign in her store
Portrait of a young woman holding a "hiring" sign in her store

National unemployment numbers are falling, and in our current labor market, job openings continue to outpace available job applicants.  For businesses and organizations in need of workers, knowing where—and how—to search for the right talent is key.

Check out the options below for help recruiting applicants:

  1. American Job Centers
    Looking for help with recruiting, hiring, or training workers? Get assistance at one of the nearly 2,400 American Job Centers that offer business services.

Locate your nearest American Job Center to connect with a Business Services Representative. They can help with these tasks and more:

  • Post jobs and search resumes on free online job bank
  • Write effective job postings
  • Recruit and pre-screen job candidates
  • Find and refer qualified veteran job candidates
  • Determine a competitive salary for positions

2. Understand the Labor Pool
Tap into a rich source of information to learn about your local labor pool, with workforce profiles at state and local levels for these topics and more:

  • Employment by occupation
  • Employment projections
  • Employment concentration and regional specialization by occupation
  • Wage information

3. Post a Job
Posting job openings on online job boards or job banks can get your positions in front of millions of job seekers. But it can also require substantial HR time to post, manage, and maintain online job postings. Consider these two options:

  • State job banks: All employers can post jobs free to their own state job bank, but note that registration, validation, and posting times vary by state.
  • NLx from the National Labor Exchange: The National Labor Exchange (NLX) is a public-private partnership between DirectEmployers Association and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA). Learn more at NLx or see Four Options to Post Jobs on NLx.

4. Social Media
Many job seekers use – and sometimes only use – social media to find job openings. To learn how to extend your recruiting reach, check out the Social Media page for a quick introduction to the top three social media sites for business purposes – LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.

5. Job Fairs
Learn how to host or connect to a job fair in your community, industry or area of interest to meet your workforce needs. Many are currently held online, while some remain in-person.

6. Local Schools and Training Programs
Connect with your local community colleges, universities, and short-term training programs to find the most qualified workers.

7. Connect to Professional Associations
Professional associations are a great source for finding qualified candidates. Learn why and how to connect to national organizations.

8. Hire a Vet
Find out how to search for the right veteran candidate for your job opening.

Find more resources to recruit and hire workers on CareerOneStop’s Business Center. You may find additional help with hiring at the Small Business Administration (SBA).

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Training and tools for workforce professionals

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career counselors, Librarians, Teachers, Uncategorized, Workforce Development Professionals
2 people meeting to career plan
2 people meeting to career plan

One of the challenges of working as a career counselor, employment program staff, or other workforce professional is the amount of information you need to help people in a variety of circumstances. In recognition of National Career Development Month, this week’s CareerOneStop blog details some great training and tools to help workforce professionals address key needs and create high value in-person and remote employment-related services.

Introductory video

The CareerOneStop Overview Video for Workforce Professionals offers a quick tour of key CareerOneStop resources for career advisors and other workforce professionals.

Webinar series

These webinars are designed for workforce professionals and career advisors to help provide virtual services using CareerOneStop websites and tools. They were presented on WorkforceGPS, the online technical assistance and training website from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration.

Learn how to help your customers, students, and clients meet different needs:

  1. CareerOneStop tools to help your customers get back to work
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, List of web pages used)
    This webinar showcases ten tools that workforce professionals can use to help people find jobs and get back to work.
  2. Find immediate employment and apply for Unemployment Insurance benefits
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    A walk-through of CareerOneStop tools and pages to help customers find short-term, immediate employment, and learn about benefits and other forms of assistance that may be available to them.
  3. Job search for new college graduates
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    Learn how to use CareerOneStop to help new graduates an any level explore their career options and build a solid job search plan.
  4. Change occupations or industries
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    Learn how to use CareerOneStop to help experienced workers explore and research new occupations or industries and target their resumes and networking efforts in a new direction.
  5. Develop new skills and knowledge
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    Learn how to use CareerOneStop to help your customers find and pay for the education and training that will enhance and expand their career prospects.
  6. Overview of tools for Virtual Employment Services
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)
    An overview webinar summarizing the common customer need pathways detailed in above webinars. The paths described are: Find immediate employment; Apply for unemployment and other benefits; Job search for new college graduates; Make longer-term career plans to change occupation or industry; Develop new skills and knowledge.
  7. Plan a career or job search with a criminal record, or transition from incarceration to employment.
    (Recorded webinar, Instructional PPT, User guide, List of web pages used)Learn how to use CareerOneStop to help individuals with a criminal record find valuable community resources, develop career and training plans, and conduct an effective job search.

