By the time the spring term ends, everyone’s ready for a break. And it’s definitely important to recharge over the summer – but there are a few other things you can do over break to boost your employability once you graduate, even if you don’t land a great summer job or internship.
1. Volunteer. Plenty of places need help. Choose a cause you’re passionate about and make a volunteer commitment. You’ll not only feel great about the work you do, but you’ll add work experience and a professional reference to your resume. Depending on your position you’ll demonstrate reliability, initiative, creativity, and possibly even some leadership or supervisory experience.
2. Improve your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn continues to play a huge role in hiring. Spend time learning how it works, perfecting your profile, and developing connections.
3. Learn a new job skill. Learn a practical skill that will enhance your resume.
4. Learn a new hobby. Summer shouldn’t be all work and no play. Spend time learning a new hobby to make yourself more well-rounded to a future employer. Plus, you’ll make more connections that could potentially lead to employment prospects in the future. Golf, anyone?
5. Attend a professional conference. Get better insight into your industry, make professional connections, and learn a thing or two about emerging trends and practices. Most conferences have special “student” rates so you don’t have to pay full price.
6. Take an interviewing class. It doesn’t matter how qualified you are; if you can’t articulate your skills or think on your feet it will be tough to get a job. Take an interviewing class to learn the tricks to land that dream job.
7. Do career research. Spend time doing solid career research to start paving the way for post-graduate employment. Make a list of potential companies, learn about types of positions, and have a vision for your future career path.
8. Do some summer reading. Read books on personal development, the history of your industry, and current industry trends. If reading isn’t your thing, look into podcasts by leaders in your industry to soak up their knowledge and give your application an edge.
9. Shadow a professional in your field. Even though you didn’t get a job or an internship doesn’t mean you can’t get valuable professional insight. Spend a day (or several) shadowing a professional in your field. To get the biggest bang for your buck, shadow multiple people in different types of positions.
10. Improve your areas of weakness. Just because you’re not good at something doesn’t mean you have to be for the rest of your life. Spend time focusing on your areas of weakness: if you’re chronically late, set a goal for a week to be early for everything; if you have trouble with small talk, research potential topics and practice talking about them with people; if you struggle with making decisions when flustered, learn how to recognize the signs and calm yourself. Not only will you improve an area of weakness, but it will be a great self-improvement story you can tell during your interview.
Northwest University is committed to offering the best academic experience for both in person and online learners. With traditional programs as well as flexible online learning options, there are plenty of options at Northwest University. Plus, tuition has been FROZEN for the 2021-2022 academic year. Undergraduate and graduate programs are available, most of which can be designed to work with any student’s schedule. Learn about all the academic options Northwest University offers and request more information today!
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