One of the biggest mistakes that job seekers make is waiting until the end of their academic program to begin their job search. During your graduate program, there are limitless opportunities to connect with professionals in the field, attend networking events, and gain valuable skills through internships, fellowships, and volunteerism. As an early careerist, you must take ownership of your career journey and be intentional every step of the way. Below are 9 strategies to get you started!

1) Assess and track your skills, strengths and contributions. What are your greatest strengths? What is your unique value proposition (UVP)? You need to consistently reflect on these questions especially after a new experience. Update your master resume to record accomplishments, professional contributions and how you have added value during an internship, field experience, volunteer experience or any type of leadership role. If possible, keep a journal or blog to document experiences – especially global ones.

2) Optimize LinkedIn. The versatility of this platform can be extremely beneficial regardless of where you are in your career journey. LinkedIn allows you to showcase your online professional brand and increase your visibility among employers. This is a great tool to explore companies, join groups to connect with like-minded professionals, and stay up to date on new trends and hot topics in your field. Also, be sure to check-out the alumni feature to connect with graduates of your program and learn about their career trajectory.

3) Conduct informational interviews. Work with your career services office, mentors and faculty to help you connect to alumni and professionals in the field. There are so many professionals out there willing to connect with students to share their career experience and insight about various career paths. Remember to always follow- up and nurture your professional network. Since 80% percent of jobs are acquired through networking, it is critical to start building long lasting professional relationships early on. Check out LiveCareer for an excellent guide on conducting informational interviews.

4) Serve as a volunteer. If you can volunteer for an event sponsored by an organization of interest, this is a golden opportunity to learn more and get involved with some of their initiatives. This is a great way to organically connect with staff and leaders already working for the company.

5) Use your university job search database. Contact your career services office to make sure you have access to the university job search database. Find out how employers are posting positions and opportunities specifically within your field. Even if you are not seeking employment, it is a good idea to look at the type of positions and companies that are recruiting for candidates in your discipline. It is also helpful to gauge the types of experiences and skills that employers are seeking.

6) Build your experience with an internship. For many graduate programs, students are required to complete an internship/preceptorship/practice experience. Many view it as a burden or just another requirement to fulfill, but it can be much more than that. If done intentionally, you can use this opportunity to develop a particular skill-set needed for a future position of interest, gain access to a long lasting professional network, and partake in enriching opportunities that will foster your career development. Be mindful about the value of an internship as it can open future career and employment opportunities. Employers value internship experience!

7) Build meaningful relationships. Many job seekers don’t like the term “networking” because they feel it is disingenuous. However, this does not have to be the case. What it comes down to is simply connecting with another human being and building a mutually beneficial relationship. Networking is a two-way street and you have much to offer. Always keep other people in mind and share your time and resources whenever possible. Stay visible, follow-up and most importantly, follow-through. If you nurture your professional network you will in turn begin to establish meaningful relationships.

8) Join professional organizations. It’s not enough to pay your dues and just be a member. Get involved in committees and make your presence known. Being an active member will provide an opportunity to further build professional relationships and showcase your skills and talent.  This is also a great way to get referrals and tap into the hidden job market.

9) Customize your professional branding toolkit. Know your audience. Be sure to always tailor your “professional branding toolkit” which includes your resume, cover letter, portfolio, business cards and online presence. In graduate school you are equipped with a versatile set of skills that can be applicable in a variety of roles and settings. It is essential that you learn how to translate your transferable skills.

As you design your unique career journey, remember that your real world experiences are just as important as your academic preparation.