Graduation does not guarantee that everything will go smoothly afterward. While attending university, it is important for students to start preparing for their future. However, many students, who are unfamiliar with the realities of stepping into society, often feel uneasy and anxious about what options they have after earning their degree. Some might think job preparation is only for seniors and graduates, but it is not just for a specific academic year. All students in university-including underclassmen-need to know which field to pursue, and be certain about their career direction much earlier than was usually customary.

As entry to the job market becomes increasingly difficult, many students struggle to obtain a position quickly after graduation, and others do not have a clear direction regarding their future careers. This highlights that preparing for the future is not the student’s sole responsibility, but is also essential for the universities to actively support.

At SeoulTech, the Office of Career Development provides a broad range of programs for all students including graduates and local youth who are not enrolled at SeoulTech. The aim is to help them effectively set goals for their future career. According to the official homepage, the student career services team offers a variety of services: informational programs, employment and career consulting, career path and employment training, employment assistance programs, and employment statistical analysis. These programs are generally divided into two categories. One is tailored to underclassmen, and the other is offered to upperclassmen.

As a first step, students who have not yet decided on a career path or have difficulty identifying one can benefit from personalized, one-on-one career counseling. Through sessions with individual experts, students can set their career goals based on their interests and strengths. This program is suitable for early stage career preparation, as the program offers university life planning, occupational psychological assessments, information on relevant certifications, and strategic guidance for applying to companies.

After identifying which career path to pursue, it is also necessary to obtain detailed information about the field. ST Career Mentoring Program offers students valuable opportunities by connecting them with graduates working in various professional fields. Through the official website, students can browse mentor profiles that include participants’ graduation year, major, current company, and job title. Based on this information, students can choose a mentor and ask specific questions about the job and the field.

Although students may have set a direction for their career path, they may still lack practical experience in the actual job market. To address this, the Skill-Up Special Lectures provide guidance in various aspects of the professional field. These lectures cover topics such as communication skills in the workplace, writing a well-organized self-introduction letter, strategies for giving impressive answers in interviews, understanding essential labor law, and job application know-how. By taking these short, concentrated lectures on each topic, students can effectively gain practical insight into the overall job seeking process.

To be fully prepared for job applications, it is also essential to improve interview skills tailored to specific companies or industries. The Mock Interview Program provides students with the opportunity to practice interviews in authentic settings. Participants receive feedback from the interviewers on how well they performed. Practicing in a realistic interview setting helps students improve their strengths and address weaknesses in their content, pronunciation, and posture.

When preparing for the future, it is natural to feel nervous or overwhelmed at the beginning. However, the programs introduced above and many other programs offered by the Office of Career Development are extremely helpful for setting career goals and preparing for job-seeking. By using these resources, students can start to build confidence before stepping into the broad, unfamiliar world of society.

Reporter

Dayeon Choi

cdy207@seoultech.ac.kr

Reporter 최다연

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• e-mail : cdy207@seoultech.ac.kr