[W. P. Carey Alumni Only] What is one activity that was fundamental when you were a student in order to prepare for a professional career? [List your degree and graduation year at the end]

Meet as many people as you can and connect digitally. I was part of many organizations, held leadership roles, enjoyed volunteering opportunities, contributed internships, participated in campus projects, went to career fairs and attended professional and alumni networking events (even though I hadn't graduated yet). This will help build your soft skills, awareness of professional routes and build a network for you. I recommend you continually document what you learn and update your Linkedin profile every semester. You will see how the world is a small place and how supportive this community can be both in-person and digitally! - Krystal Aguilar | Bachelor of Science in Marketing and Certificate in International Business 2013

My experience as an unpaid intern was invaluable and is something I would love to see universities add to their graduation requirements. Being able to bring together academic studies with real world experience, allowed me to get a step ahead when I graduated and began my career. The internship allowed me to have a unique understanding of the professional environment, expectations throughout departments, and also gave me a chance to learn from those on the job. Equally as important throughout my career has been the relationship I've had with mentors. I've had mentors for nearly 25 years who have greatly influenced my path and have turned into lifelong friends. I strongly recommend students connect with potential mentors early on and embrace all they have to offer. Josh Schimmels MBA 2006 BA Broadcasting 1998 Current role/title: CEO and Publisher, Los Angeles Business Journal

While academics, specialty majors & classes are typically preparing you for a professional career, one activity that shouldn’t be ignored is intramural sports. The connections and relationships that I was able to cultivate while playing intramural sports carried over into my professional career as well. Always be trying to build relationships and meet new people because they may provide the skill sets or connections to help boost your professional development while in college. BA Business Communication 2014

Connecting with people in the industry and organizations I was targeting was essential to get a better understanding and knowledge of the skills required and the expectations for students looking to into those types of roles. Maintaining and continue developing those relationships is also important. Networking is not transactional is about building meaningful relationships where there is mutual support. Most probably at the early stages of your career you'll receive more than what you give but be sure to always put yourself out there and support in any way you can. In the future once you become more experiences, you'll will then pay it forward! WPC FT-MBA 2020

One activity that was fundamental when I was a student in order to prepare for a professional career was networking. I was constantly meeting new people and making connections that would later prove to be valuable in my career. I also developed strong relationships with my professors and mentors which helped me to obtain internships and jobs. By making new connections, you are able to expand your professional network. This can be helpful when you are looking for a new job or trying to get your foot in the door of a new company. When you are connected with others in your field, you are able to stay up-to-date on industry news and trends. This can help you be more prepared for interviews and also help you stand out when you are applying for jobs. Additionally, when you are connected with others, you have the opportunity to learn from their experiences. This can be helpful in your own career development and help you avoid making mistakes that others have made in the past.

It is basic and fundamental yet is one vital learning that one must pursue before graduation. We all live in a fast-changing world. We are now surrounded by innovation and technological information. And we need to match their speed and pace. Digital is a new way. We now thrive and survive through it, by it, and with it. There are many ways to learn and master them. You only need to go online. Everyone speaks the language. Thus, we need to catch up and even advance to a whole new level of expertise. From design thinking, ideation, virtual realities, the metaverse, and more. They do exist and we must grow with them.

One activity that was fundamental when I was a student in order to prepare for a professional career was to participate in an internship. Internships are opportunities for students to gain real-world experience in their desired field of study. Many internships are unpaid, but some may offer a stipend or other compensation. Internships can be found through job postings, career fairs, and networking. By completing an internship, I was able to gain valuable work experience in my chosen field and learn new skills that I could use in my future career. Additionally, internships are often a great way to network with professionals in your chosen field and make important connections that can help you in your career. Employers often seek out candidates who have internship experience because it indicates that the candidate has some level of real-world experience. Internships also provide employers with a way to assess a candidate's potential before making a job offer.

We all did internships as students. The dedication and professionalism we showed there were vital in order to prepare for our professional careers. Most students lacked this. They did not treat their internships like strict jobs and lacked work ethics. Such students face a few bumpy early years to learn what is expected of them. It is highly advisable to go through your internships as your would a real job.

As a student, one of the most important activities I did to prepare for my future career was getting internships. These opportunities allowed me to gain real-world experience in my field and learn valuable skills that couldn't be taught in a classroom setting. They also helped me build connections within the industry and landed me a full-time job after graduation. In fact, I even did two internships during my senior year of college because I knew the experience and connections would be invaluable. So, if you want to stand out in the job market and start building your professional career, don't underestimate the power of internships. Seek out these opportunities and make the most of them – they could make all the difference in your future success.

In addition to being a crucial step toward becoming a certified teacher, student teaching marks the start of your teaching career. Consider this experience as your first teaching job interview, advised Dr. Krista Berry, director of the teacher achievement at Western Governors University's (WGU) Teachers College. You will be a visitor at your host school. Doing your research on all that will be expected of you while you are there is the first step in this process. Ensure that all of your university paperwork is in order, forms are submitted, and placement dates are reached. Review the university's policies and procedures, which are usually laid out in a manual or handbook style, next.

Reading comprehension is the capacity to comprehend what you've read. This ability can assist you in studying for examinations, conducting research, and writing papers. In the business, you may need to use these abilities to comprehend clear instructions, obtain information, or speak with coworkers. Studying books and articles, taking language arts programs, and expanding your vocabulary can all help you enhance your reading comprehension.