Close Menu
The Baylor Lariat
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    Trending
    • Students react to emergency alert following campus lockdown
    • Baylor shelter-in-place lifted following police pursuit of robbery suspects
    • Baylor graduate charged after killing cats with pellet gun, hanging bodies over utility lines
    • Baylor Football’s Alex Foster dies at 18
    • Board of Regents confirms budget, renovations, new leadership in May meeting
    • How facilities responds to storms, flooding in campus buildings
    • Welcome Week leaders now paid in hopes of increasing numbers
    • 5 Baylor sports storylines to look forward to in 2025-26
    • About us
      • Spring 2025 Staff Page
      • Copyright Information
    • Contact
      • Contact Information
      • Letters to the Editor
      • Subscribe to The Morning Buzz
      • Department of Student Media
    • Employment
    • PDF Archives
    • RSS Feeds
    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    The Baylor LariatThe Baylor Lariat
    Subscribe to the Morning Buzz
    Tuesday, July 1
    • News
      • State and National News
        • State
        • National
      • Politics
        • 2025 Inauguration Page
        • Election Page
      • Homecoming Page
      • Baylor News
      • Waco Updates
      • Campus and Waco Crime
    • Arts & Life
      • Wedding Edition 2025
      • What to Do in Waco
      • Campus Culture
      • Indy and Belle
      • Sing 2025
      • Leisure and Travel
        • Leisure
        • Travel
          • Baylor in Ireland
      • Student Spotlight
      • Local Scene
        • Small Businesses
        • Social Media
      • Arts and Entertainment
        • Art
        • Fashion
        • Food
        • Literature
        • Music
        • Film and Television
    • Opinion
      • Editorials
      • Points of View
      • Lariat Letters
    • Sports
      • March Madness 2025
      • Football
      • Basketball
        • Men’s Basketball
        • Women’s Basketball
      • Soccer
      • Baseball
      • Softball
      • Volleyball
      • Equestrian
      • Cross Country and Track & Field
      • Acrobatics & Tumbling
      • Tennis
      • Golf
      • Pro Sports
      • Sports Takes
      • Club Sports
    • Lariat TV News
    • Multimedia
      • Video Features
      • Podcasts
        • Don’t Feed the Bears
      • Slideshows
    • Advertising
    The Baylor Lariat
    Home»Opinion

    Take time to fully prepare for your future career

    Faith MiletelloBy Faith MiletelloMarch 20, 2017 Opinion No Comments3 Mins Read
    Share
    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

    “What do you want to do when you grow up?” This is a question asked of us since our earliest childhood years. The outlandish answers are cute when toddlers say them, but when teenage years arrive, the world expects more ambitious and serious answers. Once students get to college, the question becomes ever more real and much harder to answer.

    In his book, Will College Pay Off? Peter Capelli defines “The Home Depot Approach,” an idea that employers believe all employees fit a specific job for a specific purpose, just like a tool in a toolbox. Capelli says that this ideology is false – employees’ backgrounds, studies and experiences all primarily compose the value they contribute to the workforce. It has become an unrealistic expectation that those of us graduating college have to fit into a specific mold in order to achieve a worthwhile career.

    At the start of our freshman year, we have a vague idea of what we want our future career to be, but this is often driven by future earning potential, others’ perspective of your major or hobbies that you once enjoyed in high school. Most people hardly know what they want to do even after all four years at college. Developing your passions and skills is the most valuable way to decide where you want to be after you graduate.

    However, selecting the best major for yourself is the first step toward propelling yourself into a happy and successful career. According to the Washington Post, only 27 percent of college graduates have a job related to their major. This is proof that what you are studying doesn’t define your career — it defines your opportunity. Even more exciting, you can choose how to fulfill that opportunity. How you develop your character outside of your resume impacts your future career a lot more than how well you did on that Spanish test your sophomore year.

    The National Association of Colleges and Employers conducted a survey of hiring managers about the most valuable skills in new employees. Written and verbal communication, effective leadership and knowledge of technology came up as the main ideas. This shows the importance of taking a variety of opportunities throughout your time in college. By allowing different skills to develop, you build yourself up as a quality candidate for multiple potential careers. It is important to create a package of skills that demonstrate that you are well-rounded.

    During my freshman year, I felt unsure about what I wanted to do after college. I had a major and a course layout for the next four years, but I didn’t have much direction on what job title came with what I studied. Once senior year arrived, I realized that the compilation of classes, jobs and personal ventures I had accomplished had prepared me to begin my future career with promise.

    Let’s start celebrating the unknown opportunities to come rather than fearing we won’t succeed in the step-by-step plan the world has given us. Spend time taking advantage of opportunities, enjoying the moments you are in and opening yourself up to experience.

    Faith Miletello

    Keep Reading

    Don’t believe myths about autism — reduce stigma by learning facts

    I never thought I’d miss my meal plan

    Violent predator catchers do more harm than good

    Lariat Letter: My pre-medical studies have shaped me into a better man

    It’s time to write more handwritten letters

    The end of the semester is just the beginning

    Add A Comment

    Comments are closed.

    Recent Posts
    • Students react to emergency alert following campus lockdown June 27, 2025
    • Baylor shelter-in-place lifted following police pursuit of robbery suspects June 26, 2025
    About

    The award-winning student newspaper of Baylor University since 1900.

    Articles, photos, and other works by staff of The Baylor Lariat are Copyright © Baylor® University. All rights reserved.

    Subscribe to the Morning Buzz

    Get the latest Lariat News by just Clicking Subscribe!

    Follow the Live Coverage
    Tweets by @bulariat

    Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
    • Featured
    • News
    • Sports
    • Opinion
    • Arts and Life
    © 2025 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.