The Christmas vacation period and approach of a new year are, for many, a time of reflection; looking back on what you achieved over the past year while making plans for the one ahead. You might be catching up with friends and family too – and hopefully taking a well-earned break! However you plan to spend your vacation time this year, here are three simple things you can do during it to boost your career, whatever stage of your degree you’re at.
Get to know yourself
Getting to know yourself is an important part of preparing for your future and there are a couple of ways you can to that during the holidays. You can try online tests and tools that provide useful feedback, and if you’re spending time with friends or family over the holidays, why not ask them what they perceive as your best qualities and strengths? There could be some you didn’t even realise. You could also ask them what type of work they see you succeeding in.
While their answers will always be subjective, they can still increase your self-awareness and may lead to some interesting conversations!
Develop a skill or interest on LinkedIn Learning
Current University of Reading students can access LinkedIn Learning completely free of charge, and with such a wide range of topics and course durations, there’s sure to be something to spark your interest. Whether you’re building on existing knowledge and skills or exploring a new area, a LinkedIn Learning course on your profile (and CV) is a great way of demonstrating your proactivity and commitment to self-development to potential employers.
If you want to learn more about using LinkedIn for your career search, check out our Navigating the Job Search with LinkedIn: Advanced Tips and Techniques blog!
Make (or update) a plan!
In Careers we often see students who feel a bit daunted thinking about and preparing for their future. As with any large project, breaking your plan down into small steps can make the whole process feel more manageable and help you to feel like you’re making progress. One of our Careers Consultants, Vicki, has written a great post on celebrating your wins and looking ahead.
The Careers Centre wishes everyone a relaxing and festive Christmas vacation period – we will be here to support you with all your career questions and queries once we return next year.
Author: Anne Delauzun, Director of Careers and Employability