By Sophie Wood
I just finished up my third year of a marketing and journalism degree, which means only one more left! So unfortunately my summer is a little less about the beach and a little more about internships and work experience. Not every one of you is going to graduate in a year but every one of you is going to graduate eventually. So here are some simple, ‘no fuss’ actions you can take these holidays to help further your career prospective.
- Socialise at events – Let’s be honest and admit that there is very little that you feel like doing during your holidays that isn’t sitting in front of the television and watching Ellen. Am I right? But sometimes you’ve just got to get yourself out of the house and start socialising! Events are the perfect environment to do this as well as a valuable opportunity to follow your passions and meet likeminded people. It could be as simple as going to a networking event held by the university or as involved as attending a conference. Either way, make the most out of the event and build your networks. You never know what will follow.
- Perfect your resume – University holidays generally last three months for most students. That is a long time! So I’m sure you can scrounge up a couple of hours to go over your resume, revise, add new experiences and make sure it is looking top notch! Do it while you are free so that you don’t have to stress about it when applying for work experience or a job. This is coming from a girl who spends hours updating her resume every time she needs to apply for something. Don’t make my mistake!
- Start a Twitter account – I’m a marketing and journalism student so if I don’t have an online presence then I’m dooming myself and my future career. While social media is often something you want to hide when applying for jobs, it can also work in your favour. If you have a thoughtful account that regularly expresses your personality and interests, then you are halfway to impressing future employers. Take the time out these holidays to start an account and be strategic in the posts you make. Already have an account? Dedicate some more time into making it really stand out!
- Volunteer – We’ve heard it all before that volunteering looks really good on your resume. Mainly because it is true! Volunteering can be a difficult task when juggling university, casual work and internships. So why not get in a few hours when you’re more free? Volunteering doesn’t have to be a bore! Is there an event that you’ve really been wanting to go to? Why not scrap the ticket price and volunteer instead! Other favourite volunteer opportunities of mine include walking dogs at an animal rescue shelter, dance classes with disabled youth and helping out at your favourite op-shop.
- Set some goals – And if you really don’t feel like doing anything these holidays, then skip the ‘doing’ and start some ‘planning’ for the year ahead. Just take ten or twenty minutes one day to write some goals for the year ahead. University can be stressful so take the break, you need it! Clear your mind, get some rest and relaxation and prepare yourself for another year of achieving some goals!
Bio: Sophie is a marketing and journalism student studying at Griffith University in the Gold Coast. She is currently an intern at Milaana where she manages their social media strategy and writes content for their blog. Sophie is passionate about story-telling, equality and working with young people to reach their full potential.
Griffith University Careers and Employment Service 
Great read! I’ve since finished uni, but hope other students take your advice.