16 Things Underclassmen Can Do to Prepare for Life after Graduation

Last week, I gave a speed talk to a class of over 150+ college freshman about how they can prepare for post grad, even as first-year students. It got me thinking about all they simple ways students can jumpstart their career. Here's a list of my top tips:

1. Keep in contact with professionals long-term - add calendar reminders to follow-up with key contacts every 6 months. If you can be consistent and maintain communication over a few years, you'll have a solid relationship and won't feel desperate when you're about to graduate and reach out for help. (No shame to seniors that reach out). I am still in contact with some alumni that I met 4 years ago as a first-year student. One of whom I got an internship at CBS with (I didn't even apply) because I stayed in contact consistently for 3 years.
2. Getting someone's email or Linkedin is useless, unless you follow up and actually have a conversation beyond the initial intro. Would you vouch for someone you don't know? Exactly. Get the ball rolling by asking questions about their experiences, or share articles/events they might be interested in. 
3. Play the “student card” to talk to people. The best part of being an underclassman is you’re not as hungry for a full-time job, so you could come across more eager to learn than just a desperate job seeker - that’s attractive. Always frame your messages around "wanting to learn." Who wouldn't want to help someone learn?
4. See someone you want to talk to but don’t know directly? Follow these steps for reaching out: Introduce yourself and say you’re a student > Tell them why you want to talk to them (did they work on a cool project? They have a position you’d like to learn more?) > And say you want to LEARN more about XX > Acknowledge that they’re busy and you’d appreciate if they could answer a few questions. (Does not have to be a coffee date, stick with email or a quick phone call first)
5. If you want to learn something, but a formal opportunity isn't available to you - improvise. I wanted to gain more experience with graphic design since I hadn't taken any classes, so I contacted my local pizzeria and library to create internships. I redid their logos and branding materials over Winter break.
6. Stick to your guns. If something falls outside of your values or gives you weird vibes of ethics and danger, then trust your instinct. I turned down the opportunity to participate in an all-expense paid fellowship in NYC because the company I would interview for went against many of my personal ethics and values. It was a really difficult decision but I didn't want to compromise myself for the glam.
7. If you're even slightly curious about ANYTHING, give it a try while you're in college. You'll never have a space that is so saturated with (mostly free) opportunities about literally everything. And if you give it a go, and it's not for you - you don't have to do it again, but at least you know. When I was in college, I went to a fencing workshop, took a class about tracking animals, and sung to hospice patients.
8. Learn to say "No" to things so you can say "Yes" to the right things. I can easily say that you most likely will experience full burnout at least once or twice in college. But please do yourself a favor and craft the art of saying "no" early on so you aren't guilted into doing too many projects and work that mean nothing to you. We always have to do things that we don't want to, but for the activities that are optional - make sure you're doing them for the right reasons, and you're doing them for YOU. (Shoutout to Sabrina Hall for inspiration)
9. Your resume and job interview answers are not about you. Sounds weird, right? But everything you put out as a professional should be tailored to the company or organization you want to be a part of. How can you help them? What skills do you bring to the table to make their job easier?
10. Take advantage of all the resources on campus. You are paying thousands of dollars, you might as well maximize. Plus, you'll never have so many resources at your fingertips that are so accessible and geared to make your life easier (without a catch.) Check out your writing center, career center, gym, intramural sports, health center, mental health counselors, computer labs, camera rental houses, art galleries, personal trainers, free critiques for work, office hours with professors (several of them have YEARS of working experience), student engagement office, multicultural office, LGBTQIA+ office, theater and music performances with top musicians and actors.
11. If a professional makes an introduction for you, or gives you a contact, you need to reach out like you said you would. That person is vouching that you're professional and are excited to learn. They look bad when you don't follow through.
12. When reaching out on Linkedin, ALWAYS leave a personalized message about where you met/found them, or why you are reaching out to them specifically. Keep it brief, but give enough context that a busy professional would feel inclined to interact with you. Nobody wants to fill their list of connection with randos, so give a little information.
13. Always thank people that helped you. Helping can mean anything - making an introduction, chatting on the phone/coffee date, providing resources, or sending referrals. No matter how big or small, always say thank you. Honestly, even if they weren't super helpful, just say thanks. If you don't, they might remember that - I sure do.
14. You never know who you’re talking to, so always be professional and polite - even when you’re not in a professional space. Always be on your best behavior. When I flew back from California, I found myself sitting next to a Disney animator and movie producer. I also befriended a UX designer at a bar.
15. Start saving money, even if it's just $20 from each paycheck. Post grad is expensive!

If you're hungry for more post grad career tips, check out CONVERGE to find actionable resources for the post grad transition. If you have any questions or feedback for this article please email [email protected].