You are probably getting to that point where you are thinking about your summer and wrapping up the semester. You probably don’t want to think about your career goals as you plan out your summer and get a break from the academic grind, but summer is actually a key point in your collegiate journey to reach goals upon graduation.
During the fall and spring semester, it may have been difficult to find sufficient time to engage in certain initiatives that will help you long-term, including but not limited to obtaining an internship or networking with professionals in your field. However, during the summer, you have plenty of time and freedom from a heavy academic workload, making it an opportune moment to take advantage. So, if you plan on taking the MCAT at some point in the next year, maybe using the summer to study and get ready for the test would be an ideal strategy.
You are probably wondering, “Well, how do I get a head start on my summer and make the most of it?” It all starts with developing a strategic plan early on. If you would like to use your summer to obtain an internship working in management, then you do not want to wait till the first day of summer to see what options are available. Internship planning should be done least a month or two before the actual internship begin. Summer internships provide an avenue to develop skills needed in the field while gaining hands-on experiences and networking with professionals.
Internships are not the only way to use your summer time wisely. Another great strategy is to conduct informational interviews. An informational interview is a strategic way of gaining valuable information about a certain profession while networking with employers.
If you are interested in gaining experiences within your field or, for that matter, shadowing a professional like a doctor, then an informational interview will be an ideal way to reach out to them and gain information while also building a network for yourself. The informational interview involves asking the employer a variety of questions to get a glimpse into the position, showcase your knowledge in the field thus far and talk about what you can offer the employer, including your passion for the industry.
At the conclusion of the informational interview, express your appreciation for the time the professional took out of his or her busy day to meet with you. Then, ask if you may leave your professional documents, so that the employer many contact you if any type of opportunity becomes available. Even if a position isn’t open during the time of your interview, or you’re not ready to begin your career, that may change someday. Leaving your resume, cover letter and/or contact information opens the door to future possibilities — especially since you’ve already networked with that company.
Let’s imagine that you are a freshman, but your hometown is New York, and every summer you visit and also have plans to move back full-time once you graduate. Informational interviews can be used as your way to build a network for yourself in New York when you visit. So, if you are not ready for an internship this summer, but you would like to plan out to obtain one for the following year in New York, then use informational interviews as a strategic tool for your success and as an avenue to build a foundation of potential contacts.
A good strategy is to do various informational interviews with companies and professionals in your desired field to plant the seed for the future. Just imagine; you would no longer be another number or resume because you had opportunities to get to know these professionals before being an actual applicant. You can also take steps to keep in touch by sharing articles of interest throughout the year and connecting with the individuals using LinkedIn. That way, when you apply, you are no longer seen as just another applicant, as they know the individual behind the resume.
In addition, you can use the summer to get involved in your community or do something exciting like studying abroad. Getting involved in your community allows you to develop key, transferable skills like relationship building and communication, and, if you are interested in a field like healthcare, it showcases your passion to provide service to others. Studying abroad can help you expand your perspective on the outside world, as studying or working in another country can make you a better thinker — more flexible, creative and complex — if you’re willing to adapt and learn from other cultures. Studying abroad can make you more marketable for future opportunities because it helps you become well-rounded and better communicator.
Overall, the summer offers a lot of opportunities to gain experience, get involved in the community or with organizations and, perhaps, gain a greater understanding of the outside world while helping you on your journey to reach your career goals upon graduation. The key is to make a strategic plan for yourself and start early to ensure that your summer is not only memorable but also individually impactful.
