By Alexis Musick, Toppel Peer Advisor
With finals only one week away, career
development is the last thing on any college student’s mind. Fortunately, there
is a light at the end of the tunnel: summer vacation. While the
ever-anticipated break is more often a source of fun and relaxation, it too can
be a period of productivity. Summer break is the perfect time to develop new
skills, take part in interesting experiences to build your resume, and further
your personal and professional development. Here are four tips on how to make
the most of your summer vacation.
1. Find
a summer job relating to your career goals. Taking part in a part- or
full-time job over the summer is almost always a rewarding experience. Not only
does it give you an opportunity to pay off loans, afford rent, or stash a
little cash in your back pocket for personal spending, but it also is an
excellent way to start forging valuable connections as you gain experience in
your field of interest. There are thousands of possibilities: Biology major?
Check out field technician positions with an environmental company like Clarke.
Plan to go into Computer Science? Don’t be afraid to embrace what you may
consider a “lower-tier” job like Best Buy’s Geek Squad or a customer service
position at a local tech score. A quick Google search can help reveal all of the
possibilities.
2.
Get an internship.
Generally, while internships feature less (or no pay) compared to a regular
job, they offer a more hands-on experience where you are able to work in a more
technical, specific, or higher-level setting. Visit Handshake, Toppel’s career
management system, which contains a database of internships that you can apply
for directly on the system. Once you log in (with the same UM log-in
information you use everywhere else), take a look at the lefthand column and
click the section that says “Internships.” You can filter the hundreds and
hundreds of results by things like location or employment type and find the
internship you’ve been looking for!
3.
Volunteer.
Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to develop new skills that you can use
in a job or internship. For instance, a student studying political science
might benefit from volunteering with a legal clinic or community health center.
The knowledge you accumulate and your demonstrated commitment to community
service may give you a leg up when compared to other applicants who may have
focused only on “professional” involvements.
