The Top 5 Job Tips for College Students: Make Money; Earn Experience

"The harder I work, the luckier I get," said wildly successful movie producer Samuel Goldwyn. When it comes to your career, you can take your chances and wait for opportunity to knock. Or you can create your own career opportunity while still in college. The following five strategies prepare you for the job market while you study and put you ahead of the pack upon graduation.

5 Ways to Create Career Opportunity While in School

The choices you make while in college are bound to shape your opportunities as a college graduate. To achieve your career goals upon graduation, take the initiative to translate your college education into real job skills. Industry experience and professional recommendations demonstrate to employers you have what it takes to leverage classroom knowledge on the job.

The following strategies help you learn the ropes of your future career while you pursue your degree program:

1. Internships

Internships offer a strategic way to get your foot in the door. These introductory jobs for college students expose you to a business through special projects and professional mentorship. It's a win-win for you and the company. You gain valuable career insight and experience to build your resume. And the employer gets to "test-drive" potential college recruits at a low cost (internships typically come with a small stipend). Perform well, and your internship could lead to a job offer upon graduation.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), "College students who complete an internship prior to graduation have a higher chance of finding a full-time job." A NACE survey found that 69.6 percent of interns receive full-time job offers. Graduates with an internship under their belt were also paid 6.5 times more than those who entered the field with no internship experience.

How To: Most college career centers include internships among their lists of jobs for college students. If you have your eye on a particular company, consider contacting their HR coordinator to inquire about internship programs.

2. Research Assistant Jobs

As a student research assistant, you'll build job-ready research skills working alongside a scientist or academic researcher. Research assistants may check sources, compile and analyze data, manage lab experiments and record results, carry out library searches, or complete grant applications. With a research assistant job on your resume, you'll be in a strong position to secure a job in product development, biotech research, medical diagnostics, public policy, or information management.

How To: Ask a professor for research contacts in your field. Also, look for postgraduate research fellowships on university and private foundation websites.

3. Fellowships

Many fellowships are sponsored by corporations committed to cultivating the next generation of professionals. Energy companies like Chevron, financial institutions such as HSBC, and federal government agencies are just a few employers sponsoring undergraduate fellowships. Fellowships are designed to promote your progress in your degree program by covering tuition and other educational costs. But many also include special access to career resources, internship opportunities, and a leg up in the company graduate recruitment.

How to: Consult your college's fellowship or financial aid office to identify fellowships in your field. Your departmental advisor or a professor may also be able to suggest (and support your application for) a corporate or public fellowship.

4. Informational Interviews

Start exploring your career options now, while you're still in school, and you'll be a step ahead of the game once you graduate. Informational interviews offer the quickest path to insight into a career. A working professional in your career area can tell you what to expect and what you can do now to prepare. Find out what classes to take, what kind of work experience you need, and professional associations you can join to launch your career after college.

How To: Join your college alumni association, and search the directory for someone with a background in your field or degree program. At the same time, ask everyone in your personal network for referrals. Informational interviews expand both your professional network and your awareness of jobs for college students.

5. Part-Time Jobs

Part-time jobs offer similar benefits to internships--you can test out a career path while you work toward your degree. The added career training is a particular asset if your degree program is in a broad liberal arts or social science field with no single career trajectory. For example, a philosophy major may mobilize those conceptual skills with a part-time job in IT, advertising, or sales.

How To: Check out your college career center's job board, where you'll find both part-time jobs for college students and full-time jobs for college graduates. Also tap your alumni network and your personal contacts to look for part-time jobs relevant to your future career interests.

Strategic planning while you're still in college will bring your resume to the top of the stack once you graduate. Lay the foundation for your future career by testing your options now. Internships, part-time jobs, fellowships, and interviews give you the knowledge and contacts you need to transition seamlessly from your degree program into your dream job.

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