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8 Ways to Jumpstart Your Career

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When it comes to post-college success, good grades are only part of the equation. It’s also important to develop the connections, habits, and routines that will not only help you land that first gig, but give you the foundation for a successful and meaningful long-term career.

Here are 8 ways you can help build your personal brand, from networking, to minimizing student loan debt – click through to learn more.

1.

Make a Networking Game Plan

Don’t wait until you’re in your first professional job to attend networking events and industry conferences. One person can have a powerful impact on your life, including by helping you in your search for internships, serving as a reference for future jobs or connecting you with new opportunities.

When attending an event, make sure you’re prepared with: A 2-3 sentence summary about your planned career path and interests Business cards (even while you’re still in school) A notebook and pen Mints

Make a polished first impression: wear something that you can be comfortable in for hours that would be appropriate for an interview. When in doubt, check out marketing materials online for past events, which often feature pictures of attendees.

This video talks about the idea of “conference crashing” as a way to stand out among your competition. Don’t let high registration fees deter you from attending these events: several options exist to help you network on someone else’s dime.

You’ll also find out tactics for following up with the people you meet in a meaningful and memorable way. If the idea of walking up to a stranger is intimidating, consider introducing yourself and saying that it’s your first time at a networking event; according to Inc.com, this can work well since “authenticity is a great foundation.”

Take notes as soon as possible after the event is over, highlighting the subjects you talked about with each person.

Writing these on the back of a contact’s business card is an easy way to remember who you spoke with.

2.

Re-Think a 1:1 Mentorship

While having a single mentor – with whom you’ll have one-on-one conversations about your aspirations and career – can help you advance, consider creating a “mastermind” alliance, which is a partnership with two essential members of your network.

Watch this video to learn more about what to expect from this networking method and how to get one started.

Be sure to connect with more than just those who look, think, and act like you. To develop lasting connections with people who can become valuable sounding boards and open doors for you, look for professionals who: Work at companies where you may want to apply for an internship or job Are current or potential game-changers within an industry Have skills you would like to improve in Are widely connected and discuss industry trends on social media Have diverse backgrounds, interests, and experiences

According to Forbes, ways to meet people to add diversity to your network include: Volunteering Attending non-industry events Joining clubs for people with shared hobbies

Keep in mind that each person who becomes part of your network is a direct link to everyone in his or her network as well. You’ll magnify your impact by forming and maintaining new connections.

3.

Make Yourself Memorable

After you’ve made a stellar first impression with a new networking contact, put in the effort to keep in touch. The average professional receives 121 emails a day, according to the Radicati Group, so use an engaging subject line and keep your message concise. Don’t just talk about yourself – show interest in your contact too!

Some questions that can encourage conversation: What goals are most important for you to accomplish this year?

What are you working on now that interests you?

How do you keep up with developments in your industry?

What does an average workday look like for you?

This video shows you how online tools can simplify the process of keeping in touch with your network on a regular basis. These are the people who will facilitate introductions, alert you to opportunities for internships and job openings, and possibly even invest in your future business.

When meeting someone for coffee or an informational interview, do your research so you can be prepared to have a productive conversation. By checking out what they’re sharing on their professional social media accounts, you can learn about their interests and priorities. Be thoughtful about what you’re hoping to get from the conversation as well: people will be asking about your aspirations and plans as well, and you’ll want to be ready with an answer.

4. Develop Spending Habits That Pay Off According to CNBC, about 7 of every 10 graduates leave school with student loans, which quickly become a significant chunk of a monthly budget. With that in mind, carefully managing other expenses during college means less debt later.

And less debt means more freedom to pursue a career path that feels meaningful to you because you aren’t simply working to pay the bills

This video covers both sides of financial responsibility: making more money and trimming expenses. It details the value of finding a side hustle where the only limitation on your earning power is you. Side hustles can offer flexible hours – including options where you pick your own schedule – that make it easy to balance making money with your course load.

Beyond making a budget and increasing your income, take a look at how you are spending money, particularly when using a credit card. College is an excellent time to develop habits that help you build a solid credit score. Your score will be important later when buying a car or renting a place to live. Further, some employers check applicants’ credit before extending an offer.

Tips for Good Credit Scores: Pay on time to avoid increased interest – and pay the full bill whenever possible Ensure your total amount charged during the month is a low percentage of your credit limit Limit your number of active credit card accounts Don’t co-sign on new credit card accounts for friends and relatives – this is a major liability for your score

5.

