Take stock and ask yourself the difficult questions - It could be that you’ve entered a general degree, such as a Bachelor of Science, and must, therefore, prepare to confront difficult questions about your future majors: will you pursue physics or chemistry, biology or mathematics? Alternatively, you may have entered into a degree with a more specific focus, such as a Bachelor of Laws, in which case you’ll eventually need to think about the various specialisations available within that field, from commercial law to community legal work.
Develop your soft skills - Soft skills (also known as ‘employability skills’) are skills that are not specific to any one industry or organization. Though long considered secondary to more industry-specific skills, recognition of the importance of soft skills, for both individuals and the organisations that employ them, has grown considerably.
Join clubs and societies - Clubs and societies are two of the best things about university, running the gamut from sports teams to social groups united by shared interests in everything from debating to Pokemon Go. More than anything else, clubs and societies can be a whole lot of fun, providing an opportunity to make friends, pick up new hobbies, and get involved in university life. However, they can also give you an edge when you pursue a graduate career later on.
Research vacation work and internships - Most major graduate employers offer internships and vacation work to students in their penultimate (usually third or fourth) year. However, it can be helpful to do some research even as a first year: you may discover work experience opportunities with smaller employers, or, at the very least, gain a better sense of the skills, marks, or experiences you’ll need to make a competitive internship application later on in your degree.
Get to know your tutors or lecturers - It can be hard to develop a one-on-one relationship with your lecturers or tutors, especially when you’re just one student among many. However, these teachers can be an invaluable resource, providing feedback about any specific concerns you have about their course, helping to clarify academic goals, and, very often, able to supply career advice that’s specific to their discipline (and yours).
Consider an international exchange semester - The benefits of participating in an international exchange program are numerous: you’ll get to experience a new culture, make friends abroad, develop your independence and initiative, demonstrate the ability to cope with change (something employers value greatly), and expose yourself to new ways of learning within a new setting and among new peers.
Make a budget - As a first-year student, this tip might sound like a bit of a joke: a budget for what? Mi goreng rations? Yes, being a student can be tough, but it’s also a good time to build positive habits that will serve you well when you start a career later on. Whether you move straight into a well-salaried graduate role or spend some time working odd jobs while you figure out what to do, life after university (and especially the aspect of that life which involves repaying any student debts) will force you to rely on prudent personal finance skills.
Stay on top of careers advice and make sure to attend on- campus careers fairs - New opportunities arise all the time, and the job that suits you best may turn out to be one that you’ve never heard about. In fact, while calculating new jobs is notoriously difficult, one estimate holds that ‘65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in jobs that don’t yet exist’.
Draft a CV and cover letter - Draft a CV and cover letter? In my first year? Are you crazy? Yes, in you first year, and, honestly, it’s not that crazy. Even if you’re not planning to apply for jobs any time soon, drafting a CV and cover letter during your first year can be a valuable exercise for several reasons. First, it’s a great way to take account of any skills you already possess, while identifying gaps that you can aim to address as a student.
Make sure to look ahead at postgraduate opportunities and, if necessary, complete any prerequisites - For many careers, an undergraduate degree is not enough. Would-be architects will need to complete a masters program; aspiring lawyers, their practical legal training; psychologists, an honors year followed by extensive supervised clinical practice.