Rejoice, the long-awaited summer break is just around the corner. But, while it might be tempting to spend your days watching Netflix and eating your body weight in ice cream, why not make this summer a productive one?
These days work experience usually extends further than making the tea and opening the post. Whether you want to work a week or two somewhere, or commit your whole summer break to being an intern, there's likely to be a role for you out there.
The best companies pay interns, some very generously. Others, however, might just cover your expenses. Pay aside though, being an intern comes with a whole range of benefits. Completing an internship shows you have initiative, are adaptable and will equip you with some key skills that will look great on your CV.
Aim high and try and bag yourself a role in a company that you’d love to work for in the future. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make some key contacts. Who knows, if you impress your employer there could be a shiny new job awaiting you at the end of your degree.
Travelling is a fun and productive way to fill your summer with new experiences. Not only that but jetting off to new pastures could also teach you a whole range of new skills without you even realising.
If you don’t have a huge range of work experience, you’ll need to draw on life experiences in interviews instead, to illustrate how you’d be a great fit for the job. Travelling shows that you’ve notched up experience of fending for yourself, problem solving and experiencing life outside of your own culture.
Working holidays are another option for those who have itchy feet over the summer. Companies such as Workaway can match you with hosts abroad who offer food and lodging in exchange for your skills. There are opportunities in every continent and hosts looking for help with a huge range of projects, so there’ll definitely be an opportunity out there that will suit your skills and interests.
If you’d rather keep your feet on home soil during your summer break, stay ahead of the game and start doing some reading and research. If you don’t have deadlines looming and you’re feeling more relaxed, chances are you’re more likely to be able to absorb information.
If you’re going into your final year of university then this is a prime time to start thinking about your final major projects or dissertation and doing a bit of prep. Spend a small amount of time on this each week and you’ll be surprised at how organised and prepared you feel when you start back after summer!
Variety is the spice of life so they say, so if you really want to get the best of all worlds during summer, then you could try a bit of everything. Mixing a bit of work with a healthy dose of pleasure will not only be great for your health and wellbeing, but could also see you nabbing your dream job when you graduate. You can thank us later.
Emily Valentine writes for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which specializes in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs. Check out their website for both London listings and graduate jobs in Manchester.
Save
How to Have a Proactive (and Fun) Summer Break
By Guest Writer
Updated June 29, 2017 Updated June 29, 2017By Emily Valentine
Rejoice, the long-awaited summer break is just around the corner. But, while it might be tempting to spend your days watching Netflix and eating your body weight in ice cream, why not make this summer a productive one?
Grab yourself an internship
via GIPHY
These days work experience usually extends further than making the tea and opening the post. Whether you want to work a week or two somewhere, or commit your whole summer break to being an intern, there's likely to be a role for you out there.
The best companies pay interns, some very generously. Others, however, might just cover your expenses. Pay aside though, being an intern comes with a whole range of benefits. Completing an internship shows you have initiative, are adaptable and will equip you with some key skills that will look great on your CV.
Aim high and try and bag yourself a role in a company that you’d love to work for in the future. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door and make some key contacts. Who knows, if you impress your employer there could be a shiny new job awaiting you at the end of your degree.
Grab your passport and travel
via GIPHY
Travelling is a fun and productive way to fill your summer with new experiences. Not only that but jetting off to new pastures could also teach you a whole range of new skills without you even realising.
If you don’t have a huge range of work experience, you’ll need to draw on life experiences in interviews instead, to illustrate how you’d be a great fit for the job. Travelling shows that you’ve notched up experience of fending for yourself, problem solving and experiencing life outside of your own culture.
Working holidays are another option for those who have itchy feet over the summer. Companies such as Workaway can match you with hosts abroad who offer food and lodging in exchange for your skills. There are opportunities in every continent and hosts looking for help with a huge range of projects, so there’ll definitely be an opportunity out there that will suit your skills and interests.
Stay ahead of the game
via GIPHY
If you’d rather keep your feet on home soil during your summer break, stay ahead of the game and start doing some reading and research. If you don’t have deadlines looming and you’re feeling more relaxed, chances are you’re more likely to be able to absorb information.
If you’re going into your final year of university then this is a prime time to start thinking about your final major projects or dissertation and doing a bit of prep. Spend a small amount of time on this each week and you’ll be surprised at how organised and prepared you feel when you start back after summer!
Or...mix it up and do a bit of everything
via GIPHY
Variety is the spice of life so they say, so if you really want to get the best of all worlds during summer, then you could try a bit of everything. Mixing a bit of work with a healthy dose of pleasure will not only be great for your health and wellbeing, but could also see you nabbing your dream job when you graduate. You can thank us later.
Emily Valentine writes for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which specializes in sourcing candidates for internships and graduate jobs. Check out their website for both London listings and graduate jobs in Manchester.
This article was originally published in May 2017 . It was last updated in June 2017
Want more content like this Register for free site membership to get regular updates and your own personal content feed.
saved this article
+ 1 others saved this article
Share via
Share this Page
Our expert teams can help start your academic journey by guiding you through the application process.