Networking Over Breaks
This blog post was written by Peer Career Ambassador, Alex Martiros ’21
Breaks from college can be a great way to recharge and recover from the constant studying and classes of the semester thus far, but there’s a lot of opportunity for networking and internship search if you’re willing to put in the work.
One of the biggest benefits of having a break is the seemingly infinite amount of time that you have to enjoy. Take a bit of that time and update your LinkedIn profile and/or create a LinkedIn profile if you don’t have one yet. On top of that, make sure you have an up-to-date resume and create a cover letter. Having just a little bit of free time allows you to catch up and feel prepared for any applications for jobs or internships, without the added pressures of schoolwork and college life.
Another small but relevant part of networking over breaks is reaching out to your career center on campus. The lack of students around provides a great chance for you to be able to get a more in-depth discussion with a staff member and ask questions, get a resume reviewed, or get internship search advice. Because undergraduates focus most of their time balancing a heavy course-load and part-time jobs, break provides valuable, class-free time to enhance professional skills, make yourself available for informational interviews, and prepare for those ever-looming spring career fairs.
Networking is all about who you know, and who do you know better than your own family? People within your own family or social groups are great resources for you to be able to talk about internships or to hear more about what they might do to see if anything sparks your interest. They are typically your biggest advocates in the job search. Students should also seek out family friends and acquaintances that are recent college graduates, as they know firsthand about the process and can provide inside information as to what worked best for them.
Although networking can seem intimidating, take the time over break to focus on your upcoming internship or job search. Doing so can put you in a better spot to land that summer or full-time job down the road.