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Break is officially coming up! To help you prep for the semester to come, we’ve compiled a list of tips to keep you motivated, focused, and career-ready even outside of class.
Create new networking contacts
Even though you aren’t in school, it’s always important to plan your career. Use this time to connect with professionals and reach out to new networking contacts. Learning about someone’s role or career that seems interesting to you is the perfect way to stay engaged with the job market while also pursuing something you genuinely enjoy. Conducting these informational interviews is NOT the same as a job interview. It’s a sincere conversation that can help you determine what sort of careers and fields you would be interested in post-grad. Make sure you prepare in advance, so you know what questions to ask! Learn more about informational interviews with the Career Center Guide to Informational Interviewing.
Update your resume and curriculum vitae (CV)
Updating your resume and/or CV is vital for job searches. These documents should highlight your accomplishments, identify your strengths, and be tailored to the position and/or industry you’re applying for. Use this break to update your resume and/or CV to match your current accomplishments.
- Some tips to remember when writing a resume:
- Should be 1 or 2 full pages
- Intended for industry jobs and internships
- Should summarize education, skills, and experience
- Could include contact information, work experience, activities, leadership skills, and volunteer service
Some tips to remember when writing a CV:
- Unlimited length
- Intended for research, academic careers, and graduate admissions
- Should be a comprehensive list of academic, research, professional, and technological accomplishments
- Could include a resume section, research, coursework, publications, technical skills, presentations, etc.
Level up your LinkedIn
Having a good LinkedIn is beneficial during all stages of your career, even while still in school. Keeping yours up to date during breaks can make you more prepared for career transitions. Use this break to:
- Promote yourself to recruiters and potential employers
- Research companies, jobs, and learning opportunities.
- Connect with industry leaders, professional contacts, Mizzou alumni, and over one billion LinkedIn users!
Look into campus resources
Of course, these aren’t the only ways you can utilize your breaks. There are many tools to help Mizzou students achieve their goals! Look into tutoring with Tiger Tutors to prep for your upcoming classes, and review extracurriculars through MU Engage that you could be interested in. Taking advantage of your break is key to setting yourself up to succeed!
Have a good break, Tigers!
By Tyler Thompspn