Make the Most of Your Breaks

Even if you don't have a job or internship lined up for the summer, there are still things you can to make yourself more marketable to future employers and graduate programs.

Get an externship.
Although you won't get paid, externships provide valuable experiences by giving you the opportunity to see if a profession is really for you.

Volunteer.
Volunteering your services at a local organization is a great way to gain experience in your prospective field.

Network with professionals in your area or through Career Connections.
Now would be a good time to network and find a mentor to get inside information and advice from influential people who are already in your prospective field. Register for Gator CareerLink now to use Career Connections.

Determine and research your major and potential careers. Start planning for your next semesters now.
If you are in Gainesville, visit the CRC library or drop by during career planning hours to talk to someone. Take a look at the UF Majors Card Sort and MyPlan to get started.

Start looking for jobs and internships NOW.
"The early bird catches the worm." Take the time to update that resume, re-work that cover letter and polish up those interviewing skills.

Monitoring Your Persona on the Internet

In the age of MySpace, Facebook, blogs and Twitter, potential job and internship candidates need to make sure that their profiles are not linked to any damaging pictures, videos or blog posts. Just as you would want to look up your friend's new boyfriend or girlfriend whom you have yet to meet on Facebook, potential (and sometimes current) employers want to look you up too, so keep these tips in mind while you take pictures of summer activities or blog about your personal experiences:

Do not post blogs, statuses or pictures that refer to or depict offensive, suggestive or illegal activities.
No one wants to hire a potential liability. If an employer were to find out that you engaged in illegal activities or had some offensive opinions, then they may not want to hire you to represent their organization.

Make your profile private, or limit your settings, so that only friends can see your personal stuff.
This way a potential employer (or other people for that matter) will not be able to see your personal information.

Only add people you know as your friends.
It is not unheard of for a potential employer to ask one of their student interns to request a job candidate on Facebook and look at their profile, so try not to add strangers as your friends.

Using Social Networking for Professional Purposes

Although you may not always want a potential employer to add you as a friend on Facebook, job candidates are encouraged to use social networking for professional purposes. This means setting up a profile on a social networking site that you actually want potential employers to look at.

Here is an example of a professional social networking site with more than 35 million users:

LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a professional networking Web site that allows you to set up a profile listing your professional experience. Your profile will give you the opportunity to build and communicate with a network of professional contacts, find and be introduced to potential employers, receive access to the LinkedIn job database and create an online portfolio.

LinkedIn also has articles for college students and a LinkedIn'09 Grad Guide filled with helpful tips on how to find opportunities and set yourself apart from the crowd.

So after you're done cleaning up your Facebook profile, check out LinkedIn and create a professional one.

Volunteering Can Help With Career Plans

So you weren't able to find a summer job or internship, or maybe you just need something to do with your spare time. No matter what situation you are in or what stage of the job search process you have completed, volunteering is a great way to gain applicable work experience using your skill set(s).

Volunteering can also open the door to a future internship down the road.

Here are three ways you can gain experience while utilizing your skill set(s):

Volunteer at a place related to your future profession.
If you want to be a doctor, volunteer at a local health clinic or organization such as the American Cancer Society. If you want to do something with music, volunteer at a music summer camp or local music or performing arts organization.

Don't forget to consider nonprofit organizations, small businesses and government agencies when looking for volunteer opportunities.

Utilize skills and classes you have taken.
If you enjoy cooking, offer to cook at a camp or homeless shelter, or help a catering company with their business. If you enjoy working with your hands, try offering your services to a local contractor. If you have taken a management or event planning class, offer to help an organization with administrative duties or with planning an upcoming event.

Be willing to do things not necessarily related to your major.
Skills that you learn while volunteering such as time management and organization are transferrable skills that could be used with any job. So even if you can't volunteer in a position that you wanted, be willing to try other things out. Every experience counts.

Questions? Contact us at PRandGraphics@crc.ufl.edu