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College students are busy people; that is just a fact. When we are not up and down balancing our classes with extracurriculars, we also have to think about what the future holds for us: in this case, our careers. Seeing how far you’ve come regarding career development can seem like an intimidating area to think about. Still, it is crucial to understand where you’re standing to move forward and progress. And luckily enough, it takes only a couple of steps! So before you go to your career coach or if you don’t have the time to meet with one, here is how you can self-assess your career progress:
- Double Check Your Goals: Have you set career goals before? If yes, how have you progressed in achieving these goals? Depending on your answers to these questions, reevaluate your goals and update them to fit your current standing.
- Reflect On Your Skills: If there are any prominent skills you have learned or improved upon recently, remember to include these in your resume, LinkedIn, or overall mindset! Even new skills you might have yet to improve make a big difference.
- Evaluate Your Academics: Identify the classes you excel in and the classes you need to improve on. What are your strengths and weaknesses? Work hard on improving your grades and focus on the skills that help you thrive.
- Think Extracurriculars: If you are in any clubs, look back on any leadership positions you have held or times you’ve stepped in to help during an event or meeting. These skills and experiences can take part of your resume or make great conversation starters for interviews or cover letters!
- Stay Focused: Always consistently update your career profiles at any given opportunity. Assess the career development areas you want to improve, like networking, follow-ups, or even your handshake!
And remember, it is okay if you have to improve in several areas or feel like you don’t need to do more for your career growth. Take baby steps and stay focused on the places you are good in, and soon enough, you will be so much more advanced than you were. Good Luck!
