While it may be tempting to spend winter break mastering the fine points of reality TV and enjoying a few moments of academia-free peace, break is a great time for college seniors to prepare for the job hunt they'll be embarking on in a few short weeks. A little planning now can make a huge difference after graduation.
It's important to spend time with family and friends during the holidays, but saving time to do these seven simple steps can better ensure you don't end up seeing too much of them when you move out of your dorm.
1. Come up with a list of companies you'd like to work for: During your college career, you've probably thought up a few dream companies you'd love to work for. Maybe your sorority sparked a passion in you for Lily Pulitzer or you'd love to work with an innovative company like Under Armour. Find out the qualities these companies are looking for in possible candidates and see how that relates to your skills. In addition to your dream companies, begin researching a broader list of prospective companies that share similar values to what you're looking for in a job. This way you'll know who to seek out at networking events in the spring.
2. Use your gift cards toward a professional wardrobe: At the very least, you'll probably get one or two gift cards this holiday season. Instead of wasting it on a new video game or clothes to wear out to your favorite college dive, invest in a few basics to add to your professional wardrobe. Suits, collared shirts, blouses, and business casual separates are all worthwhile investments.
3. Polish your resume: With another semester under your belt, add all of your new experiences (internships, jobs, coursework, etc.) to your resume. Then guarantee your resume makes it to the top of the hiring manager's list with the help of your college's career services center. They'll make sure all the necessary information is in place and give you tips on how to sound appealing to your list of dream companies. This way you'll be coming back to the spring semester with the best possible version of your resume to share with all your connections.
4. Talk to your family about your job goals and ask them to keep an eye out for any opportunities for you: Networking is essential to finding your ideal job, but an often overlooked networking source is your extended family. Take your aunt aside before she settles in for the holiday dinner and ask her about the company she works for. Then explain what you're looking for in a career to see if your values match up with her company's. At the very least, she may know someone in the field you're interested in and be able to connect you to the right people for your passions.
5. Start calculating a post grad budget: Even though you might not want to think about this when you're surrounded with holiday cheer, your student loan debt will be knocking on your door in less than a year. To have a successful post grad experience, you'll need to determine approximately what your student debt repayment is going to be per month plus your everyday cost of living. College Board offers a budget overview for post grads that can be useful for these calculations. This way when you begin applying for jobs, you'll know what your minimum salary requirement is to live independently.
6. Practice your etiquette at a family dinner: Hopefully by now, you've gone to an etiquette dinner on campus and were taught the ins and outs of fine dining. Practice your skills at your family dinner to get Grandma off your back about slouching and chewing ice. Think of it as a test run for the business dinners you'll be attending with your future boss--who will probably be nowhere nearly as intimidating as Grandma.
7. Relax: This is your last really long break of your college career. Soon your holidays won't last as long so now is the time to enjoy the freedom, whether it's spending the day on a Netflix binge or traveling across the country. Plus, you're going to need a little R&R before your last semester grind starts. And there's plenty of time to recharge with family while giving your job search a strong foundation.