Wondering what to do this summer? If you feel like you’re doing too much thumb-twiddling while your friends are off working their dream jobs or taking selfies in all of the places on your bucket list – relax, Max! Take a breather and plan for the fall. Instead of opting for a lackluster job opportunity, enjoy some summer sun, take some time to plan ahead and put your best foot forward for the upcoming year.
Getting your resume as perfect as possible doesn’t happen overnight. After taking some time to chill after the semester is over, use your recharged brain to fine-tune your resume. When you’re done, have some friends and family look over it.
Use some of your free time this summer to pick the brains of professionals you respect. Think about family, friends and other connections that are working either in your industry or in a related industry. Ask to take them out for coffee or lunch – whenever is convenient for them. Do some research about their work and then ask if you could talk about how they made it to their current position. There’s a lot to be learned from older, wiser professionals who have taken their time to climb the professional ladder.
Take time this summer to clean up your Facebook and social media feeds and delete anything that might be deemed unprofessional. Set college photo albums to private and set up a LinkedIn account. Updating or creating an online portfolio is also a good way to make use of free summer hours.
Do something useful with your spare time this summer and start learning a second language. Being bilingual makes you a more competitive professional and can really boost your chances of getting a job. Moreover, you’ll be more prepared for an international internship experience if you’ve been brushing up on your Spanish, Mandarin or Cantonese.
Once you have a full-time job, finding time to be with family can be a lot more difficult. Take advantage of the free time you have during the summertime and cook dinner for the rest of your family, play cards or plan a family movie night.
If you’re looking for professional experience that also comes with some international adventure and travel opportunities, think about taking an internship abroad during the upcoming fall. If you start the application and planning process now, it won’t take long to set up a life-changing, career-boosting opportunity in Europe, Australia, South America, North America or Asia in the fall.
To finance an international internship, it may be a good idea to pick up some part-time work. See if you can find a position that will improve the soft skills needed for your career field.
Sources: http://www.businessinsider.com/what-to-do-this-summer-if-you-dont-have-a-job-2016-6
Photo 1. based on Worry, by Icare Girard, CC-by-2.0
Photo 2. by The Intern Group
Photo 3. by The Intern Group