Not only are there thousands of students at this university alone who are fighting for the same career as you, but there are thousands of students at thousands of other schools trying to get to the same goals in life.

Now I’m not trying to scare you and make you think that you have no chance in life, because that’s not the case at all, but while in college you need to find ways to brand yourself and make yourself distinct from the next person.

One of those ways is by enhancing your résumé. Do as much as you can in your four-plus years in college. Not only does it show employers that you’re a hard worker, but it shows that you have experience in a plethora of different areas.

Even if the activities that you add to your résumé aren’t “big time,” do something that allows you to get your name out there because you never know who you will meet. One Michigan State University journalism professor told me it’s beneficial to add something new to your résumé every year, and with all the opportunities that MSU provides, I think adding something new each semester isn’t too much to ask.

Another way to set yourself apart is by networking. Just like you should do numerous activities throughout college so you can potentially meet people, you should join clubs, join fraternities/sororities and talk with as many professionals as possible.

Shaking hands and kissing babies can get you very far in life. A simple conversation with your professor can turn into you interning with some project that they are working on. Becoming engaged in greek life can allow you to meet one of your brothers/sisters mother or father who is the owner of a big time marketing company, which coincidentally is the field you’re looking to pursue.

There are endless outlets for networking at such a widely respect university like MSU and that can cause you to meet the right people and establish yourself before you even get your diploma.

While I’m sure you’re swamped with homework, jobs or other extracurricular activities for at least eight months out of the year, one tactic that may help you with your brand is creating a business. Clearly I’m not talking about creating the next Apple Inc. before you can even legally drink, but start something that gets your name out on a local level.

If you want to pursue a career in culinary arts then maybe you should find a place where you can sell some of your baked goods or find another business to sell your product out of their store. If you’re a music major, you can provide lessons for younger musicians and charge lower prices than local music shops.

There are ways to get your name out in the local community, and if it takes off, not only will that look fantastic on your résumé but it could lead to you owning your business out of college.

Whether you’re technologically advanced or not – which by 2013 you should be – creating a presence via social media can be one of the best ways to build your brand. Mediums such as Twitter, Facebook and various blogs can get your thoughts and opinions out to the masses, and you never know who is paying attention.

If you’re an aspiring journalist, I would suggest that you find a niche when approaching social media. If you want to be a sports writer, you should tweet and blog about various sporting events and follow people that are relevant in the field. If you want to be a music journalist start a blog and do album reviews and then tweet the artists that you’re reviewing. Make yourself available to as many people as possible, and while social media can definitely be a gift and a curse, it’s one of the best ways to reach a large amount of people in a short period of time. Use these outlets to make yourself the best you can possibly be.

However, there always is going to be someone out there that is as good or better than you. It’s a fact. But it’s not just the skill that separates one person from the next, it’s the work ethic. Job recruiters are looking for people that took initiative in college and took advantage of their opportunities. Creating a brand for yourself is probably the second most important thing to take out of college aside from your experience, and those that make the most out of their opportunities will prosper when it comes time to find a career.

On that note, make a name for yourself, get your thoughts and ideas out to the public and do all you can while in college to better prepare yourself for life outside it.

James Edwards III is a guest columnist at The State News and a journalism senior. Reach him at edwar443@msu.edu.