I tell people I know that are undergrads to open up a LinkedIn account.

Yes they don't have much to put into their profiles yet in terms of career oriented jobs, however it's a good way to:
1. Keep in contact with classmates: When they graduate chances are that they will do some pretty cool stuff (work related) that might interest you and that you won't find on Facebook

2. Keep in contact with professors: I don't like linking my professor to facebook unless I am really one of their friends (post graduation). LinkedIn is different. I get to see who is connected to them and get to learn from both the professor and their network

3. Find people that you would like to know, in industries that you want to know: I am not an open networker. I dislike open networking because it's impersonal and it's like a gluton in an all you can eat buffet. Having said that, it's OK to connect to strangers. I encourage people to look at profiles of people that are interesting and connect with them if they have similar interests. Want to talk about grad school? Working in industry X? Connect with a subject matter expert in the field

4. Get your questions answered, and get some street cred: LinkedIn's Q&A service is pretty nice. You can ask a question and get feedback from many subject matter experts on your particular dilemma. If you are a subject matter expert, it's a good opportunity to let other people know that you know.

5. Connect to those coworkers: Your internship or volunteer job will introduce you to people. In the days before LinkedIn I had business cards and random pieces of paper with their emails and telephones. Years later I found that info but it was out of date, and I was out of contact with many people I had met in the past - people who could be of value to me, and vice versa.

I think it's a good idea to separate your career life from your personal life. Do use facebook for your friends, but try to keep your business contacts separate. In the long term this will benefit you.

Great advice, Jessica! I'm 25 and I'd add one more item to your list: Don't worry too much about your choice of major! I think it has very little correlation with job prospects.

I was a Latin American Studies major and my favorite classes in were a literature class in Spanish about ghosts and a social entrepreneurship seminar and a multicultural creative poetry course course. Shortly after graduation I decided to move to China. And now I've been in China for more than a year and a half total and had four great jobs here.

My Latin American Studies degree gives me an interesting story about my background and spontaneous connection to China. If I'd decided to major in East Asian Studies instead, for example, maybe my Chinese would be better, but I don't think that sort of alignment would have much impact on my job prospects or career at this point.

If a student is interested in something technical like architecture or engineering I don't think my advice applies. But for liberal arts majors I think that students get too stressed about choosing a major and should focus more on studying what they enjoy!

Jessica, words of wisdom. Here's a couple of things that I learned in my 4 or so years after Uni.

1. Networking for networking's sake is pointless - but having a network is brilliant. So, work out why you are networking.
2. The first thing to work out in any conversation is what you can do for the person you are talking to, not the other way round. That way you have their attention.
3. Make sure you connect about something other than the topic of conversation that you are having (i.e. you discover you both went to the same bar in South Africa/ New Zealand or something more emotive - you both stood at Everest Base Camp, or something really simple like you both know someone in the same friendship circle. Make sure you connect on that point so that you can refer back to it to strengthen the relationship next time you pick up the phone.
4. 'Share' your story. People love stories and they're easier to recall than lists. Make sure you have your story worked out so you can tell it and others will find it easy to recount it to others - thereby they become distributors of your reputation and so increase your network without you having to do anything - if you're story is compelling enough then you will create 'attraction' meaning you wont have to go out networking - the network will come to you.

Hope its helpful.

Christopher

I'd have to disagree about your degree not being important. But I think I have a different perspective. If you are ok with working an a field/industry where degrees are not required, yes you'll be fine. But a lot of industries require a degree, especially to get past the lower levels.

I think I'd say don't be afraid to go back to school, but don't do it right away. Going back to get your masters straight away might box you in. But if you work for a few years and figure out what you enjoy, don't be afraid to go back and study that.

I'd also suggest work experience, related to what you want to do is important.

I think people underestimate this sort of thing, especially if you've been out of college for a few years, but from my perspective it really is an employer's market and they can be picky.

I especially agree with #2, that is vital.

Jessica, great job in putting together what are perhaps the five pieces of advice every freshmen should get the moment they set foot on campus. I am a senior who is following these strategies for success.

I might not visit my professors as often as I should, but I think some of them remember me because I was the good student who sat in the front and asked questions (it pays to be such a nerd, I guess).

I am half-way through a year-long internship. Although it is unpaid, I rejected INROADS over this one because it was the closest to the field I want to get into (i.e. International Trade). Thanks to that internship I get to meet important people and attend events that relate to my interests. I am considering doing an internship after graduation as a transition to the real world.

I cannot praise professional organizations enough, the members in the two I am actively part of are the nicest and most helpful people I have meet. These organizations love students attending their events. Even if I forget to bring my business cards, some people end up giving me theirs anyway. Sometimes, I just tell them about my goals and what I am doing to achieve them, and they encourage me to continue and offer their help. Any other organization I have contacted are constantly inviting to their events.

During college, I have worn different hats. I have been the advertising person on the student council (aka flyer maker and distributor), a campus tour guide (aka salesperson), a Model UN delegate (Rwanda represent!), a service trip organizer, and now a recruting person for one of the professional organizations I am part of.

It strikes me as odd how college students struggle to be professional. Aren't we supposed to be in a professional setting? As a freshman and sophomore, I wore t-shirts and jeans (sometimes pijamas, I admit). Once I started attending events by professional organizations and going to Career Center workshops, I recognized the importance of dressing and acting professional. My Facebook has always been clean, no compromising pictures or posts. For me, it is a tool to stay in touch with friends and classmates, mostly through writing. How my friends can be careless about what they post is beyond me.

@Christopher: I went to an event where one of the speaker talked about the art of networking, and she gave advice similar to what you just wrote. What you say about telling stories is true. She simply told two stories about how networking recently helped her and her company secure profitable businesses. That was all, but I'll sure remember it.

@Leslie: I understand what you're saying. I think it relates somewhat to what Jessica says about trying different things, right? You went to China event though the "normal" thing to do was to move to Latin America. People might end up doing something different or remotely related to what they study in college.

Regardless of the major, the person should have acquire a set of skills that are useful for any job (e.g. good writing, listening and speaking effectively, research, leadership, analytical thinking, teamwork, negotation, computer skills, creative thinking, cross-cultural awareness, foreign language). Most important, you learn how to learn. Unfortunately, not all these skills are taught in the traditional classroom setting. Some are acquired in part-time jobs while studying, or by being involved in student organizations.

Jessica, such good points. I'm a recent college grad, but now working for a tech start-up. I can say a huge part of me landing this current job, was the personal and supportive relationship I had with my professors and the 5 internships I completed while in College. Yes, 5 is on the upside but it was my choice and gave me a vast experience that put me ahead of many of my peers experience wise.

At my college (Champlain College), they require you to do at least one internship and I think that is invaluable and completely relevant. If you graduate college without even one internship, how are you really prepared? You can't compare reading a case study about a PR Campaign VS. actually participating and helping to create a PR Campaign at an internship...