Additional curriculum to adapt for your workshops and 1:1 services

Find Outreach Materials, check out and sign up to receive our Connections newsletter, or subscribe to the CareerOneStop blog on CareerOneStop.

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Hot job: Cybersecurity professional

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Glowing lock graphic
Glowing lock graphic

It’s no secret that cyber crimes—in particular breaking into computer systems to steal personal information—are getting more and more sophisticated.  This is bad news for just about everybody: small businesses, large corporations, government agencies at all levels, and even individuals are all victims.

But it’s good news for a few people: those interested in a career in cybersecurity are looking at the hottest job market in years. Companies and agencies of all sizes are looking for qualified workers to help combat cybercrime. By one estimate, there are more than 3 million unfilled cybersecurity jobs globally.

What is a cybersecurity professional?

Often called information security analysts, these IT professionals design and implement security measures to protect an organization’s computer networks and systems. Their creativity and innovation continually expand as the number and complexity of cyberattacks increases. Information security analysts install and operate firewalls, data encryption programs, and other software, monitor their organization for security breaches, and even simulate attacks to look for vulnerabilities in their system.

Professionals in this field need to keep up with new technology and preventive methods. Their work is the opposite of hacking—and security analysts need to know how to break a system’s defenses, just as well as they know how to build them.

The demand for these jobs is big: the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be more than 16,000 job opening across the country each year for the next 10 years. And the pay is good too, with a median national salary of $104,000.

How can you become a cybersecurity professional?

The most common way to prepare to work in cybersecurity is to earn a bachelor’s degree in a related field.  If you’re looking at four-year colleges, look for these programs, which can all lead to an entry-level job in the field:

But a college degree isn’t the only way to enter the cybersecurity field. There are several professional certifications that can help you qualify also. Earning a certification usually involves taking courses and studying to pass an exam.  It can be an intense learning experience, but it’s almost always quicker—and a lot cheaper—than earning a four–year degree. Experts recommend the following certifications for working in cybersecurity:

Visit CareerOneStop’s Certification Finder to learn more about certifications and search for others that may be a good fit for your career goals.

Want to learn more about cybersecurity careers?

Visit Discovering Cybersecurity Careers from the National Institute for Cybersecurity Education (NICE).

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It’s National Manufacturing Day!

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Manufacturing Overview
Manufacturing Overview

Did you know that careers in manufacturing range from welders to wind service technicians to bioengineers and robotics designers? In honor of October 1’s National Manufacturing Day, CareerOneStop is showcasing the wide range of careers in this diverse industry.

The manufacturing industry produces nearly all the products and equipment used in daily life. Manufacturing is the transformation of materials or parts into new products. For example, a manufacturer takes a raw material—such as wood—and processes it into a ready-to-sell product like pulp, paper, and plywood. 

Quick facts about manufacturing

Southern / Midwestern concentration. Manufacturers operate in every state, but are particularly important for Midwest and South regional economies, where manufacturing may account for 10% or more of all jobs.

A large employer. Over 12.5 million people are employed in the manufacturing industry, while millions of jobs in other industries are reliant on manufactured products.

Trending toward techincal. The use of artificial intelligence and automation in manufacturing continues to grow, requiring a workforce with technical skills to match.

High demand. Job candidates with a high school diploma and short-term technical training are in great demand in manufacturing.

Is a career in manufacturing for me?

Although energy industry careers differ widely, there are some core skills needed in many roles. Time management is helpful for the project-oriented work typical of the industry, and critical thinking is essential for problem solving when issues arise. Mechanical and mathematical skills are needed in many roles, including project construction and equipment maintenance.

Some points to keep in mind: 

  • Round-the-clock shifts are common—and first shift positions are usually harder to find than night shifts or weekends. In addition, some employers may require mandatory overtime to meet production demand.
  • Working conditions may include loud noise, heat or cold, and standing for long periods of time.
  • Candidates who enjoy tinkering with hand or machine tools, and are curious about mechanical systems have an advantage and are especially sought after in this industry.
  • Due to worker shortages, manufacturers may have to compete for workers by offering increased wages, benefits, and flexibility in scheduling.

