5 employability boosters for the summer holidays

The great British summer is finally here, and while everybody should enjoy the sunshine while it lasts, this is also an excellent opportunity to add to your CV and increase your future employment prospects.

You may not be looking for a job until next summer, or it could be a couple of years away yet. But, time flies, and there is never a wrong time to start planning for your future and ensuring that you stand out from the crowd. Between beaches and barbeques, give serious consideration to these five activities while you enjoy a summer break.

Virtual Internships

Businesses willing to offer in-person internships or work experience are rather thin on the ground at the moment. We live in the digital age, though, and internships – like so many other aspects of 21st Century life – are now virtual.

It’s a staggering fact but almost three-quarters of graduates joining the top investment banks have been recruited via internships and at least half those recruited for the leading law firms, finance employers and oil and energy companies have been offered graduate jobs after completing successful work experience.

There is no denying that these virtual internships offer a different experience to attending an office in person, but they're still highly worthwhile.

Volunteering

Do not fall into the trap of assuming that only industry-specific experience will impress an employer. Recruiters will always look favourably on an applicant that gives up their time to aid a charitable endeavour, and most non-profits are crying out for help right now.

Volunteer work is rewarding, offers the opportunity to make a real difference – and it will teach a range of transferrable skills that you can carry over to the workplace. For example, teamwork, prioritisation, time management, and communication are all honed by taking on a voluntary position.

Networking

LinkedIn research found that 80 percent of professionals consider networking to be important to career success!

Meeting people in person may be challenging at the moment, but thankfully we are all now masters of Zoom. While many people are working from home – and thus not spending hours of each day locked in boardrooms – there may never be a better opportunity to ask for a little of their time.

Ask around your personal networks or use social media or professional networking sites like LinkedIn, to seeking out contacts who may be able to spare the time for a chat. Ask them about their careers – how they found their dream job, what made them successful, and how they have negotiated any obstacles in their path.

Learn a New Skill

A CV can never boast too many additional skills. Use free online resources like Future Learn or edX to attend a huge variety of courses. Studying online can be done in your own time and will grant you skills that may come in helpful – both personally and professionally. Independent study will also show a potential employer that you take self-improvement seriously and seize any initiative.

Start a Blog

Did you know that Groupon and Huff Post started life as blogs? A blog can also be a way to find new routes into a chosen industry. Gain enough traction, and professionals may approach you. Even if this is not the case, pointing people toward a blog is a great hook and conversation starter when you do make contact. Any employer will be impressed by independent thought and new ideas.

Even if you have a year or two of university left before your job search begins in earnest, there are plenty of things you can do now to enhance your employability. First, of course, it's essential to recharge your batteries over the summer holiday. Equally, though, do not squander valuable opportunities that will be beyond your reach in September when you go back to full time education. By embracing at least one of the suggestions above, you'll be laying the foundations for future success.