Updated: 28 June 2025 la 12:52. Articolul a fost revizuit pentru a reflecta informațiile disponibile la această dată.
In an era of speed and constant change, the idea of “starting your career after graduation” is already outdated. Today, university students and even high-school students can lay the foundations for a solid career while they are still studying, if they adopt a smart, proactive strategy. But how exactly do you do that? Here is a detailed guide with concrete steps, mistakes to avoid and examples from Romania and around the world.
1. Choose your field of study strategically
Common mistake: Choosing a university course “because your parents said so” or “because it sounds good”, without doing serious research.
Strategy:
- Analyse the job market (use platforms such as BestJobs, eJobs and LinkedIn).
- Compare demand for professions such as IT, engineering, digital marketing and medicine with that for other, more saturated fields.
- Think ahead: what will your field look like in 10 years?
Real-life example:
Maria, from Cluj, gave up her ambition of studying Law and chose Business Informatics instead. At the same time, she took online data-analysis courses (on Coursera) and today works as a Data Analyst at a fintech company, at just 22 years old.
2. Invest in informal education and complementary courses
What this means: Learn practical skills alongside the theory taught at university. Formal education is not enough.
Useful tools:
- Online courses: Coursera, edX, Udemy, Google Digital Garage and Skillshare.
- Useful certifications: Google Analytics, Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Meta Ads, JavaScript and more.
Example:
Alex, a Marketing student, earned a Google Ads certification and began providing online-promotion services to local businesses. By his third year, he had built his own client portfolio.
3. Take REAL internships, not merely formal ones
The problem: Many students choose nominal internships with no real involvement, simply to get the required signature on a form.
In the same context, see also Digital courses in 2026: where to take them online, what accreditations they have and where they are recognised, which provides additional relevant information.
Recommendation:
- Apply for competitive internships (at Google, UiPath, Banca Transilvania, Bitdefender and others).
- Look for programmes such as “Summer Internship” or “Graduate Program”.
Example:
Bianca, a student at the Polytechnic University of Bucharest, applied for Bosch Romania’s summer internship. After three months of active practical work, she received an offer of part-time employment for the duration of her studies.
4. Build a network of contacts
How to start:
- Attend conferences, hackathons and career events (such as Angajatori de Top, TEDx and DevTalks).
- Create a professional LinkedIn profile.
- Join interest groups on Facebook, Discord, Slack or Meetup.
Example:
Vlad, who is passionate about cybersecurity, attended DefCamp and met industry specialists there. After the event, he was contacted by a cybersecurity company for a freelance project.
5. Develop your personal brand online
Why it matters:
Employers are no longer looking only for degrees—they also want to see who you are, how you think, how you communicate and which projects you have completed.
What you can do:
- Create an online portfolio (your own website, GitHub, Behance or Notion).
- Write articles on LinkedIn or Medium.
- Create an educational vlog or podcast in your field.
Example:
Ioana, a Journalism student, launched a podcast about media education in Romania. She was invited onto Europa FM and now works for a civic-education NGO.
6. Embrace a lifelong-learning mindset
Stay curious:
- Read books about careers, personal development and your industry.
- Subscribe to relevant newsletters (such as Future of Work and Harvard Business Review).
- Learn to ask for feedback and adapt.
Example:
Andrei, a Faculty of Letters graduate, learned UX Design through a three-month boot camp. Today, he works at an agency in Berlin, despite never having studied IT.
Conclusion
A career is not a destination but a journey you can begin today, regardless of which year of study you are in. Through considered choices, concrete action and an open mindset towards learning, you can build a strong, adaptable professional future. The future belongs to those who do not wait for opportunities to be handed to them, but to those who create them.