For Maximum Results, Don’t Just Pay the Minimum

Did you know that if you only pay the minimum monthly loan payment amount, you are actually paying $2 for every $1 borrowed?

One way to drastically reduce interest is to make additional payments against the principal of the loan. This involves some hard choices now, but you’ll be grateful for the financial freedom later.

Watch this video to get tips on how to choose which loans to pay off first and navigate your online loan dashboard. You’ll also learn how to avoid common pitfalls when dealing with loan servicers, which don’t make it simple for you to take a strategic approach to your payments.

After you graduate and start making more money, be sure to avoid the common trap of lifestyle inflation. It’s easy to steadily – and unintentionally – increase your spending after getting a raise or starting a new side hustle.

But stay focused – and keep paying off those loans at the accelerated rate.

According to The Motley Fool, approximately 4.7 million people with federal loans are in default; make sure you have a plan to stay ahead of the curve.

Maintain discipline with your monthly budget: Take a hard look at necessities versus luxuries and re-evaluate when your income changes Keep a budget through Excel or an online tool – and track your spending After getting a raise, calculate how much of it will go to taxes Automate regular transfers through your bank from checking to savings to minimize the temptation to spend more Avoid putting clothes, food, and drinks on credit cards so you’re more conscious of your spending

6.

Treat Scholarship Applications Like a Part-Time Job

Scholarships are one of the most important tools for minimizing your student loan debt.

But here’s what no one tells you – scholarships aren’t just for prospective students. If you put the effort in, winning scholarships can be more lucrative than a part-time job.

Check out this video to learn how to get a piece of the billions of scholarship money going unclaimed each year. You’ll learn about the types of awards that are often overlooked, how to differentiate yourself from others, and online tools that help with creating an efficient system for your applications.

When writing essays, don’t get hung up on making them perfect. Remember to: Print out your essay to proofread it: changing the font and margin size can make it easier to get a fresh look at your work Organize your previous essays so you can strategically adapt them for future applications Double-check the essay prompt and all related stipulations before submitting your application Consider the values of the organization offering the scholarship and tailor your topic based on what you think will resonate Resist the urge to take an academic approach to all essays: for some topics, adding an emotional touch and revealing vulnerabilities can distinguish you from the crowd

Keep in mind, however, that winning scholarships could have impacts on financial aid packages. U.S. News & World Report recommends checking with your school about whether it has any relevant policies.

7.

Make a Daily Routine Work for You

To free up enough time for scholarship applications and side hustles you’ll want to critically evaluate your time management approach for balancing schoolwork, downtime, and other responsibilities.

In this video you’ll learn strategies that can help you improve your productivity, including free online tools.

By identifying how you’re spending your time, it’s easier to make improvements so you’re focused when you need to be and able to truly relax during your downtime.

From establishing a morning routine to prioritizing sleep, discovering your optimum time management habits requires adjusting variables and seeing what works for you: Try out different study environments to see where you get the most done – a completely quiet room, a public place with background noise, etc.

Schedule meaningful downtime for yourself Experiment with setting a timer to encourage both uninterrupted work and genuine breaks to reinvigorate your focus Lower the barriers to getting work done by selecting the smallest component of a task possible and starting there to create momentum Use settings on your phone and computer to mute notifications while you’re in concentration mode – a study from UC Irvine estimates that regaining focus after a distraction can take up to 23 minutes

8.

Negotiating Your Salary Now Will Pay Off In Your Future

Your salary for your first post-graduation job will determine where you live, how much room your budget has for fun, and how quickly you pay off your student loans. It also impacts your future earning potential as companies typically give raises as a percentage of your existing salary.

This video illustrates how you can make a strong start. According to Robert Half, only 39 percent of people attempted to negotiate a salary on the last job offer they received.

Don’t be in this group – watch this video to learn about the legwork necessary before you get an offer and how to avoid shortchanging yourself by giving up negotiating power.

Your salary is just one piece of your compensation package: you’ll want to put just as much effort into evaluating the benefits too.

This goes beyond health, dental, and 401(k) – it includes benefits that can have a big impact on your quality of life, including telecommuting, flexible hours, and designated sick days. Further, flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts can help you pay for medical expenses with pre-tax dollars, freeing up more money to pay off student loans.

To make your budget easier to calculate, ensure you have the answers to these questions:

What is the out-of-pocket cost for health insurance?

What benefits is a new hire eligible for – and when do they take effect?

Are parking and public transportation subsidized?

Does the company have an in-office gym or discounts to nearby gyms?

If this information is not on the company’s website, in your offer letter, or on websites like Glassdoor, ask a human resources representative.

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