For some, summer ushers in a well-earned break. For others there is finally spare time to tackle some extra-curricular goals. Students have been programmed to think that a summer internship is the only meaningful way to stay career–focused over the summer. The few skilled summer jobs out there are hotly competed for by thousands of students, so it can be discouraging. Employers who don’t offer summer internships tell us that it’s the time limitation: 3-4 months is how long it takes to train a new hire. This is why employers often save internship offerings for new graduates who can commit to longer contracts and potentially stay on permanently. It’s still worth it to look for these summer opportunities, but let’s explore some worthwhile alternatives to keep up your career preparation momentum. The best part about the following suggestions? You’ll still have time to relax on the beach this summer!
Plan Ahead
The fall and winter semesters seem light-years away. They’re not! Career goals require action steps, kind of like a road-map. Building a road-map to success alone is daunting and confusing, and who needs more of that! One quick way to set yourself up for the fall is to apply for BCITSA’s Career Mentorship Program now while applications are open (until June 30th). Career Mentorship is all about setting goals with the guidance of an industry insider. When you’re paired with a mentor, they can help you shape an effective career strategy and decide on the right steps to take by borrowing from their lived experience. You can include this professional development activity on your LinkedIn profile and resume to demonstrate your commitment to learning and growth outside of the classroom.
Skilled Volunteering
Another alternative to consider for summer is looking for skilled volunteer roles. Volunteering is a well-regarded activity for career building, but people often don’t realize that many volunteer opportunities require professional skills. Nonprofits and charities look for students and new graduates to help them with areas like bookkeeping, social media management, graphic design, and much more. These roles are a great way to put your new BCIT training into action, learn new skills, gain a professional reference, and help out with important causes. Applications for the Canada Student Service Grant are open as of June 25th, 2020; this program makes it easy to look for roles, plus you may be eligible for a grant from $1000-5000. Learn more: https://www.canada.ca/IWanttoHelp
Other places to look for skilled volunteering roles:
An added benefit of volunteer work is it’s often much less of a commitment than paid work, so you can enjoy some down time while balancing a commitment to professional development.
You’ll notice when looking at job postings that employers often state their desire for candidates who are proactive about their growth and continuous learning. Actions speak louder than words! The most convincing way to show an employer that you value professional development is through your past activities, not what you say you’d like to do in the future. Working on our professional development while in school or as a recent grad signals to employers the kind of employee they can expect us to be when hired. Check out some more suggestions for professional development and work experience alternatives here.
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