When the semester ends, it’s tempting to treat summer as a complete break (and you absolutely should recharge), but summer is also one of the best opportunities to get ahead on preparing for your career or next steps—without the simultaneous pressure of classes.
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6 Simple Tips to Make Your Summer Count |
(Without Burning Yourself Out) |
- Prioritize Real-World Experience.
If you do nothing else this summer, focus on getting some kind of hands-on experience. Internships are ideal, but they’re not the only option. Part-time jobs, volunteering, research with a professor, or even helping a small business can all build valuable skills.
What matters most is that you are doing something that shows responsibility, initiative, and learning.
Check out RIT's Career Connect to see if new summer job opps have posted >
- Build Proof of Your Skills.
Employers don’t just want to hear what you can do, that what to be able to see it. Use your summer to create projects related to your field, writing samples, presentations, and a simple portfolio of your work. By the end of the summer, aim to have two to three different examples of your work.
- Learn One Useful Skill (Not Ten).
Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to master everything. Pick one or two skills that are relevant to your future career. This could mean learning data analysis or spreadsheets, technical skills, working on industry specific software or even solidifying your soft skills.
As they say in sports, consistency beats intensity, if you do something 30 to 60 minutes a day, it adds up fast.
Did you know that RIT offers you free access to a wide list of trainings on LinkedIn Learning? From AI for business to data visualization, marketing and communication, project management, finance, and much more, you'll find a wide range of options to build skills.
Find out how to access LinkedIn Learning and check out options >
Watch the RIT video about how to use LinkedIn Learning >
- Start Networking Early.
Networking is how opportunities happen. Here in the Careers and Life Newsletter we have stressed how important networking is in the job search cycle, and it is never too early or too late to get out and talk to people.
Most people are more willing to help than you think. One conversation can open unexpected doors. Networking includes former classmates, teammates, friends or roommates. You never know when or where an opportunity will present itself.
Explore RIT's Tigers Connect for networking with alumni >
- Explore Without Pressure.
Not sure what you want to do? That’s completely normal for a college student. Try things out. Use summer to experiment and learn more about different fields. Shadow someone, talk to new people, learn about jobs you have never heard of. This is a great time to step out of your comfort zone. It’s better to figure out what you don’t like now than after graduation.
Check out tools like Forage's Job Simulations to explore job roles online >
- Most importantly, Don’t Forget to Recharge.
Being productive doesn’t mean being exhausted. Summer is well-earned after a long academic year, so PLEASE make time for friends and family, all your favorite hobbies and get some REST!
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That’s it. Getting job market ready is a process; it's not magic. Do these things well, and you’ll be far ahead of most students when you get back to RIT in the fall.
You don’t need a perfect summer. You just need an intentional one. Small, consistent steps now can make your job search much easier when you make summer count.
Of course, continue to use the resources available through Career Services, and If you have questions, connect with Eric Dixon, Career Services Coordinator in Career Services or Brad Rosenbaum, Assistant Dean, Office of Student Services.
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