Summer break is the perfect time to recharge — but it’s also a golden opportunity to invest in yourself. Whether you’re a graduate student working through coursework or heading into your final year, using the summer months to build skills can help you feel more confident and career-ready when you return to campus.
Here are a few ways to use your summer wisely:
1. Learn Something New (at Your Own Pace)
Just because class is out doesn’t mean learning has to stop. Try taking a free or low-cost online course to explore a new skill or deepen one you already have.
Even committing just a few hours a week can make a noticeable difference.
2. Volunteer or Freelance
Giving back is a great way to gain real-world experience — plus, it looks great on a resume. Find a nonprofit, community group, or campus department where you can offer your help. You can also explore small freelance projects to build your portfolio — especially if you're in writing, design, or tech. Check out the Forage’s job simulations as another way to build skills that replicate real work in the field.
3. Work on a Personal Project
Have a passion you’ve been putting off? Now’s your time. Create a blog, design an app, start a podcast, or build something hands-on. Employers love to see initiative and creativity—especially when you can explain the “why” behind your work.
4. Update Your Materials
Use this time to refresh your resume, update your LinkedIn profile, and complete your Handshake profile. Add new experiences, clean up formatting, and make sure your materials reflect the kind of opportunities you want moving forward. Depending on the roles you are applying for, you may also want to consider create separate resumes to better match job positions.
5. Reflect and Plan
Summer is a great time to take a step back and reflect on your goals. What did you learn last semester? What kind of work excites you? Where do you want to grow? Journaling or creating a simple vision board can help you stay focused and intentional about the year ahead. And should something change during the academic year, it’s ok to continue to hone and revise your career plan as needed.
Looking for Summer Career Inspiration?
Check out the UMBC Career Center’s
podcast, "UMBC Careers Unleashed — featuring real stories, tips, and
advice from the Career Center’s staff and UMBC students. It’s perfect for a
walk, commute, or summer chill session.
Listen here and get inspired to make this summer your most strategic one yet. And if you need help kicking off your plans, the Career Center is open during the summer with drop-ins and 1:1 virtual and in-person appointments.
You've got time — and you’ve got options. Let summer be your launchpad, and good luck!
]]>
Aaaaaand that’s a wrap, folks!! The fall semester is closing up, and the bi-annual finals freakout is underway. We all have exams, papers, and presentations to worry about, but it’s still an important time to reflect on what you’ve accomplished, and start setting plans for next semester. As for myself, I need to start planning for my blog next semester, which is why I am asking YOU to tell me what you want to hear!! Tell me in the comments what Career Center related topics you want to see in my blog next semester.
Time for some reflection. If you are currently enrolled in an Intern Success Practicum, here’s a friendly reminder that your end-of-semester reflections are due THIS FRIDAY on December 8th. If you’re not enrolled (and I highly suggest enrolling next semester), it’s still beneficial to think about how you’ve developed personally, academically, and professionally.
What have you gained from your experiences, in and out of class?
What are some things you feel you excelled at, or really enjoyed?
On the other hand, where do you think you need to improve?
We can use this reflection to help us move forward and be more successful in the future. Speaking of future, let’s start setting some goals for the Spring semester. The desperate desire for a summer job/internship will only grow stronger as the spring rolls in, so locking down those positions early can alleviate a lot of unnecessary stress. PUT IT ON YOUR CALENDARS NOW: The Spring Career and Internship Fair will be on February 16th!! And don’t forget that all of April is “Career Month” with a plethora of workshops and networking events to help you succeed. Until then, set some goals so that you are totally prepared and confident. Here are some of my goals:
Update my resume to accurately reflect my most recent experiences.
Continue to scour the vast reaches of the internet for possible summer positions. This list of websites is a great place to start! And don’t forget we offer appointments specifically for job/internship searches.
Outside of the Career Center, the Shriver Center is a great place to connect with volunteer opportunities in the area. These experiences are equally helpful with professional development, as well as giving you a chance to give back to your community.
At the beginning of next semester, set up an appointment with a Career Specialist. This can be for spiffing up your professional documents, your job/internship search, or even possible graduate degree programs. It always helps to bounce ideas of off someone else, and getting professional advice certainly can’t hurt!
Thinking about all the stuff that needs to get done can be pretty overwhelming, but just remember all the offices and people on campus that have your back! We’re all in this together, and taking time to reflect and set goals for yourself is the best way to ensure your success.
P.S. Reminder to please comment below on what you want to see on this blog in the future!