The “to do list” — It can either be your best friend in motivating you to get stuff done or your worst enemy by making you feel guilty from your continued procrastination.
Winter break is the perfect opportunity to take advantage of some free time. With the job search in full spring or quickly approaching, these four weeks can help you get ahead. So in between the Black Friday shopping, white elephant gift exchanges, snowball fights and hot chocolate, make sure these goal-oriented tasks are on your to do list.
To Do List #1: Network, Network, Network!
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Like Ashleigh Mavros stressed in her post, “networking is one of the most vital attributes of any successful career.” Take advantage of being back in your hometown where you’ve hopefully created a bubble of connections. Pull out your rolodex and see if any of your contacts have some time to meet for lunch or coffee. Is there a particular professional that you’d like to meet? Reach out to new contacts too. You’ll be surprised how willing people will be to help a student entering the job search.
To Do List #2: Send a Quick Hello
It’s that time of year when our refrigerators become covered with Christmas cards of families smiling during their summer vacation to Disney World, in front of this year’s Christmas tree or all pictured at a son’s high school graduation. Join the season’s greetings spirit by sending notes to your list of contacts. Research a particular project the company’s been working on and ask how it’s going. Let them know what you’ve been up to. Send a thank you note for their mentorship and continued advice. A small note will not only make you stand out (instead of sending a generic email) but it will also help restart a conversation which may lead to an opportunity.
To Do List #3: Update Your Resume
Haven’t updated your resume since last spring when you were applying for summer internships? You’re not alone. Make sure to add any new positions, experiences and skills you’ve recently gained. By taking the time to do this over winter break, you’ll be ready to send your resume in at a moment’s notice when you hear about a new opening.
To Do List #4: Connect via LinkedIn
Take the time to connect to former bosses, coworkers, peers, professionals and more. Make sure your profile mimics your resume — is all your experience updated? Add skills and join groups. LinkedIn is the perfect way to get the conversation started with a professional.
To Do List #5: Map Out Your Career Goals
What is it that you want to do after you graduate? Become an account executive at an advertising agency, lead a non-profit’s philanthropy campaign, manage a Fortune 500 company’s social media? Narrowing down the area of interest in your field that you’re particularly interested in can help you know what kind of positions and companies you should be looking for. Don’t narrow yourself too thin, but have some clear objectives of what you want to do.
To Do List #6: Research Companies in Your Industry
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Once you’ve mapped out what positions you’d be interested in applying for, research companies with employee positions that fit your career goals and needs. Find out what kind of projects they work on, how many people they employ, what their mission is, who their clients are and more. Is there a Bobcat who is working there? Use your Bobcat Network to your full advantage throughout your job search process.
Yes, we may not have our super long six week break, (oh, how we miss you quarter system!) but our winter break can still act as the great time to get ahead on your job search. What’s on your to do list this winter? Share some goals by leaving a comment!
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