7 Ways to Boost Your Career Prospects This Summer

It can be tempting to spend your summer relaxing, enjoying the sun and warm weather that is missing from our lives the rest of the year living in Vancouver. But, the summer is also a useful time to further your career.

There are options for anyone to take advantage of, whether you are looking for ways to make some money or boost your résumé. Many of these are relatively flexible and short-term as well, leaving you plenty of time to enjoy the summer.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Look for a summer internship or job

The summer is arguably the best time to look for an internship or short-term job to gain work experience and boost your résumé. In some ways, finding a summer position can be more advantageous than working a full-time job.

Employers know they’re hiring someone with less experience and that you’re still learning. So, there will also be considerably less stress or pressure as opposed to holding a permanent job.

Internships, on the other hand, are great for exploring different career options. Suppose you’re interested in an industry but don’t know much about what it’s like to work in it — an internship is a perfect way to gain that knowledge.

Putting internship experience on your résumé is something companies love seeing. Even if it’s unrelated, internship experience demonstrates that you are willing to take on the level of dedication an internship requires, and shows your inclination to gain work experience.

The summer is prime time for students to find a temporary job as many organizations hire specific seasonal workers. 

If you’re unsure where to start looking, start with Indeed. There are plenty of positions updated daily for both summer jobs and internships. 

A second place to look is through your connections on LinkedIn. If you are already connected to someone that works at a company you’re interested in, you already have a head start.

2. Work as a freelancer

If you’re looking for something that won’t take up as much of your summer as an internship might, freelancing is the perfect option. 

Working as a freelancer means you will be self-employed, meaning you have much more freedom and complete control over your schedule. You get to decide how much or how little you want to work.

Additionally, freelancing allows you to explore different occupations and career paths. You’ll get to see what you might enjoy doing full-time in the future, without being tied down to one specific job.

Becoming a freelancer may sound daunting, but this beginner’s guide offers some helpful tips to get started. 

The most important thing is to have a marketable skill you want to focus on. Once you have that, you’re already halfway there. After that, joining a freelance website is crucial to finding work. 

Some popular ones mentioned in the guide include Upwork and Freelancer.

3. Build a professional/creative portfolio 

When you think of the word “portfolio,” you may connect this to something design or art-related, but this isn’t necessarily the case. 

Regardless of what career you intend to pursue, a portfolio containing a collection of past projects or work samples is a huge asset. 

Including a portfolio as part of your job applications helps set you apart from other applicants; it gives the employer more information to assess your abilities, and lets you highlight your best work.

4. Find a volunteer position

Volunteering is a good option for the summer when you may have a bit more free time or flexibility with your schedule. 

It helps you develop soft skills such as leadership, teamwork, and communication skills. These are critical in helping you land any job as it highlights to employers that you can work well with others and are a good team leader.

There are plenty of career-oriented volunteer positions on Indeed that can help you narrow down your career options, build your professional network, and gain experience. But you may also find a position more related to your personal hobbies or interests.

Whether you gain transferable skills or work in an area directly related to your intended career, volunteering is not only a fulfilling experience but also a valuable career prospect.

5. Learn employable skills

As a university student, you’re probably looking for ways to set yourself apart from your peers. One easy way to do this is to develop employable skills that will help you get a job.

Nowadays, there are numerous online platforms that exist to give you the education required for learning new skills or programs.

LinkedIn Learning offers courses on personal development, career skills, software tutorials, and much more. Luckily, as an SFU student, you get LinkedIn Learning for free if you sign in through a specific link on this page.

6. Become a tutor

If there’s a particular topic you excel at, tutoring is a great option, as students often look for a tutor to assist in catching up with their studies. Offering your services is also a great way to make some extra money while helping others succeed.

There are many ways to tutor. You can do so independently, through a tutoring company, or even remotely.

Any tutoring experience is beneficial for your résumé. It shows you have leadership and organizational skills, which are attractive qualities for any employer.

7. Network with people from your field

Connecting with people on LinkedIn who are already working in your field is the best way to get a head start in gaining knowledge on what it’s like working in any particular industry.

You never know where a simple LinkedIn connection will take you, so you might as well start today!

Bonus: Attend our Career LYFE Series

SFU LYFE is hosting an interview workshop with SFU Career and Volunteer Services on Monday, June 27th at 5:30 pm via. Zoom.

It’s an excellent opportunity for you to receive valuable feedback, enhance your interview skills to the next level, and connect with other people. You’ll learn how to highlight your strengths, see what employers are looking for, and prepare ways to deal with stress and nerves so that you can achieve a successful employment.

Sign up here!

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No matter what you do during your summer, make sure to take this time to relax and recharge. Though the summer is a perfect time to get ahead in furthering your career, finding a balance between work and your personal life is most important. 

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