Education is a lifelong journey, and the school serves as one of the most important learning experiences in a student’s life. After secondary, it becomes essential for students to start planning for their future. Planning in advance can propel your advancements in your future chosen career line. We have curated 8 tips for successful career planning for school students to help you prepare for your professional career.

Focus on getting more knowledge and skills.

Use your spare time and make it more productive by growing additional knowledge that is different from your traditional bookish education. Having that extra cut of knowledge and skills will always put you in the upper hand over your competitors. E.g, if you have an interest in designing, taking an art class, will help you broaden your skills. If your school doesn’t offer classes, you can take help from the Internet.

Pursue your passion.

Pursuing a career where you love what you do will help you find happiness in your career life. It is a crucial point as following your passion will go in the long run as you will stay motivated and your work life will not feel like a drag. As a school student, it is essential to use this early advantage of finding a relative thing you love and enjoy doing, and then try to find ways to make it monetized.

Avoid peer pressure.

Schools can be competitive. In such an environment, students are more likely to make decisions by coming under peer pressure and getting influenced by their friends which they will regret in the future. Hence, it is advisable for students to follow what they prefer yourself and not because their friends are pursuing the same.

Aim for good results in your boards.

Better performance in boards will help you in the long run. Not only it strengthens your portfolio, but it also gains you an upper hand when it comes to selection. Recruiters tend to prefer educated and dedicated professionals. Hence, studying properly and getting good marks in boards is important in career development.

Choose your career stream according to your preference.

Most students tend to have a dilemma regarding what career streams to choose. It can be equally confusing and challenging as it is an important decision in deciding your future career choices. Try to figure out in which field your interest lies in. Look for the opportunities in that field and selection criteria and then decide which stream to choose. E.g if your interest lies in management, seek career management tips, then look for potential courses that cater to your needs and help you expand your knowledge, and then choose that respective stream.

Seek or create opportunities.

It is highly effective for students to have external achievements in fields other than school education. Seek or create opportunities that will help you improve your skills and make your resume better. Seek opportunities like internships, events, and courses that are interesting and relevant to your field and participate or volunteer in it. E.g If you have an interest in politics or journalism, then look for Model United Nations (MUN) happening in your college or schools in your city, and participate in them. It will boost your social skills and help you develop knowledge in the field.

If you can’t find opportunities then create one. E.g if you have an interest in writing, then start a blog. If you have an interest in photography, then start your own professional photography page on your socials.

Focus on building your network.

 Your network is your net worth. During your student years, focus on building contacts and networking with working professionals in the industry. Not only you will get external knowledge but also gain insight in their professional journey and how they function. These contacts will also help you in references or if you are seeking work opportunities. Here are some ways to build your network.

• Interact with your professors and friends:

If there’s a particular subject that caters to your interests, then connecting with its professor will help you in building a potential network. The best way to build such interaction is to actively participate in their lectures, ask questions or answer them, complete your assignments regularly, and meet them after school hours. Your professor might contact you with his former student or an expert that can help you with your interest.

Sometimes, your friends or classmates may have someone in their relative that is working in the same field of interest. You can build contacts accordingly which can help with future references.

• Contact experts or researchers:

The best way to contact experts or researchers is to look for their socials and start a conversation. Visit their website, or mail them, or share a DM stating your admiration of their work and ask them relevant questions. You can not only get additional information but it also opens the possibility of making them a contact.

• Networking events:

Attending networking events can be highly beneficial for any student seeking to make a career in the relevant field. Events like College fest, Job fairs, etc. host many such experts and popular figures in the industry. Dress up for the event and network with as many people as possible. This will actively help in your future career development.

Stay committed and motivated:

Find a balance between your personal and educational goals, and learn to stay committed to your end goal as all the hard work done today will be rewarded in the future. You should aspire to perform your best in your career. Recognize your mistakes and believe in your abilities. Striving for excellence will help you find success and happiness in your career.

We hope these career planning tips will help you excel in your professional journey. If you are in commerce and still unclear about your future, UKIC has got your back, contact us or drop by and see for yourself!