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Career experts say maximizing the college experience is a matter of gathering the career knowledge and advice that can give job searchers a leg up in an increasingly competitive hiring market.

“People are out of work who are highly experienced, so people just coming out of college might be at a disadvantage,” said Dr. Bari Norman, director of Expert Admissions, LLC, a college entrance preparatory and advising service. “We’re seeing that even with summer jobs for high school students. People who would be unwilling to take those jobs are more willing now, and high school students are having a hard time finding a job.”

So what’s a future college graduate to do? First and foremost, develop a knack for good communication. Even if it’s not your major, get involved in the communications department to further your speaking, writing, teamwork and interpersonal skills. On a resume, these talents might be demonstrated through a leadership position, participation in student media, contest awards, or participation in a conference or workshop.

“When we talk to employers about what skills they value, communication skills always come out on top,” said Mimi Collins, spokesperson for the National Association of Colleges and Employers. “Good communication skills, both written and oral, are important even if you’re not interested in a media job.”

Students should also work to develop strong relationships with school personnel. These professionals can provide career insight, advice, and personal recommendations to aid the job search, and even act as ongoing career mentors after graduation.

“Faculty staff and advisors are highly qualified people who can provide much-needed direction. Most students don’t have that and they need someone who is truly objective,” Norman said.

Another place to seek out career advice and guidance is the college career center, a service provided by most colleges at no extra cost. Typical offerings like interviewing and resume writing workshops, not to mention the vast network of company contacts and background information, make the career center a resource that college students should not overlook.

“You may not know what you want to do as a career, or what your major qualified you for,” Collins said. “Pretty much, from soup to nuts, the career center is the place where you can start that process. Once you get out of college, there are certainly career counselors available to help you, but they’re commercial and they don’t come cheap.”

The literature available at the career center and on-campus career fairs can help a student do the requisite background research before entering a job interview. In many employers’ minds, this preparation helps boost a prospective employee above the competition.

“When someone comes in for an interview, it’s very obvious whether someone has researched the company,” Collins said. “Because so many employers have web sites now, they don’t buy that you just ‘couldn’t find any information on them.’ You’re trying to demonstrate to them how you fit into the organization. It’s very hard to do that if you don’t understand what the company’s goals are.”

Amid the whirlwind that is the college experience, it can be difficult to remember to take time for networking, career research, and life skills development. But the well-rounded college experience – with volunteer work, internships, awards, positive extracurricular activities, and strong references – is a critical piece of the career puzzle. Likewise, it is equally important to tie up loose ends before leaving college, despite dealing with the hustle and bustle of graduation.

Though it has a reputation for being one long vacation, the last semester of college should be devoted to several practical matters as well. When it comes to a media industry job search, good writing samples are always a plus, especially when appearing in the form of a newspaper article or press release instead of a college term paper. Find a way to get those clips under your belt, and take two to three copies of each with you when leaving college.

“Employers are always concerned about the abilities of prospective employees, and if you can show a sample that demonstrates good writing and clear thinking, it is always good,” Norman said.

Students should also focus on the job search, gathering letters of reference from willing faculty members and internship coordinators, securing a transcript of grades, and hopefully getting one last coup d’gras like a prestigious award or internship. Though the college experience may seem to fly by in the blink of an eye, it is actually somewhat akin to running a marathon. The beginning, duration and finish all require equal concentration and focus, and in the end, the rewards will be great for a job well done.

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