What are some careers in manufacturing?

Take a look at the list below to learn about manufacturing careers at different levels of education. Click any link to find out more about a career, including average wages, employment projections, training requirements and more. You’ll also see whether they require that you pass a certification exam and/or qualify for licensure in your state. Unlike in many industries, new hires in manufacturing are commonly expected to learn the work on the job. Therefore, many occupations have minimal education requirements—typically a high school diploma or less—and new hires can also earn a technical certificate on the job.

High school education

Short-term training, apprenticeship, on the job learning or specific license

More advanced training or bachelor’s degree  

Each year, Manufacturing Day (MFG Day) is held on the first Friday in October in order to show students, parents, and the public what modern manufacturing is all about.  The fourth industrial revolution is rapidly changing our world. New advanced manufacturing technologies bring about whole new careers, requiring a skilled workforce interested in pursuing them. From bioengineers, to data analysts to robotics technicians, and all of the operations in between, there is a place for everyone in manufacturing!

Together with the National Association of Manufacturers, The Manufacturing Institute, MEP Centers, and federal agency partners, the Manufacturing USA network celebrates the manufacturers who make the products that keep us safe, enrich our lives, strengthen our economic and national security, and provide countless opportunities for our communities and workforce.

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High-paying careers with high school education or less

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Entry-level workers, Job seekers, Students, Uncategorized
Engineer working at industrial zone for operate equipment, Steel pipelines and valve
Engineer working at industrial zone for operate equipment, Steel pipelines and valve

Looking for a career that pays well but requires only a high school diploma or less? You can find a wide variety of career options using CareerOneStop’s Highest-Paying Careers report.

What are some of my career options?

The two tables below show careers with the highest median wages based on the latest available wage data (currently May 2020). These lists show national data, but you can find data for your state by going to the report and entering your state in the Search by Location box in the top left on the report page. The Typical Education filters let you choose which careers show up on your results list.

Here’s what the information on the tables provide:

  • The official career title; click this link to view a full profile of information about this type of career.
  • Median national wages: this means that half of the people currently working in this career earn more than this amount, half earn less.
  • Typical education: the amount of education that most people have when they enter the career.
  • Rank: this shows where the career falls on the full list of all the occupations at any level of education.

The first list below shows 10 of the highest-paying careers that have a typical education requirement of high school diploma or equivalent. Keep in mind that some of these careers have on-the-job training requirements, and some may be growing, while others may have fewer job openings in the near future. See full list.

RankOccupation2020 Median wages (hourly and annual salary)
62Nuclear Power Reactor Operators$50.02$104,000
80Transportation, Storage, and Distribution Managers$46.34$96,400
84Power Distributors and Dispatchers$45.72$95,100
91Commercial PilotsN/A$93,300
92First-Line Supervisors of Police and Detectives$44.70$93,000
108Elevator and Escalator Installers and Repairers$42.57$88,500
114Detectives and Criminal Investigators$41.80$86,900
129Power Plant Operators$40.70$84,700
149Petroleum Pump System Operators, Refinery Operators, and Gaugers$37.90$78,800
150First-Line Supervisors of Non-Retail Sales Workers$37.77$78,600

Below is a list of the 10 highest-paying careers that have a typical education requirement of some high school (no diploma). See full list.                                                                                                 

RankOccupation2020 Median wages (hourly and annual salary)
230Artists and Related Workers, All Other$31.63$65,800
266Hoist and Winch Operators$30.10$62,600
296Tapers$28.58$59,500
323Continuous Mining Machine Operators$27.37$56,900
328Loading and Moving Machine Operators, Underground Mining$27.23$56,600
353Rotary Drill Operators, Oil and Gas$25.88$53,800
388Athletes and Sports CompetitorsN/A$50,900
428Derrick Operators, Oil and Gas$23.04$47,900
429Farm Labor Contractors$22.97$47,800
435Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers$22.82$47,500

What if I want to save the career report?

You can download and save your list by clicking the Download button at the bottom of your results list, and choose from Excel, PDF, Word, or RTF formats. You can also email your results or print them out using the icons at the top of the page.

This information comes from the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Check out our other career reports: fastest-growing careers, careers with declining employment, careers with largest employment, and careers with most openings.

