Invest in Yourself Now to Earn More Later

The day will come when you receive your diploma and start the job hunt. In order to increase your chances of being offered a starting salary that will help you lead a comfortable lifestyle, while you're at UNL you need to do constantly work on becoming a desired employee.

Following are some tips for how you can invest in yourself now so in the future you can land your dream job:

Know the Expected Salary & Job Outlook for Your Chosen Career Field
College is about determining what you’re passionate about. Think about your talents and your values when choosing a career field. As the old saying goes, “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

Remember, you need to do what you love AND be able to support yourself. Research the salary range for your chosen career field (UNL Career Services or Salary.com) and the outlook for job availability. You want to have an idea what your future looks like, money wise.

Build Up Your Marketable Skills
Learn what skills employers in your career field are looking for in potential employees. For example, most employers look for people who can work well in a team, are master problem-solvers, and have excellent oral and written communication skills.

Build up these desired skills by gaining leadership positions in student organizations, getting internships, and taking advantage of free educational opportunities at UNL. For example, employers in many different career fields look for students with exceptional computer skills, including computer coding and design. UNL offers free technology classes in order to allow students to become proficient in a variety of computer applications.

On the Same Note, Build Up Your Brand
Constantly be working on determining what you want your “brand” to be. Simply put, your brand is your promise to your employer. It tells them what they can expect from you, and how you are different from your competitors.

How can you use your skills and talents to help your potential employer increase profits? In short, what makes you special? Come graduation time, you want to be able to clearly communicate to a potential employer why you are the best candidate for your dream job.

Network, Network, Network!
No matter how far off graduation seems to be, always attend on-campus interview and career fairs. Networking is crucial to landing a job.

Don’t Underestimate the Importance of Internships
When you’re looking for your first job, know that just having a degree is not going to make you stand out from the crowd. Employers look for job candidates with real-world experience. Get your foot in the door at your dream company, work hard, and show them you are someone they want on their team.

Understand Cost of Living
Cost of living is the cost of maintaining a certain standard of living. For example, if you make $40,000 in Lincoln, in Chicago you must make $50,958 to maintain your lifestyle. Before you decide to move out of Nebraska, first look at cost of living figures.