5 tips that will help students stay a step ahead of the competition.
We’ve all survived another year of final exams and lengthy term papers. We’ve spent our nights in the library, in our dorm or bedrooms relying on coffee and energy drinks to get us through night after night of little to no sleep. As grades are posted to your student account, all those nights spent studying have finally paid off and you’ve earned three months of freedom.
Not so fast.
Before you kick back and get too comfortable keep your momentum going by considering these five things you should spend time doing this summer. Taking advantage of these tips will keep you a step ahead of the game and make the transition back to school this fall even easier.
1. Gain Industry Experience
Now that you’ve got some free time, what better opportunity than to build industry experience through a coveted internship? Even if you didn’t land your dream internship, don’t stress because volunteering at an organization or charity is also a great way to gain valuable experience. Use this time to build experience and expand your network of professional contacts that can potentially give your résumé the glow it needs.
2. Start Saving
There’s no doubt you’re eager to do some traveling and hangout with friends but don’t let fun get the best of your finances this summer. Take charge of your finances by creating a budget and start saving. Doing so now will give you an advantage when it comes to paying for school or materials or even taking it a step further by considering a post-graduation savings account that will make paying off loans in the future that much easier.
3. Stay on Top of Deadlines
It’s officially summer vacation but it’s still business as usual on campus. Don’t miss out on deadlines and be sure to submit any time-sensitive material for financial aid, scholarships, housing and registration. Getting these things out of the way in a timely manner will prevent all the hassle next semester.
4. Polish Your Profile
More employers turning to social media to find the right candidates to fill positions so it’s important that you are aware of your appearance online. Spend some time to clean up any negative content displayed on your accounts and don’t forget to to keep a professional and positive presence because you never know who is watching. Your image online could be the difference between getting the job and not.
5. Take Time Off
While it’s important to stay on top of deadlines and build experience, don’t forget to take some time for yourself this summer to recharge before the fall semester kicks off. According to experts, students that take time off to recharge often express more productivity during the next semester.
