As the semester winds down, many college students are planning to return to previous jobs and to just relax with family and friends over the summer. Parents have an opportunity to encourage their student to also use that time to explore careers, build skills, and make valuable professional connections. Here are a few ideas to help your student get started:
Internships – although some employers may have already hired summer interns, others are just now starting to recruit. Husker Hire Link (http://www.unl.edu/careers/hhl), offered through University of Nebraska-Lincoln Career Services, is one resource for UNL students seeking Nebraska, national, and international internships. Another resource, Intern Nebraska (http://www.internne.com), provides information on Nebraska-based internships. Other resources can be found on the Career Services web site, http://www.unl.edu/careers. Your student may also investigate organizations of interest to learn if they have an internship program or might contact organizations without such programs to ask if they would be interested in hiring a summer intern.
Summer Jobs – whether your student is returning to a job held in the past or starting a new job, they can capitalize on their position to expand their skills and learn about careers. The business major who works at a daycare might work with the owner to learn about scheduling staff and managing supplies. The English major working as a lifeguard might offer to write content for the website or initiate social media to promote the pool and its events.
Volunteer – sometimes it isn’t possible to find or develop a position related to a field of study. To nonetheless maximize their summer, your student could reach out to organizations of interest to volunteer. Even if their tasks aren’t related specifically to their major, developing transferable skills required across disciplines will be valuable. Assisting with coordination of a fundraising event can develop organizational and communication skills. Managing a donor database or website can be an opportunity to develop technical skills.
Shadowing – there are likely people in your community in positions of interest to your student. You might reach out to your contacts, perhaps through a Facebook update, to identify shadowing opportunities for your student. Coach them in how to connect with your contacts and present themselves professionally. Encourage them, for example, to prepare questions for the person they will shadow. While a shadowing experience can result in a volunteer or part-time position, the goal is primarily to connect with someone to learn about their career.
The UNL Career Services website (http://www.unl.edu/careers) has further information on these types of opportunities and strategies. Additionally, the website provides an opportunity for your student to take career assessments, explore past paths of UNL graduates, and review job listings to learn what employers seek. The summer is also a great time to update a resume to be ready to apply for positions in the fall.
These suggestions should help your student develop skills sought by employers and to make greater connections to future careers, while also enjoying their summer. Career Services is open throughout the summer to help students with these and other career development activities.
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