Tips for preparing for winter break from Career Services

Finals are just around the corner, and before you know it, your student will have completed their semester! As students prepare to spend some time away from campus over the winter break, here are a few suggestions for ways they can enhance their academic success and continue learning outside the classroom. Your home community is full of opportunities! Wishing you a joyous holiday season with your family.

Find a job shadowing opportunity
Job Shadowing (or clinical observation) is a great way to learn more about a particular occupation. Most Shadows involve spending a full day or part of a day with a professional at his/her place of work observing a typical day. Shadows also give an opportunity to ask specific questions about a particular occupation, and may help expand professional network of contacts. Shadows are particularly useful if students are undecided about their major or career options that may evolve from their major. For more information about shadowing, click here.

Conduct informational interviews
Students may consider informational interviews. Informational interviewing is the process of gathering career information from people who are working in target occupations, organizations, or geographic locations. Informational interviews can happen in person, via video, via phone, or through e-mail. There are two main reasons to conduct an informational interview, to gain information and to network. For more information about networking, visit the Career Services networking page.

Find a volunteer opportunity
Setting up a short-term volunteer experience while at home is a great opportunity to serve the local community and advance learning experience. Below is a list of suggestions to help in the process.

Tips

• Contact the agency before break begins to see what opportunities may be available.
• Send a copy of their resume - it will help the agency determine the best fit.
• Research different service opportunities through websites such as http://www.volunteermatch.org/ or local United Way.
• Find a time to speak on the phone or send an email to the volunteer coordinator or main contact for the organization.