Your college can help you pave the way for your future beyond just earning a degree.

Being a college student opens up a treasure trove of resources to help you secure part-time employment, internships for academic credit, or jumpstart your career post-graduation. Colleges, in addition to fostering student growth through education, rely on top-notch career services to enhance their reputation and attract more students, ultimately benefiting you.

Most colleges boast dedicated career services departments stocked with a plethora of tools and connections. Need an internship related to your field of study? The career services department often has a curated list of local businesses eager to onboard students for a semester-long internship. Searching for a side gig? They might offer a roster of pre-screened, part-time job opportunities suitable for college students, a safer alternative to scanning classified ads. Even after you graduate, many colleges extend career service access to alumni via an online platform, featuring numerous entry-level job openings that carry the endorsement of your alma mater.

While tapping into the resources provided by the career services department is crucial, don’t underestimate the power of networking while in college. The diversity in backgrounds and aspirations among your peers—from friends to roommates to club members—offers a rich pool for networking. Cultivating relationships with individuals already established in your desired field can potentially open doors and connect you with key players.