Maximize the mistakes you make.
Take as many risks as possible while being a student. You’re not entirely invincible but you have a nice cushion to fall back to while being a student. Once you graduate and enter the workforce it’s a lot harder to take chances and recover from mistakes.
Provide value to others and expect nothing in return.
People always remember the favors that you do for them. I helped someone over 12 months ago on a project they were working on. I expected nothing from them 12 months ago. Fast forward to today, and they’ve helped me get several full time job offers from startup companies. Provide value to others, and they will always return the favor.
Choose a career path immediately.
I’ve talked to a lot of underclassman at my school, and most of them aren’t sure what they want to do after college—which is completely normal. College is the time to figure out your ideal career path. But strangely, the only way to do that is by committing, even if you’re unsure.
Your first choice probably won’t be perfect. You’re new to the world, still learning about the person you are, and how to make good decisions. But that’s okay, because each time you fully commit to a career path, you learn more about what you like and don’t like. Helping you narrow down a better choice the next time.
Over time, you’ll get so good at figuring out what works for you that you’ll eventually find the best career path for yourself. The key is to start immediately and adjust as you go.
I am constantly being asked by underclassman at my school if they can get involved with the work I’m doing.
The students come to me with both a genuine curiosity for the work I do, and so they can get work experience for their resumes.
So if you’re looking for work opportunities to put on your resume, send me an email at:
aleknturkmen [at] gmail [dot] com
In the email, tell me the coolest thing you’ve done in life (can be about literally anything).
This is the current intern I have, and what he’s doing.