3 Things You Can Do Over Winter Break to Jump-Start Your Career
Winter break is a great time to relax, spend time with friends and family, and get refreshed for the spring semester. Enjoy it! But with almost five weeks off you might find yourself with some serious down time. If you’re looking for something productive to do over break, we have some great suggestions for you! Choose one or try all three. We guarantee you will learn a lot about yourself and your intended career path. And don’t forget your Success Coach is here to help you on this journey.
1. Explore Careers
The holidays are a great time for college students to dive deep into career information. You might already have a few ideas of jobs that sound interesting. We challenge you to grow your list. Start a career notebook where you can document all the details. We recommend using O*NET online. The O*NET program is the nation's primary source of occupational information.
If you’re undecided you can also take an online career assessment that will help you choose. We recommend the O*NET Interest Profiler. It can help you find out what your interests are and how they relate to the world of work.
Another great starting point is to review our IBC major resources guides for in-depth information on careers in your field of study.
Careers in Accounting
Careers in Business
Careers in Computer & Information Technology
Careers in Criminal Justice
Careers in Healthcare Administration
Careers in Sports Management and Recreation
2. Join LinkedIn
LinkedIn is the world’s largest professional network with over 175 million registered users in more than 200 countries and territories and growing rapidly. LinkedIn connects you to your trusted contacts and helps you exchange knowledge, ideas, and opportunities with a broader network of professionals.
LinkedIn believes that relationships are the key to professional success. By using LinkedIn as one of your networking strategies, you can open doors to opportunities using the professional relationships you already have. It’s not just who you know, but who those people know…and who those people know!
LinkedIn helps you grow your network exponentially so you can connect to people in target companies, new industries, and new markets. This LinkedIn Guide will get you started. Be sure to join our Ivy Bridge Student and Alumni Group.
3. Connect to Your Community
Find an organization in your community where you can volunteer or simply join to get involved in networking meetings or activities. Here are a few ideas organized by major:
Accounting: Local Tax Firms, Public Accounting Firms, Government Agencies
Business: Local Chamber of Commerce, Local Rotary Club, Small Local Businesses
Computer & Information Technology: Computer Vendors, Software and Computer Companies
Criminal Justice: Local City/County Government, Law Enforcement Agencies, United Way
Healthcare Administration: Hospitals, Clinics, Medical Offices, Hospices, Long-term Care Facilities
Sports and Recreation Management:Schools, Training Centers, YMCA, Sport Camps