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Relocation: how much will you need to earn?

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Career changers, Job seekers, Uncategorized
Aerial view of New York City
Aerial view of New York City

Considering a move to a new city, but unsure of how far your salary will stretch there? Ever wondered what you’d need to earn to live in your dream location? CareerOneStop’s new Compare Cost of Living tool has the information to help.

What does this tool do?

CareerOneStop’s Compare Cost of Living tool helps you understand how much more or less it might cost to live in a different location than your current hometown.

When you enter your current location and salary (or hourly wage), the tool uses a cost-of-living equation to show you the salary or wage amount that would pay for a similar lifestyle in the new location that you select.

If you’re thinking about relocating, this tool can help you answer questions such as:

  • Will my expenses be more or less if I move to a new city or state?
  • How much would I need to make to afford my current lifestyle if I relocate?
  • Should I ask for a higher salary if I relocate?

What does “cost of living” mean?

Cost of living is an estimate of how much it would cost to cover basic expenses such as housing, food, and other necessities in a particular place. The cost-of-living equation used in this tool was developed by the Analyst Resource Center and is based on yearly estimates of the basic-needs cost of living for a typical family, including monthly living costs in seven cost categories: food, housing, health care, transportation, child care, other necessities, and net taxes.

The cost-of-living data used in this tool is available at a county level for counties in all 50 U.S. states, as well as the District of Columbia. When you enter a city and state or a ZIP code, you’ll see data for the related county.

A real relocation example

Let’s say you live in Atlanta, Georgia, and currently earn a salary of $50,000 per year. But you want to move to Los Angeles to be closer to family and explore new career options. What salary would you need to earn in Los Angeles to maintain a similar level of housing quality, food options, maintain your car, get the medical care you and your family might need, etc.?

It turns out a comparable salary for Los Angeles would be $63,400, so you’d either need to earn that salary bump or be willing to change your lifestyle in the new location, at least until you increase your earnings.

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Career options for high school grads

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Uncategorized
Male graduate holding diploma
graduate holing diploma

Have your high-school diploma and don’t plan to go to college?  That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still plan your career path. Take a look at the options below,

Identify possible careers that fit your interests

Start with an interest assessment to get ideas for careers that fit your interests, or what you like to do. Your results will show you a list of careers; use the “Experience or education needed” filter to see your best-fit occupations at the level of education you prefer.

Next you can select any job title in your results to see details on the career description and watch a video to learn more about life on the job.

Learn about the requirements and details of a career before you invest money or time into any training you might do.

Once you’ve selected some careers to research further, you can compare some of the important details about them. Use the Occupation Profile to research answers to the following key questions and eliminate careers that don’t fit your goals:

  • What’s the job outlook for the career that your training will lead to?
  • What type of education does this occupation typically require?
  • How many new jobs are expected in coming years?
  • What’s the usual salary?
  • What skills, knowledge, and abilities are used in the career?

Investigate apprenticeship opportunities

Apprenticeships are full-time jobs with built-in training that prepare workers to enter in-demand careers. They can provide an affordable way to build a high-paying career without the student debt that can add up for college students.

Apprenticeships are sponsored by employers, unions, and professional associations in fields such as information technology, finance and business, healthcare, hospitality, transportation, and manufacturing.

Visit the Apprenticeship Finder on Apprenticeship.gov to see opportunities that have been advertised in your area.

Check out Job Corps

Students between 16 and 24 years old might qualify for Job Corps, a free residential education and training program to prepare for careers.

Explore certifications

You can start in a number of entry-level fields by studying for and earning a certification.

A certification is a credential that you earn by achieving specific skills or knowledge. Some jobs or employers require workers to have certain certifications, especially in health care, IT, or financial fields. Even if not required, certifications show an employer you have learned and achieved in your field, which makes you a more attractive job candidate in general.

Certifications relate to a type of job, a specific technology such as software or hardware, or to a broader industry. They are sponsored by a professional organization or company, and to earn one typically requires that you pass a knowledge or skill test. You may be able to prepare for certification exams at a community college, through the sponsoring organization, or study on your own, for example, by reading a software manual.

Use the Certification Finder to find out about certifications in the fields that interest you.

