Winter break is a time to recharge your batteries after a busy semester. It’s also the perfect opportunity to work toward your post-graduation and career goals. Making the most of your college experience includes making the most of your breaks, too. Whether you just completed your first semester at FIU or you are nearing the end of your undergraduate journey, you can use this time wisely to feel better prepared to achieve your career goals.
Use these helpful tips to guide you on your path of becoming career-ready.
- Update your Handshake profile.
- Having a completed profile will give employers a better sense of your skills and experience. Set aside time during the break to include your work and volunteer experience, student organizations and extracurriculars, courses completed and important projects you have worked on. Access your Handshake account here.
- Update your resume and cover letter.
- Your resume and cover letter are what employers use to review your qualifications and can help you land an interview. Utilize your winter break wisely by dedicating time to updating these important documents. You can also have your resume reviewed by FIU’s Career & Talent Development Office. Learn more here.
- Reach out to connections for informational interviews.
- An informational interview is a conversation with a professional in your field of interest. It can help provide insight on getting started in the profession and important knowledge or experience for those entering the field. Reach out to your connections at FIU or leverage virtual networking platforms such as Handshake and LinkedIn to request informational interviews from your connections.
- Apply to jobs and internships.
- Applying to jobs or internships can sometimes be a lengthy process. Take the time needed to review job postings on multiple platforms, research companies of interest and double-check your resume to ensure it is tailored for the positions you are interested in.
- Think about enrolling in a FIU micro credential.
- It is a great way to enhance your professional skills and get career-ready for the 21st-century workforce. It’s also free for students.
- Reflect on your accomplishments from this year.
- How did these courses and experiences allow you to develop your employability skills such as communication, leadership or critical thinking? You can learn more on how to articulate and develop your employability skills and competencies here.
- Set goals for the upcoming year.
- Start 2022 by creating a vision for what you would like to accomplish in the upcoming year. Make your goal more manageable by breaking it down into specific steps. Learn more about setting and achieving goals here.
