Boosting business ambitions — 3 routes to a student startup
If you’ve always harboured a desire to run your own business, there’s no better time than university to put out feelers and prep for the road ahead.
You’re surrounded by educational resources and a captive audience of classmates that might be receptive to your enterprising plans.
But as you near graduation, you’ll need to develop a definite plan to save yourself from languishing in jobless limbo.
So here are three routes to a student startup that will bring your business ambitions into bold reality.
- Internships
Placements make it possible to look before you leap in many diverse careers and you might even have the time to complete a couple of them in summer breaks during your degree.
Finding a suitable internship online is reasonably simple — but try to find organisations that offer some sort of cash payments to at least cover travel and subsistence.
It can be tricky finding opportunities with the type of smaller firms you may hope to emulate — but it’s far from impossible as long as you’re aware the cash they offer may be modest.
The diverse skills and experience you’ll soak up during a short few weeks will boost your CV and fuel your ambitions further.
- Networking
No prospective entrepreneur becomes a business mogul in a vacuum — so networking’s a brilliant way to connect with people who’ll constructively challenge your vision and point out pitfalls you’d otherwise miss.
But don’t rely on word of mouth to discover the hottest tickets for mixing and mingling — joining a networking membership platform will help you keep track of regular events in your local area and beyond and allow you to chat with potential collaborators and mentors online.
Once networking becomes second nature, continually sharpening your communication skills will make your confidence soar.
And if you genuinely can’t find a networking group that suits your specific niche, set up your own — your initiative will pay off as your career progresses.
- Masters of Business Administration (MBA)
If you like the thought of remaining in higher education for another couple of years after your undergrad degree, while having the flexibility to work part-time and take care of family commitments, studying for a distance learning MBA is a wise move.
These enterprise-focused courses will ensure you’re trained in the latest techniques for leadership and change, strategic management, finance for decision making and entrepreneurial action.
And if you’re setting up your business simultaneously, you can apply your knowledge immediately — getting maximum value for your course from the very beginning.
So there are three routes to a student startup that will boost your business ambitions — choose whichever floats your boat and you’ll soon be sailing to success.
Have you started a student business? Share your tips in the comments section.
Category: College and Careers
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