Your sophomore year is a little early to start actively job searching. However, it’s never too early to gain career related work experience. Even finding a part-time job can be quite a challenge. The questions and table below should provide you with general knowledge on various types of experience. Included in the table and the links are explanations of each type of experience and resources for finding great employment on campus.
| |
Who |
Benefits |
Time |
How |
| Job Shadow |
• undecided students
• those ready to start job searching |
• better understanding of the job responsibilities
• develop contacts for the future |
• usually one to five days
• not paid |
• visit with an advisor in your department for resources
• visit the Career Center to speak with a counselor |
| Volunteer |
• all students |
• develop skills
• develop contacts for the future
|
• generally a certain number of hours per week or with a span of time |
• contact the Office of Community Service Programs 803.777.7130 |
| Part-time Job |
• all students
• those looking for general experience and skills |
• build your resume
• learn transferable skills
• develop contacts for the future |
• indefinite length of time, but usually between nine and twenty hours per week
• always paid
|
• create and account on JobMate
• browse the Gamecock or The State newspapers
• visit local businesses
• speak with a counselor at the Career Center
|
| Internship |
• students looking for practical experience
• those willing to make a time commitment |
• increase your marketability for future job searching
• opportunity to explore a career
• get exposure to the career and job environment
• earn academic credit |
• usually one semester requiring a certain number of hours per week
• can be paid or not paid |
• start searching well in advance
• use the Career Center’s Web Resources for finding internships
• speak with a counselor in the Career Center |
| Co-Op |
• students with at least 30 credit hours and at least a 2.5 GPA
• with eligibility to work in the US
• generally for Engineering students but open to all majors |
• strengthen your work related skills
• increase exposure to work settings
• become more marketable due to applicable experience |
• generally two to three semesters in length
• parallel - class in the morning, co-op in the afternoon
• alternating - full time student for one semester and then full time work for the other
• always paid |
• start searching three to four months ahead of time
• use the Career Center’s Web Resources
• visit with an advisor in your department for resources |
