The summer break is upon us, and I’ve spoken with so many students who are looking forward to a couple of months without Zoom calls and assignments. And as valuable as rest and time to reset is, I want to encourage students to keep their future selves in mind and to make small steps now that could pay off later.
Update the resume
Now that an entire school year is complete, ask your student to update their resume with the years’ accomplishments, adding any research/class projects that were completed, new technology learning, or student organizations they were a part of. If they’re coming up short on content, maybe use this as a time to set goals on how they can be more involved next year.
Schedule some informational interviews
Informational interviews are low-stakes conversations with those in the industry. The Career Center works with individuals in all industries and can help connect your students with employers. Most people are eager to tell their stories and are happy to share advice.
Volunteer
If a summer job isn’t happening, there are still countless opportunities to volunteer within your community without being a major time commitment. Plus, a one-time volunteer opportunity can quickly turn into a long-term serve that might be helpful on their resume.