CMU Career Guide Central Michigan University Career Guide | Page 10

COMPETITIVE EDGE
Employers and graduate schools look for students with relevant experiences that provide evidence of their
talents and abilities. Staying active in college both on and off campus can help you build skills that are
essential to personal and professional development and success. There are many ways for you to build skills
and experiences in college in order to gain a competitive edge.

ACADEMICS

Course work, your content/industry knowledge, capstone projects, and continuing education opportunities
such as graduate school and certifications can help you stand out to employers. Different industries may
focus on GPA more heavily than others, but overall, your GPA can showcase a wide variety of skills and
abilities in a quick and easy format.
Maintain a strong GPA throughout college and actively participate in class
Meet with an Academic Advisor early and often to map out your field of study
Meet with a Success Coach through the Office of Student Success early and often to best navigate
campus resources
Network with fellow classmates and meet with faculty to help develop your career path, leading to
possible research opportunities, conferences, and developing a strong support group
Consider the pros and cons of Graduate School and different certifications in your fields of interest

EXTRACURRICULAR

There are many ways to get involved on campus, in the community, and beyond. Offices all over campus
want to help you gain experience through a variety of outlets.
Become a member of our Career Services team by serving as a Career Ambassador
Get involved with the Mary Ellen Brandell Volunteer Center through Alternative Spring Breaks and other
community service programs
Learn about international opportunities by meeting with a Study Abroad advisor
Join Registered Student Organizations (RSO’s) of interest through Orgsync and take on leadership roles
Connect with CMU’s Leadership Institute and other personal and professional development
opportunities

JOBS AND INTERNSHIPS

Gaining hands-on professional experience is highly recommended, even if your degree doesn’t require
an internship or cooperative education (co-op) experience. Internships are designed to provide relevant
experiences and will allow you to build relationships with professionals in your field of interest. In addition,
many employers use their internships as a first step in the recruitment process for full-time positions.
Your work experiences can also be a great way to showcase transferable skills to employers, but it is up to
you to show the value of what you have done. Often, you will gain a variety of skills through the different
jobs you hold throughout college that can help you develop customer service, management, organization,
technical, and communication skills.
Gain multiple internship/co-op experiences in your areas of interest by meeting with the Internship
Coordinator or a faculty member in your department to inquire about academic credit for the
experiences
Secure jobs throughout college to gain transferable skills
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