Life After School

By Tatiana Serna, Campus Representative, University of Rhode Island

Preparing for the days after college ends is a stressful endeavor.

Alison Diefenderfer, experienced in the higher education environment, gives some advice on “How to prepare for employment after graduation.” In Diefenderfer’s article she explains how important it is to improve your computer skills, she also says that students should pick their elective courses wisely, and try to pursue additional certifications before leaving college.

She writes:

Designing a webpage or website is also an excellent way to have a professional source for potential employers to peruse. One could upload a resume and maybe writing or artwork samples (depends on major field of study/industry wish to work in). A short biography and picture can add a professional flair… In addition to making one's computer skills as robust as possible, high school and college students ought to think twice about the elective courses they choose. While easier course loads might be alluring, they will not help when trying to make headway with a job search. Computer courses, foreign language classes, and even a double major all make an individual more marketable…

Although there is always the option of going back to school for additional training, it is often cheaper to work on certificates or minors before graduating.

Of course, looking back there is always more I could have done – an extra club or organization, learned a new language or tried a new class. It’s important to always look ahead and decide what I can do now.