Winter break is a relaxing change of pace for college students—no classes, no busy schedules to juggle, and no homework! However, it’s easy to take the lazy route by doing absolutely nothing with all this free time. A little Netflix here, a little napping there, and before you know it your break is gone! Instead, take advantage of this spare time by incorporating a little productivity into your rest and relaxation so you return for the spring semester feeling accomplished and ready to go!
1. Update Your Resume
Chances are, it’s been way too long since the last time you updated your resume. Use your extra downtime to add any experience you gained during the fall semester, like internships, teaching assistant positions, jobs, volunteering, clubs, and anything else you’ve done over the past three months that makes the cut! If you don’t have a job or internship lined up for the summer, sprucing up your resume now will pay off when applying during the chaos of the upcoming semester.
2. Update Your LinkedIn & Handshake Profiles
Illinois recently switched from I-Link to a new career search platform called Handshake. It’s super easy to use, and actually does most of the work for you if you upload an updated resume. LinkedIn, on the other hand, is like a professional version of Facebook that a lot of recruiters use to check out applicants, and even to find potential candidates. Make sure both of these profiles are up to par so you can up your job-hunting game during the spring semester! If you don’t have a profile for either of these, winter break is the perfect time to make them!
3. Job Hunt/Research Grad Schools
Figure out a plan for your future by looking for jobs or internships, or if you’re interested in continuing your education, research which graduate or professional schools you’d like to apply to. Her Campus Illinois has an amazing guide dedicated to finding the best internships, which has a ton of great tips! Simply having a rough idea of what’s out there will save so much time in the upcoming semester when the only thing on your mind is summer break!
4. Prepare for Spring Semester
Double check that you’re registered for all the classes you need, look up which books you’ll need to buy or rent, and pick out the perfect planner for the new year. Check out the greatest agendas to keep your life organized here! Being prepared for what’s ahead will help you to have a good start to the spring semester. This makes all the difference when returning to campus!
5. Organize!
Start the new year off to a good start by going through all your things and deciding what you do and don’t want to keep. Sort things like clothes, books, jewelry, makeup, school supplies, and anything else that is easy to overlook during busy times of the year. Getting rid of clutter will help you feel refreshed and accomplished.
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