Ways to work on your career plan during summer

Summer can be a time for relaxing, travelling, spending time with friends and family, or even attending summer courses. It might also be a great time to earn some cash or work experience with a summer job, co-op placement, or internship.

Regardless of how you choose to spend your summer break, these quieter months are a perfect time to find work or take in career-building experiences. We encourage you to continue exploring all kinds of opportunities for career development, whether it's a conventional job, learning a new skill or hobby or volunteering for a cause you care about. Here are some ways you can maximize your career development during this period:

Get yourself up-to-date

How's your resume? Do your cover letter writing skills need sharpening? Take this time to target your job search documents for more effective applications. If you need help, you can connect with a career development specialist for a resume e-review or one-on-one advising.

Create a gameplan

Think intentionally about your goals and set up a timeline for your next steps. What can you now, later and much later? Are there any upcoming events you should attend? Should you meet with a career development specialist for guidance or feedback?  Breaking up your end goal into smaller tasks will make it more achievable.

If you’re undecided on your career path, use this time to explore. You can take a career assessment or book an advising appointment to discover your strengths or interests, and use this new information to narrow down your choices.

Search strategically

Did you know there are currently over 300 active job postings on Elevate? Many companies expand their student recruitment over the summer and into the fall, so it’s a good idea to look at student-specific job boards first.

Remote work opportunities are also growing in popularity — consider expanding your search beyond city limits! You can browse the Government of Canada's Job Bank for more opportunities locally or across Canada.

Make use of your existing networks (personal or professional) and put a call out for opportunities. They may be able to recommend a relevant position or company to you, and even put in a recommendation.

Keep networking, but make it fun

Summer is an excellent time to volunteer, join a social or sports club, and pick up a new hobby or skill. Getting involved in something new is also a fantastic way to expand your network and develop your interpersonal skills without having to attend formal networking events.

LinkedIn continues to be one of the best platforms for professional networking. If you're interested in a company or field of work, find people that you can connect with and reach out for a chat or information interview. The ability to leverage your network can open up a world of unseen opportunities for you.

Does networking feel overwhelming to you? Watch our networking Career Clip to learn simple but effective techniques.

Practice wellness

It's extremely common to feel overwhelmed or anxious when it comes to thinking about your future. If you do feel stressed or overwhelmed, Student Wellness is available to help you.

It’s also normal to experience rejection during the job hunt. Don't second-guess yourself or your experience — instead, maintain that confidence! There are many wellness workshops that can help you tackle anxiety, develop personal resilience, and more.