College to Career: Making the Most of Your Journey

Where are you going? How are you going to get there? What tools will you need for the journey? And what tools do you need for your destination?

These questions and more are explored in this book as college students – regardless of whether they are in their first year or fifth year – prepare for the adventure ahead of them. In this book we begin at the trailhead of the career exploration journey. We discuss ways to consider options carefully and the typical tools for a career search: resumes, cover letters, interviewing and networking skills. Yet these decisions and tools are only the beginning of an exciting voyage; in the third part of the book we discuss the essential skills students will need on their journey. We explore what it means to think critically and make strong decisions, how we can control our emotions and be resilient in the face of adversity. We also discuss interpersonal skills we all need to succeed: working with others, navigating conflict, discrimination and harassment, receiving and giving feedback, managing time and priorities, and ongoing professional development. This book goes beyond preparing students to find and land a career. This is a book for the entire journey, preparing students for the personal and interpersonal obstacles of life.