University Isn’t a Waiting Room

(And No, No One’s Handing Out Jobs at Convocation)

Too many students treat university like a holding tank. They show up, sit through lectures, hand in the papers, and wait patiently for the moment someone slides a job offer across the table with their degree.

That moment never comes.

University is not a conveyor belt that drops you at the feet of your dream employer. It’s a launch pad only if you treat it like one.

Here’s how to stop waiting and start building something real—before the tassel gets flipped.

1. Get Your Hands Dirty Early

Employers don’t want a perfectly formatted CV. They want proof you can do the thing.

Start now:

  • Intern—Paid or unpaid, experience is currency.

  • Freelance—Design, write, build, promote. Find problems. Solve them.

  • Part-Time Work—Even entry-level jobs in your field give you an edge.

  • Side Projects—Launch a thing. Build a portfolio. Show your work.

Waiting until you graduate is like trying to win a cooking show with a grocery list.

2. Build a Reputation (On Purpose)

You already have a personal brand. The question is whether you’re curating it or letting your high school TikTok videos speak on your behalf.

Do this now:

  • Google yourself—Clean up what needs cleaning.

  • Use LinkedIn—Not to brag, but to belong. Show up. Share ideas. Make it easy for someone to say yes to you.

  • Put your work somewhere—Blog. Portfolio site. YouTube. Doesn’t matter. Just make it findable.

Your future boss is probably online. You should be too.

3. Network Before You Need Anything

Networking is just talking to people with curiosity and follow-through. That’s it.

Start by:

  • Attending events—Conferences. Guest speakers. Even the awkward pizza socials.

  • Talking to profs—They know things. And people.

  • Emailing alumni—Most of them remember what it’s like to be you. Ask smart questions. Follow up.

A degree might get you an interview. A relationship can get you in the door.

4. Learn the Skills School Forgot

Academia loves theory. Employers? Not so much.

Pick up these now:

  • Writing clearly—If you can explain things well, you will always be useful.

  • Speaking up—Practice pitching ideas. Present in class like it matters.

  • Email etiquette—Learn to be brief, kind, and competent in your inbox.

  • Business basics—Budgeting. Marketing. Understanding how work works.

You don’t need to know everything. But knowing a little more than expected helps.

5. Don’t Think Like a Student

Students wait for instructions. Professionals make things happen. Be the latter.

Start shifting:

  • Be proactive—Ask “what else needs doing?”

  • Own your stuff—Mistakes. Wins. Learn to carry both.

  • Act like you belong—Even when your knees are shaking. Especially then.

Confidence doesn’t mean faking it. It means showing up before you feel ready.

6. Start the Job Hunt Early

Job hunting after graduation is like joining the race when it’s half over.

Try this now:

  • Read job postings—Even if you’re not applying yet. See what’s out there.

  • Book informational interviews—People love to talk about themselves. Let them.

  • Create a target list—Who do you want to work for? Follow them. Connect. Get visible.

You don’t need to beg for jobs. You need to show up like someone they’d want around.

7. Make Your Own Luck

The best opportunities won’t be posted on your university job board. You have to go looking. Sometimes even make them up.

Your career doesn’t begin after graduation. It begins the moment you decide to build it.

And the people who win? They don’t wait to be chosen. They start before they feel ready.

Resources Worth Your Time:

  • The Defining Decade by Meg Jay – Why your 20s matter (and how to use them well)

  • Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi – The only networking book that doesn’t make you cringe

  • So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport – On why skills beat passion, every time

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