Look into short-term certificate programs

Many community or technical college programs can lead to a certificate award in less than two years. Even if you’re pretty sure a college degree isn’t for you, having a certificate in your field can help you qualify for a job, get a promotion, or earn more money. Look for short-term training programs near you at Local Training Finder. Get started with these simple steps:

  • Enter a keyword for the type of job or training you’re looking for.
  • Enter your location to view a list of programs near you.
  • Use the “Program Length” filter on the left-hand side of your results to limit your results by how long it typically takes to complete the program.

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Start college with your future in mind

Posted on by CareerOneStop Posted in Students, Uncategorized, Youth
diverse college students gather on steps
diverse college students gather on steps

The iconic college experience mixes a lot of fun in with learning, and idealizes those years as a carefree time of life. However, for some students college is all about training for a profession while working hard to pay for tuition and fees.

Whether you are at college for the solid education or more for the lifestyle, all students have an opportunity to make college an experience that will elevate the course of the rest of their lives. Here are some suggestions to make college as big and life-enhancing as possible:

  1. Develop relationships with a wide variety of people. It is possibly the easiest time in your life to form relationships, as you are surrounded by students, faculty, and staff; some may become lifelong connections, some you’ll just know briefly, but relationships you begin in college can provide sustaining friendships, a source of inspiration and motivation, as well as future roommates, job referrals, and more.
  2. Join extracurricular activities. Everyone says it, but this is a time when a rich smorgasbord of activities are available, and most are covered by student fees. Some opportunities that colleges may offer: attend theater, lectures, music and dance performances; meet with visiting scholars and dignitaries; participate in intramural sports, outdoor adventures, service projects, academic and social clubs; host a radio show or join a drumming group; learn about bee keeping or organic gardening. And if you get a chance to lead a club or other group, take it. Even leading a team for a class project helps you gain skills and see yourself in the leadership role.
  3. Take classes in unexpected subjects and develop a well-rounded background. If you are a science major, take studio art or photography. If you are a theater major, try computer science or biology. Everyone, take some history and psychology. With exposure to a variety of subjects, you’ll enhance your writing skills, presentation / public speaking skills, analytical thinking, and also collaborative skills through group projects. These are the skills that will provide career resilience in addition to a more satisfying experience as a citizen and participant in civic life.
  4. Aim to do an internship. During your college years, or soon thereafter if your schedule is too packed, apply for internships and invest the time in them. Work experience you gain during college will teach you about what you like and don’t like in terms of organizations, supervision style, tasks, pace, culture. And it will help your degree pay off in your future job search, both through skill development and contacts.
  5. Take care of your mental health. If you experience anxiety or depression symptoms, seek help directly and don’t let them wear you down. The mental health of students is a major concern for colleges now, and most are equipped to support students with mental health services. Most campuses host a counseling center, and your student services office will have referrals and ideas for coping.
  6. Look for faculty mentors. Visit your professors during office hours to talk about your goals as well as questions and challenges from class. Ask for ideas and guidance to develop your strengths, professional identity, and future career. Ask them about their own career path and how they chose their fields. Welcome their suggestions and know they might be a source of professional or graduate school recommendations, help you present at conferences, or offer you research roles, internships, and other opportunities.
  7. Seek life balance, but forgive yourself for getting off track. Life balance is important, but it can be a big challenge to maintain during college, especially for students living on campus. Some common behaviors that sidetrack students include: getting too little sleep, alcohol and drug use, gaming, social media involvement, but also isolation – particularly in remote learning conditions. To keep in balance, monitor these behaviors or others that tend to sidetrack you. Exercise is also important for regulating physical well-being, mental health, and reducing stress.
  8. Take risks and embrace failure. These may sound trite, but really when you consider how you’ve learned valuable lessons so far—failure and mistakes probably rate pretty high. The point is to recover and learn from them and to not take them too seriously. That’s genuinely how resilience gets built and college is a great, mostly safe, place to explore how it feels to fail and recover.

As a foundation-building experience, college is also a time to learn about yourself; discover what you really do like, dislike, value, or want to drop. Go into college with a mindset of openness and discovery to help you learn more about you.  

Learn more about college or explore careers for your future at CareerOneStop’s GetMyFuture website.

Also check out a 2018 Gallup study entitled “Career-Relevant Education Linked to Student Well-Being”. The study relates students’ experiences during college to their long-term well-being in life and work after graduation.

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