Bethany Forss is a Senior University Relations Recruiting Specialist at the Hanover Insurance Group. She specializes in identifying talent among college students. Read on for Bethany’s tips regarding career and interest exploration.
As a student, you’ve heard a million times to “find something you love doing,” or “get into a job that doesn’t feel like work,” but what does that even mean? How do you find something you love or a job that makes going to work fun and meaningful if you don’t even know where to start? This is why you need to explore. While some students have their career path planned out from birth, others don’t, and that’s perfectly fine. Or maybe you’ve run into the issue of not knowing what to do with your major after you graduate college. At times, it’s more about the skills you bring to the table over what you majored in. All of you have distinct skill sets that will greatly assist you in whatever career you choose after Assumption. So here’s a few helpful tips from someone who has done her share of exploring and now has the pleasure of helping students like yourselves begin their own exploration. Through career investigation, you can start making those connections between a degree and a career.
- Don’t get narrowly focused in your approach. Looking for opportunities in Marketing? Nearly every company has a Marketing department…and a HR department…and a sales department…and a finance department. Oftentimes students become too focused on the obvious jobs and companies within their field and forget about the not-so-obvious opportunities that could provide exactly the experience you are looking for. Hidden gems are all over the place, just waiting to be unearthed.
- You don’t have to land your dream job directly after you graduate. What you should do is find a company that aligns with your morals and values, and where you can see yourself staying long-term. Even if you want to end up in Finance, it may be worth taking that Operations position at a stellar company. Put your best foot forward in that role, network like crazy, and move internally when an opportunity opens up. The key is getting your foot in the door.
- Just because you majored in it, doesn’t mean you have to work in that area. As an English Literature major during my undergraduate career, I can attest this to be true. Am I an English professor or journalist? No; yet I use my communication skills on a daily basis with both internal and external partners. This skill set of knowing how to effectively read, write, and present information has aided me well in my career. Can’t beat a liberal arts education!
- What if I let people down by not finding a job related to my academic path? But what if you don’t? What if you find a great company and role you love and you kill it? Take advantage of opportunities that arise, find what you love to do rather than what you are expected to do, and just go with it. Nobody will judge you for not going to medical school or moving to France like you said you were going to do, because they’ll be too busy being happy that you’re successful and content with what you’ve chosen.
So here’s what to do next. Take advantage of every job shadow you can. Network with as many people as you can get in touch with and keep those relationships going. Do every externship day available to you and apply for a wide variety of internship opportunities. You may just end up in a field you never considered before, loving every second of it.
Bethany Forss
The Hanover Insurance Group
Senior University Relations Recruiting Specialist
Feel free to reach out with questions on how insurance career opportunities could be a match for you. College-rec@hanover.com.
