Although the beginning of college is filled with Solo cups and Ramen, a large part of your college career has all to do with your career-career. Universities are meant to do a lot more than ground you with homework and exams.

There are tons of resources directed toward students to better prepare them for life after school. In addition, there are plenty of things students can be doing to make themselves stick out and, altogether, better prepared for the working world.

Drury, in particular, has made great strides to make sure its students are ready and prepared for a career after graduation. The scoop’s Megan Dern sat down with Debbie Huff in the Academic Planning office at Drury University to find out what Drury offers that is most helpful to students ready to graduate.

Here are five tips to making yourself more presentable to future employers, and ensuring a successful transition into the career you want.

1. Hit the career planning center.

Among the many services that Drury University offers to its students, the Career Planning and Development Center is one of the most important. The center offers events and useful services to students looking for guidance in their steps heading toward different career paths. Events the career center provide will help give students a clear look into what their future offers such as job fairs and alumni dinners; events that give the students an opportunity to mingle and network with companies in their field. Inside the career center, a resume advisor will also be found. Some classes offer opportunities to turn in resumes, but turning in a resume to the career center is a way to ensure students’ resumes are professional and laid out correctly. Drury University’s Career Planning and Development center is located inside of Bay Hall.

2. Take advantage of the academic advisors offered to you.

Along with the career center, most universities have academic advisors on campus to help you pack your schedule with classes needed to graduate and fill graduation requirements. Throughout the first and second year, academic advisors encourage students to take general pre-requisites; at Drury those pre-requisites are known as core requirements. Taking graduate requirements aren’t necessary until after students’ major’s are chosen. Although advisors are usually assigned to students once a major has been picked, seeking them out is not discouraged; it is encouraged. Drury University’s academic advisors can be found in Bay Hall.

3. Get involved in academic extracurriculars. 

Throughout high school, extracurriculars are more for outside-academic enjoyment. College extracurriculars, however, are usually geared toward the major of students’ choosing. Extra-curriculars can provide students with alumni connections as well as professional experience employers like to hear about on a post-graduate resume. Of course club sports and interest-related clubs are always offered and encouraged, but stacking your schedule with academic clubs can only help you gain experience. Drury University offers over 80 student organizations to join and become involved with, and within each of those is an opportunity to gain skills, experience and connections. Drury University’s student activities office is located below the main cafeteria in the Findlay Student Center. In addition, organizations are listed on the university’s main page with information on how to get in contact with a representative from the club.

4. Be on the look out for opportunities within the university’s walls.

Getting involved in student organizations is just the start. There are many ways to gain experience and connections on campus. Look for billboards with posters for opportunities like internships, work study, campus jobs and events. Working as a campus tour guide may not be the ideal way to spend free-time, but showing prospective students around campus helps with interpersonal communication and may even instill the personal skills needed to nail that first post-graduate interview. Lots of times there are positions available, paid and unpaid, within the department of your major. These are great things to list on resumes to show campus involvement, commitment and interest. Drury University has billboards posted in each department building and department offices around campus. Check in with Bay Hall to get a list of these opportunities, or check them out on Drury’s website.

5. Have a LinkedIn account.

LinkedIn is arguably the most important way to be seen by employers, and gain network connections. Usually depending on the field, having an online presence is crucial. LinkedIn is a great way to show boat a resume to future employers and shop around for different internships and jobs, both paid and unpaid. LinkedIn allows students, alumni, colleagues and friends to ‘connect’ online. The site allows space to share work history, skills, interests, volunteer history, work history, affiliated organizations, projects and publications as well as other options. Drury University encourages all students to be proactive toward their future, and holds multiple seminars and workshops for students to enhance their professional presence. For more information on these seminars, look to events held by the Breech School of Business and the Communications Department in Shewmaker Hall.