Develop the skills employers are looking for - this is particularly relevant for students who are in their first or second years of study.
Employers will often look for more than just your degree. Try to establish or involve yourself in projects, student organisations and part-time employment that give you the opportunity to demonstrate to the employer the following qualities:
Initiative & follow through - the ability to start something and to see it through over a reasonable period of time.
Creativity - the ability to think of new and different ways of doing things.
Leadership & teamwork - the ability to work within diverse settings and with people from varying backgrounds as well as a keenness to take on responsibility.
Communication - this is linked to leadership and teamwork. Your ability to put your ideas across in a way that others can understand and your ability to see the perspective of others.
Priority setting - the ability to distinguish what is important and not so important and what is urgent and not so urgent. Being able to demonstrate this quality through your past experience (in NGOs, student organisations and previous employment) will be a big plus.
Pay attention to developing a useful network. This simply involves making contact with people in organisations whom you consider useful to your career development. Networks are usually best developed through participation in organisations, employment and other extra curricular activities.
These are skills that develop over time - try to work on them from your first year at University.
