How to make the most of your summer as a recent college or university graduate
Congrats! As a recent college or university graduate, you’ve probably been waiting for this moment for years. All of the group projects, exams, and all-nighters have paid off and you’ve finally got your degree or diploma! We bet you’re ready to spend the next few months catching up on life and finally take the break you deserve – as you should!
However, don’t forget that your professional career doesn’t start as soon as you earn your post-secondary credentials. There are still some steps you need to take between graduating and securing your first “real job.”
Whether you have no clue what you want to do next, or you have your eyes set on a target, we’ve got some suggestions to help you make the most of your summer and set you up for success this fall!
Know your goals
Summer goes by faster than the next TikTok dance trend – don’t let it slip past you without knowing what you want and making the most of it! Set some time aside to determine what your next career goal is, whether you want to secure a full-time job, apply to grad school, or start your own business.
Once you’ve defined your main goal, you can break it down into actionable steps spread out over the summer. Use the SMART goals method to make sure that your targets are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. Breaking down your goals this way allows you to turn your vision into reality with a plan that you can accomplish through carefully planned steps.
Volunteer or find an Internship
Depending on your program, you might have already done an internship, but if you haven’t had the opportunity, here’s your chance! Internships are a great way to gain work experience and give you insight on your career path by exposing you to the day-day life and culture in your chosen field.
Most post-secondary institutions will have guidance or career counsellors who can help you find a suitable internship. Internships can sometimes lead to job offers, so if working at a certain company or securing a particular job position is part of your goals, interning can help get your foot in the door.
If you’ve already interned, consider volunteering this summer. Find a meaningful cause and see if you can use your skills and knowledge to help out a local organization. For example, you can volunteer your graphic design or photography skills to a non-profit organization.
Work on your resume and portfolio
You know the saying, “if you stay ready, you ain’t gotta get ready?” Well, this totally applies to your resume and portfolio! Now that you finally have the free time to do it, why not use this summer to build and refine your resume?
You can check out Indeed or Linkedin for job postings in your industry to get a feel of what employers are looking for, as well as the language they use. Check to see if your school has a career center that can help you prep and edit your resume. Alternatively, there are professional resume coaches who can help you edit your resume – do your research and find someone trustworthy with plenty of experience.
If you’re in a creative industry, now’s your chance to build up your portfolio. While school projects are a great starting point, it’s good to have some variety and challenge yourself with new projects that can showcase your skills to future employers and clients. Reach out to small businesses, friends and family, and local organizations to see if you can create work for them for your portfolio – who knows, you might even be able to charge a fee and get clients out of it!
Join a network
Networking has been difficult due to the pandemic, but there are still ways you can do it online. Joining a network like NOIR Professionals can help connect you with other young black professionals, career and industry advice, and mentors! You can also do some research and see if your particular industry has any associations, clubs, or organizations that you can join.
Don’t forget that joining a professional network also involves some legwork. You still need to take initiative and reach out to people, attend virtual networking events, and put yourself out there!
Summer may seem endless – but we all know it isn’t! It’ll be September before you know it, so you might as well use your summer wisely to get the most out of it. Rest up and enjoy your break, but know that working a little bit here and there towards your goal will pay off big time come fall!
