Top 10 Things Your Student Should Be Doing Over the Summer

By: Career & Professional Development

Last month we discussed commonly asked questions about the services available to students and alumni through Career & Professional Development. This month, we will be outlining the top 10 things your student should be doing over the summer by incorporating some of last month’s strategies with summer specific tactics to aid you in helping your students set themselves up for career and professional success over the summer.

#1 Learn a new skill to add to your resume.

Encourage your student to consider the most applicable skills to their field of interest and identify one they would like to boost their proficiency in. Focus on commonly used industry-wide programs such as Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Dreamweaver, or a programming language.

#2 Get a field related job or internship.

Obtaining a field related job or internship can help your student explore different career options, gain insight and skills in their field of study, and boost their network for job opportunities. We can connect your student to multiple job/internship posting sites, such as www.gonzaga.joinhandshake.com and CareerShift, where they can search for opportunities around the country.

#3 Email your professors.

Remind your students to reflect on their most influential professors over the year and send them a thank you email. Professors are industry professionals with extensive knowledge, and this expression of gratitude creates a lasting impression that could be beneficial for future references, networking, and career exploration.

#4 Register for Gonzaga Alumni Mentor Program (GAMP) and get matched with a mentor!

Remind your student to register for Gonzaga’s alumni mentoring program by visiting www.gonzaga.edu/joingamp. Once registered, they will be matched with alumni who work in their field(s) of interest, live in their geographic region of interest, are employed by their dream companies, or who are in the grad schools or programs that your student is considering.

#5 Complete informational interviews, explore career options or shadow professionals in relevant field(s).

There are a variety of ways for your student to connect with professionals, including family friends, professional associations, and Gonzaga Alumni Mentor Program (GAMP).  For tips on how to set up and conduct an informational interview or job shadow, contact Career & Professional Development. Additionally, remind students to research specific careers, required qualifications, and potential for growth in their field.  Check out “What Can I Do With This Major…?” (www.gonzaga.edu/careerresources), O*NET Online (onetonline.org), and the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) for more information.

#6 Develop an employer prospect list for future jobs/internships.

Both CareerShift (Gonzaga.joinhandshake.com) and Inc. 5000 (www.inc.com/inc5000/list) are great resources for in-depth information on top companies. Encourage your student to be proactive about understanding of their first-choice careers and internships using these resources.

#7 Update your résumé with summer activities, internships, and involvement.

Career & Professional Development is open all year, including the summer. Your student can work with a CPD professional over email, phone, or Skype if they are unable to come to the office during summer break.

#8 Create a LinkedIn profile and get noticed by recruiters online.

LinkedIn is an excellent medium for your student to use in developing their network and learning about professional opportunities. For more information, visit students.linkedin.com.

#9 Consider graduate school and get information on graduate entrance requirements.

If your student is considering graduate school, Career & Professional Development is also a resource for assistance in crafting curriculum vitaes, reviewing personal statements, and providing support in the search process. Your students’ faculty advisor is also an excellent point of contact in this area. 

#10 Add to your list of employers and professors who can serve as references or write recommendations to future employers.

This is a critical component to your student landing their desired job or internship. Remind them to include accurate contact information and maintain contact.