Even though you may be thinking more about bundling up right now, this is the time to set the stage for your summer plans. Here are the steps you can take to be sure that you’re ready for a productive, experience-boosting summer:
Keep your eyes open for opportunities.
Postings for internships, research opportunities, and part-time jobs are all coming up on listservs, Catamount Job Link, and sites like LinkedIn and Indeed.com. Start keeping a list of positions and opportunities that interest you so that you know what you need to do to apply.
Talk to people in your network.
Developing your “network” doesn’t have to be a scary thing — think of all the people you know who can help you find opportunities. Talk to your professors, your peers, your boss, your family, and anyone else who might be able to give you advice as you determine next steps.
Polish your resume and cover letter
No matter what kind of opportunity you go for, you’ll probably need a resume and cover letter. Attend a resume workshop, look at samples on the Career Center website, and stop by Drop In Hours to have a career counselor give you feedback on your application materials
Send applications.
Once your documents are in good shape, start sending them out. This is a bit like applying to college all over again: you should have a range of opportunities to apply for, and some of them will be “reach” positions that are very competitive, while others will be “safer” bets that may be easier to obtain.
Follow up.
If you don’t hear anything after two weeks, send a polite follow-up email to the contact person to double-check that they have received your application. You can use this opportunity to reiterate your interest and offer to send any additional materials, if needed.
Questions? Need help? Be sure to stop by Drop In Hours in the Career + Experience Hub with any questions. Monday-Thursday 1-4pm, and Friday 1-3pm.
~Amanda