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Optimizing Your Time for Employment

 

By Christopher Varano, Peer Career Consultant

Once you’ve caught up on your sleep and restored your wellbeing after finals, summer can be an amazing opportunity to make strides in your career journey. Below is a week-by-week guide to create a summer schedule to maximize securing an internship or employment opportunity.

Objectives

  • Determine industries, companies, and position types
  • Utilize career search sites to identify opportunities
  • Begin networking with friends, family, alumni, and other sources
  • Modify your resume, CV, and cover letter(s)
  • Prepare for interviews

Week-By-Week Guide

Week 1

  1. Determine top 3 industries (2 Hours)
  2. Identify 5 companies per industry (1.5 Hours)
  3. Select job roles that utilize your ideal skills and competencies (1 Hour Maximum)
  4. Schedule appointment with a career coach (10 Minutes)

Week 2

  1.  Attend coaching session to clarify career exploration process and identify job opportunities (1 Hour Maximum)
  2. Identify 5 to 10 positions on LinkedIn, Handshake, Indeed, Monster, etc. (1.5 Hours Maximum)

Week 3

  1.  Use LinkedIn to find company connections for identified positions (1.5 Hours Max)
  2. Use LinkedIn and other network streams (friends, family, alumni, colleagues) identify individuals with tailored industry knowledge and wisdom and additional company connections (2.5 Hours Maximum)
  3. Send personalized messages and emails to identified individuals to schedule informational interviews (2 Hours Maximum)

Week 4

  1. Identify application requirements positions (e.g., resumes, CV, cover letter, portfolio) (20 Minutes Maximum)
  2. Begin tailoring application documents (3 Hours Maximum)
  3. Schedule an appointment with Career Development Office for a Document Review (10 Mins Maximum)
  4. Attend career coaching document review appointment (1 Hour Maximum)
  5. Conduct scheduled informational interviews and send thank you messages (Time Will Vary)

Week 5

  1. Submit applications (Time Will Vary)
  2. Conduct informational interviews and send thank you messages (Time Will Vary)
  3. Schedule a career coaching session for next steps (10 Minutes Maximum)