How do students get this type of experience? Many times, students will have a combination of on-campus and off-campus coursework. This includes completing general education courses, such as English, history, foreign language, math, chemistry and science. All coursework must be original and passed at the end of the year. Some students will have the opportunity to take classes that are not directly related to their major, but they are required to complete them in order to maintain their eligibility for graduation.
Internships are a great way for students to experience work experience. This is especially true for students who are majoring in the arts, because they have the unique chance to do field work and learn about different types of media. While these types of internships will not count towards a degree, it is still a great way to learn about a profession.
Taking paid or unpaid field work opportunities is another way that students can gain experience. While this experience does not count as credit towards their degree, it is still an option. Students need to be careful about accepting any offered work, because it will be their primary basis for evaluating their academic performance. Doing so shows potential employers that you are willing to put in the time to succeed. Employers also prefer well-rounded employees who are not afraid to take responsibility for their own learning.
The last two examples are the most common. Most students find internships through college organizations or their school. These work experiences are often not credited towards graduation, and students may feel obligated to accept whatever jobs they are given. This can be detrimental to their resume if a company sees an obvious lack of effort. Unpaid internships are another great way for students to gain valuable work experience. Students who volunteer to work at the local humanitarian organization or teach at a local school are great examples of this type of work experience.
Many students enter college with work experience already built up. If they have experience working as a waiter or waitress, for example, it can be hard for them to find a job that requires more experience. As long as they have quick service skills, however, it will be easy to find a position. Because it is hard to get experience without a specific set of skills, however, it is important to realize that work experience does count towards majoring in any major. An internship or volunteer job will count toward majoring in Communications, Marketing, or Social Sciences; depending on which major the student majoring in hopes of majoring in.
The last example of work experience, which many students think does not count as work, is driving. Although most people do not think of driving as “work”, it does count because it is required to legally operate a vehicle. Some students, who are majoring in Nursing, decide to take a driver’s education course instead of signing up for a standard driver’s license. With this type of education, students learn how to safely operate a vehicle on the road. This experience often helps students later when applying for jobs, since it shows that the student has experience dealing with the roads.
Although it is easy to assume that academic experiences will only help students achieve their degrees, it is important to realize that experience does count towards graduation. Students can use these experiences to help build their resumes and land jobs after they graduate. By deciding what types of academic and work experience will help them later on, students can avoid choosing majors that will limit their potential job opportunities. By knowing ahead of time what types of experience will help them land their first job after graduation, students can avoid any majoring decision dilemmas that could come from not thinking about the impact of their major.
