6 Things You Can Do During the Summer to Improve Your Career Potential

With all that is happening in the world right now and the emergence of a new normal, this summer is not like before. If your summer last year was filled with vacations and social gatherings, you may have to think of new ways to spend your time now that stay-at-home orders are being implemented, big public gatherings are discouraged, and travel has been facing disruptions. However, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be productive with your time.

Whether you are a fresh graduate about to go job hunting or you want to fill your downtime, here are a few things that you can do that just might help you level up your potential in your career.

Upgrade Your Skills

Now is the time to gain new skills and expand what you already have. This helps you get ahead of other candidates. Although a lot of the skills needed in your career path are acquired through your college education, some things can be developed outside of the four walls of the classroom.

LinkedIn Learning is one of the perfect platforms for online learning. It offers hundreds of courses that range from technical skills like project management, HTML, and data analytics to soft skills such as leadership, problem-solving, communication, and teamwork.

With too many options to choose from, you may find yourself not knowing where to start. One way to get around that is by searching for job positions that you are interested in. Take note of the skills and qualifications needed and find a suitable course to help you develop that skill. You may want to start with transferable skills because these can be applied regardless of industry. Non-technical skills are also in demand.

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Upskill yourself by enrolling in online courses relevant to your career plans.

Finetune Your Professional Kit

Use this time to work on your application materials and practices that will make you stand out from the competition. Create a memorable resume highlighting your skills, abilities, and experience. You can also start practicing how to write effective cover letters.

Other things you can do to prepare yourself are practicing for job interviews and updating your LinkedIn profile. You can also consult a career development advisor virtually and let them review your resume or get tips for your job hunting.

Create and Maintain Social Connections

In the time of social distancing, networking can still be possible. Create and maintain connections virtually in platforms like LinkedIn. Stay connected with your friends and acquaintances, especially those who are recent graduates, those you volunteered with, and former co-workers and campus organization co-members.

You can touch base with them by sending in a casual email to check in on how they’re doing. You can also share some new materials and engage with their recent LinkedIn posts.

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A simple email or LinkedIn comment can help you stay connected with professional acquaintances and friends.

Do Volunteer Work

There are many ways to help your local community, especially in a public health crisis that calls for cooperation and help from businesses and individuals. Visit websites to discover organizations in your community that need volunteers right now and connect with them so that you can share your time, talents, or other resources. If you know how to sew, maybe you can help out a group that makes masks for essential workers.

Pursue a Passion Project

Get your innovative mind working during your downtime. Now is your chance to pursue that passion project you’ve always wanted to do. You might have a brilliant idea that could improve other people’s lives.

Consider opening an online store. Try it out and see if it works. You can also develop your mindset as an entrepreneur by watching TED Talks, reading books, and taking courses at LinkedIn Learning. The knowledge and experience you gain in this project may guide you in your future career.

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Pursue and test out that passion project of yours.

Take Care of Yourself

You might feel like you have to be productive all the time and spend every minute doing something. However, your mental and physical well-being should always come first before professional development. Focus on self-care and find your balance. Make sure that you eat regular meals, get adequate sleep, do physical activity, and stay in touch with your loved ones.