There’s a lot to think about after you graduate—where you’re going to live, what you’re going to do, which Netflix show you’re going to binge watch. We have winter break for a reason; use it to get a head start on your after-graduation plans so you don’t have a mid-life crisis in your 20s. Take care to do these 7 things over break to prepare you for your life after college:
1. Update your resume
No one has time to sit down and update their resume when classes are in session, so winter break is the perfect time to do this. Your last semester is going to be h*** already. Don’t make it worse for yourself by putting off updating your resume until the day before you have your first job interview.
2. Start looking for jobs
This is mainly to relieve some of your worry and anticipation after graduation. You don’t even have to apply for any, but just knowing what’s out there and getting a feel for what job descriptions and positions you’re interested in and which direction you can see yourself going in helps a lot.
3. Update your LinkedIn profile
You’ve already updated your resume; you might as well update (or create) your LinkedIn profile while you’re at it. Not only do employers use this in their selection process when choosing (and eliminating) candidates, but employers also use this site to SEEK out potential employees. Make sure you’re profile is updated and you may not even have to do any work applying for positions; a job offer may just fall into your hands by an employer themselves.
4. Do a Facebook/social media sweep
Whether we like it or not, employers use Facebook in their selection process too. As you near graduation and start to apply for jobs, it’s time to think about how your Facebook profile portrays you. Use winter break to go through and delete any photos you wouldn’t want your employer to see and ensure that your profile looks somewhat professional.
5. Book your last SB trip
This is probably the most important task on your bucket list (well, maybe not, but kind of). It’s only the fall semester and winter break is right around the corner, but I’m already in desperate need for a spring break vacation. Be sure to book your last (or first) spring break trip this winter; I can almost guarantee you’re going to need it come your final semester.
6. Figure out what you DON’T want to do after college
We are always trying to figure out what we WANT to do after college, and we dread that question coming out of anyone’s mouth. What we should really be asking ourselves is what we DON’T want to do after college. This at least eliminates a good chunk of the unknown.
7. Prepare for your last semester
Make sure that you’re all set up to graduate come spring. I can’t imagine anything worse than finding out weeks before graduation that I’m short one credit. Check your graduation requirements, do whatever it is you have to do to make sure you’re walking across that stage in May. Because bless our little hearts—I know we will all be ready to get the heck out of here by then (if we aren’t ready already).