No internship this summer break? No worries! Here are some ways to stay productive, build your skills and explore your future.
Take a summer class (or two)
Stay ahead or catch up on credits with a summer course! It’s a great way to:
- Lighten your regular semester/quarter load
- Dive deeper into a subject you enjoy
- Fulfill general requirements
Get a summer job
Whether it’s retail or food services, summer jobs offer:
- Real-world work experience
- A chance to develop soft skills
- Opportunities to manage money and budget
Build or update your resume and LinkedIn profile
Summer is the perfect time to freshen up your professional documents:
- Add recent experiences or skills
- Work on your personal statement or summary
- Ask for recommendations from past supervisors or professors
This prep will help you be ready when internship or scholarship opportunities pop up later.
Attend virtual or local career events
Look out for:
- Career panels or networking opportunities
- Local job fairs
- Industry-specific webinars
You never know what connections or ideas might come from just showing up to an event!
Strengthen your skills
Use this time to develop a new skill or improve on an old one. Think:
- Learning Excel, Canva or coding basics
- Improving communication or public speaking
- Taking free courses on platforms like Coursera, LinkedIn Learning or Khan Academy
Volunteer or give back
Community service is another meaningful way to spend your summer. You’ll build soft skills, meet new people and show employers that you care about more than just work experience.
Make a plan
Use this time to reflect and set goals:
- What do you want to explore this summer?
- What connections do you want to build?
- How can you make time for rest and growth?
You don’t have to have it all figured out, but doing something is better than doing nothing. Every step counts!
The post Making the Most of Your Summer: Classes, Summer Job & More! appeared first on College Success Foundation.