Nine Easy Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer
It’s summertime. (In the northern hemisphere at least — southern hemisphere dwellers, please look away or save this article to read in six months). Wanting to maximize your well-deserved time off and also enhance your resume and skills? Read on, because we have 9 easy ways to increase your employability while unwinding after a long semester of study.
1) Volunteer
Give back to your community! There are countless volunteering opportunities available, all of which offer the chance to give back to society through meaningful, hands-on learning. Roles are often available through research programs and organizations, with places like animal shelters, nursing homes and food banks are always looking for extra help. In addition, many universities and postgraduate schools favor applicants who have experience volunteering.
2) Learn a language
Hola! Xin Chao! Guten Tag! Learning a language has countless benefits, and is a fun way to discover a new country. Not only does it improve brain power, enhances memory and decision-making skills, but it’s also a fun way to discover another culture!
3) Catch up on your reading
Have you been staring at the ever-growing pile of books all semester? Summer is a great chance to catch up on all the best-sellers you’ve missed, or even get a head start on next year’s reading list.
4) Create a business
Showcase your entrepreneurial side! Creating a business from scratch is the perfect way to prepare for the real world. It offers you the chance to get a head start on the professional world and learn real-life skills which you can carry on for the rest of your life.
In addition, starting a business from scratch demonstrates your innovation, dedication, and determination — all of which are highly attractive features for future prospective employers.
5) Complete an internship
Internships provide you with necessary skills that, to put it simply, just can’t be obtained from academic studies.
An internship can work to build your understanding of workplace culture and help you master the ambiguity of real-world work. It can also finesse all-important skills like:
- communication
- time management
- problem-solving
- and global fluency.
Another option, which isn’t dependent on location, is a virtual internship. A virtual internship lets you explore which types of companies you feel most comfortable in, whether a small start-up or a large corporation. Virtual Internships bridge the skills gap, ensuring that in this ever-changing and shifting world, you are more prepared and ‘ahead of the pack’ in launching your career post-graduation.
And if you want to put those language skills you are learning to the test, you can even find virtual internships abroad!
If you’re interested in how to get started, send us your email on our website. We’d love to talk you through it.
6) Start a blog
Do you have a passion which you just need to document? Want to also improve and finesse your writing skills? Starting a blog is the perfect way to do both of these things!
Pick anything you are passionate about — and get started. Once you get into the swing of posting, you’ll notice that the quality of writing in both your blogs and academic papers will vastly improve as you develop a style that’s uniquely you. It’s also a productive way to explore a topic of interest and enhance essential professional skills such as copywriting, outlining, editing, and proofreading.
7) Go on a spontaneous adventure.
Summer is the perfect time to explore a new location on a whim! Close your eyes and point to a map, call your friends and head out on an adventure. If you’d rather stay ‘local’, why not explore on a bicycle! Not only will it allow you to explore nature, but it’s also a fun way to get some exercise.
8) Create a personal website.
In this day and age, your digital footprint is extremely important when applying to universities or job opportunities. Building a website is a fun way to showcase your personal brand.
9) Get organized!
Did you struggle with organization and time management during the semester? Summer is the perfect time to set up and investigate tools to ensure you never miss a deadline (or social occasion) ever again. Mastering these indispensable skills will help to elevate your daily life in all aspects — effective time management not only aids your career, but it also has an extremely positive effect on your studies and personal life.
Regardless of what you choose to do this summer, the most important thing is to enjoy your well-deserved time off and return to your studies refreshed, revived, and raring to go. Happy holidays and enjoy your summer!
